​Students, like all people, need the particular knowledge that is useful in service of some desired end.  The best assessments provide students with a genuine performance task that matters to them and that may even impact the world. 

An interesting phenomenon I’ve noticed is that we teachers extol the virtues of collaborative learning in the classroom, but rarely have time for it ourselves. Busy schedules can make it difficult to set aside time for partnerships on projects or professional development that are seen as outside the scope of typical unit planning. However, when teachers have these experiences, they are energized.

At One Schoolhouse, one of our foundational values is “build for belonging”. We believe that the future of education - and of our world - rests in building equitable and inclusive institutions. We seek out diverse voices, listen intently to each other, and build experiences that honor identity.

School-wide policies will also need to be reflected in each teacher's course syllabus, explicitly addressing the acceptable use of generative AI in their particular course. Without completely banning the use of generative AI, teachers should offer clarity on the do’s and don’ts.

As we head into the new school year, the nexus between vulnerability and courage is very much on my mind–as a leader, as a teacher, as a mentor of students who are asked to inhabit that space all day long.