n     For me, there's no such bird as "Educational Reform" –it just doesn't fly and never has. Amanda C. Dykes' concept of "beneficial change" in her September 23rd post "Re-Forming" @amandacdykes helped me to clarify my thinking.  http://ht.ly/2J0uh

n     Rather than Ed Reform we need to focus upon Educational Improvement-- child by child, teacher by teacher, school by school, community by community.

n     We must be conscious of building positive relationships and incorporating state of the art pedagogy into the lives of our schools.

n     There is no Educational Improvement without well educated, highly trained, dedicated and well paid professional teachers.

n     Public Education of the PEOPLE by the PEOPLE and for the PEOPLE. 

n     Class Sizes do matter.

n     The 21st Century school is a caring learning community! http://bit.ly/9rvI9Z

n     To improve education nationwide, teachers and parents and community leaders must LISTEN to one another, RESPECT and TRUST one another. There's no room for arrogant leadership, paternalism, one-upmanship or power plays if we're going to serve the best interests of all of America's children.

n     Educational Improvement must be ongoing, from week to week, month to month and year to year and it cannot be passed down from on high. 

My 3 Es for Educational Improvement:

EQUITY

n     It's Time to Act for All of America's Children and fight for EQUITY of educational funding. For too many decades large sectors of America's children have suffered from Educational Neglect.

n     A Must Read Book which provides a beacon for informed and enlightened action: Linda Darling Hammond's The Flat World and Education: How America's Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future.  "

EMPOWERMENT:

n     From the highest levels of government, through the individual states to the local communities and schools, from the superintendents' and principals' offices to the teachers and finally to the youngsters themselves, there must be conveyed a strong sense that your nation RESPECTS and TRUSTS you, and  that given the time, resources and tools, YOU CAN DO IT.

ENERGIZED:

n     When teachers and principals and parents focus on the needs of children, on The Whole Child, they cannot help but become ENERGIZED.  With this spirited and committed mindset, education and learning can only move forward.

n     PARTICIPATION and COLLABORATION will ENERGIZE all those parties committed to Educational Improvement—inside and outside of the school walls, from staff and team meetings, at parent meetings and Board of Education meetings, throughout communities and at all levels of business and government. 

Teaching may be one's chosen profession but it is by no means an easy one! Supporting our teachers is imperative so they are able to do their very best for our kids. They need our encouragement, better working conditions and opportunities to develop themselves into the best they can be in their chosen profession.

Only then will Educational Improvement become more than jargon!