Across Education, Innovation is Imperative

To prepare students for career success in the changing world of work, schools must be willing to take bold, innovative approaches that challenge the most fundamental notions of what a classroom “should” look like.

Taking bold steps can be hard, as illustrated in the classroom by new research from the Education Week Research Center. The data indicate a majority of educators say innovation will be a high or very high priority for them in the next year. However, a troubling 43 percent of educators feel administrators are the primary source of pressure to innovate, and many have reservations about their ability to do so. Educators and administrators must recognize that without mutual respect and collaboration to innovate, we will not achieve the necessary change to give our students the opportunities they deserve.

Fortunately, there is a clear path forward.

At its core, this partnership must be founded in trust — from both educators and administrators. This should come as no surprise. A wealth of research on organizational leadership indicates both employees and their bosses are most successful when they feel the other supports them and encourages an entrepreneurial spirit that allows for risk-taking and exploration. Administrators should ensure their team of educators know they are a collaborative partner and encourage such innovative approaches, and classroom teachers should stand ready to work through the challenges and celebrate successes alike.

Such partnerships also require investment of time and resources. Educators who feel that innovation is being foisted upon them without the resources to implement such changes successfully may perceive the ask as tone-deaf or disconnected from the real challenges that educators face. Look no further than the 35 percent of educators who cite time for brainstorming as a barrier to being more innovative, or the deep commitment of educators to their own ongoing professional development. Educators and administrators should agree that every investment decision must be rooted in a commitment to student success and bringing cutting-edge strategies to the classroom.

Finally, these partnerships require open communication and understanding of one another’s motivations. For example, Education Week’s research demonstrates that classroom educators and principals both believe innovation is important — but teachers are significantly more likely to be interested in doing so to increase student achievement, while district leaders are more likely to believe in doing so to keep pace with the changing economy. The obvious truth is that these goals are inextricably linked, and both parties should consider how they can align on strategies to promote innovative classroom practices that will achieve them.

Collaboration and partnership can be challenging. Nobody understands that better than those who dedicate their careers to educating students for a more prosperous future. Administrators and educators must bring these principles to their districts and innovate solutions that will better prepare today’s students than any generation prior.

With their futures at stake, we owe them nothing less.