A Resolution to Share Success Stories 
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year!
January is the traditional time for many of us to set New Year’s resolutions. In fact, you are receiving this late enough in the month that I am guessing at least a few of your resolutions have been broken.
Well, good news, you get a “do over.” In fact, I am going to ask you to set a new New Year’s resolution with me today.
We hear and read a lot about politics, education reform, and, frankly, a lot of negative press about schools. One of the challenges our political leaders face in making decisions about schools is that they too are only hearing about what is wrong—not what is right or what is possible. So, consider this:
What if you made it your New Year’s Resolution to have at least one solution-focused interaction about schools with a local, state, or national political leader?
I shared with you before the idea about being solution focused, using Asset Based Thinking, but let’s take that this year to a political level.
How many politicians and policymakers do you think actually receive thoughtful communication about what is going well in schools and what else can be done to make schools great? Not many. This makes it difficult for even the most supportive political leader to counter the often dominant discourse about what is wrong without real stories, data, and examples of YOUR successes. So let’s get started:
- First, find out who your representatives are at a local, state, and national level. This should also include your local- and state-level school board members. Dig deep here. Once you know who they are, figure out whom you’d like to reach. Also find out who his or her chief of staff is—those are the people who can help make sure your message is seen. Learn about a policymaker’s record, so that, if he or she is proposing or has taken action that truly benefits schools, you can express thanks. A sincere compliment is a great ice breaker.Classroom Connection: Engage your students in this work with you! How many of them know their representatives?Here are some resources to get you started:
- Decide how to make your classroom or school story come to life. This might include:
- A thoughtful profile of a student success story (maybe one that can’t be measured by traditional data). Of course, student confidentiality needs to be maintained, but what was accomplished can be shared in a way that highlights great teaching and student learning.
- Is there a way for student work to be a part of your message? Can representatives see what amazing and passionate persuasive writers your students are becoming by letting them write about an issue?
- Can you invite a political leader to visit your classroom as part of a project? How many of our policymakers have seen a wonderful classroom in action lately?
- What is your area of passion in teaching? Can you write a thoughtful letter describing how the work you are doing is impacting the lives of students, and offer solutions on how policy decisions could support your work even more?
When I meet with elected officials, I do all I can to share your stories. The stories that bring classrooms to life beyond the numbers that are published from testing.
What do I hear from these officials in response? “We need to hear more stories like this.” Or, “We hear that teachers want their students evaluated in different ways, but we need to hear teachers talk about how this is being done.” Or, “We want to know that teachers are willing to meet high standards in their work, and how they believe that can best be done.” You are the keepers of these stories that they need and want to hear.
Are you ready to join me in a new resolution? Imagine the change that could happen if elected leaders were suddenly bombarded with stories of success and real solutions. Imagine how you’d feel if we move the conversation from being frustrated by what is happening, and instead share what can happen.
Let’s shift the momentum to solution-focused change in the New Year.
Until next month,
Dr. Ena Shelley
Dean, College of Education
As a follow up to the November Dean’s Newsletter, the TedX Indy talk, Solutions Within, is now available online. Another example of finding ways to share our stories!
Explore the archives of previous Transforming Education entries.