The problems that educators face today have changed over the last 3 years, never mind the last 30. What has stayed the same? A good approach still works every time!
We recently asked TregoED process users “What is the most critical issue on your plate right now?”: academic recovery, finances, school safety, mental health, or staffing? These multiple-choice answers gave us a nice-looking graph, but speaking face to face to school leaders at a conference recently, I got a different picture. They added the everyday perennial challenges of parents, student behavior, etc. and made it clear, that it was not any one issue, but the onslaught of many issues that was plaguing them.
Ed Leaders: What is the most critical issue on your plate right now?
Chat Bot Chimes In
I then asked ChatGPT what the biggest issues in education were 30 years ago in 1993 – and after a disclaimer that it did not exist in 1993 therefore had no personal experience- it listed these issues:
- Funding
- Standardized testing
- Diversity and inclusion (in curriculum as well as teaching staff and administration)
- Technology
- Dropout rates
- Violence in Schools
Sound familiar?
Everything is different. Nothing’s changed.
While we can’t control what the issues are, we can control our approach and increase the odds of a successful resolution. Our approach to issues over the past 30 years has not changed – we use research based, proven TregoED processes to help district leaders deal with complex issues using a collaborative approach based on a series of proven questions that will lead leaders to the best possible solutions. Using stakeholder input has always been a key component of the process, with results that are both visible and defensible.
We deeply appreciate the dedication and passion that education leaders bring to the table every day to address the myriad of issues that impact the education of our children. We feel fortunate and grateful to be able to help them make the tough decisions that ultimately serve the needs of the children in their care. With the increase in complexity of problems, people, and data over the last 30 years, the need for a proven, transparent, data driven process to develop lasting and effective solutions is a must.