0.6 Examples of ncpea connexions modules  (Page 4/17)

3. Vision is an expression of organizational and personal courage. When we articulate a vision we know who weare, what we stand for, and why we are here. We become fearlessly open with our values and beliefs.

4. Vision building requires personal mastery and emotional intelligence.

5. Vision building is an open-ended, dynamic process. Our visions for the future are not set in stone. As we actand learn from our actions, our visions will evolve, mature and grow.

6. Visions need to be developed collaboratively. Without the involvement of everyone in the schoolcommunity, our visions become mandates without meaning. Our stakeholders feel discounted and marginalized. The result is a lackof understanding and commitment from those whose support we need most.

7. The enactment of the vision requires personal responsibility.

The Bible says that“Where there is no vision, the people perish.”(Proverbs 29:18)

Examples of Educational Visions:

Upon being appointed superintendent/principal of a small, remote K-12 school district in western Washington, theboard asked me for my vision. I envisioned a small learning community where everyone was trying to learn; where there werefrequent discussions and projects which would benefit all. My vision recognized that students and teachers have worthwhilepurposes. Students would learn by doing, trying, and modeling. The people would be friendly—sometimes playing together; more often working together for each other. The members of this learningcommunity would try to educate themselves for responsible caring about each other.

For the professionals, the work would be morethan a job: a higher calling, a dedication of one’s life. The atmosphere would be conducive to learning and the pursuit ofknowledge. The members of the learning community would develop common bonds of trust; the curriculum would model the best weknow—a separation from careless ways, toward a higher level of insight and deeper sense of purpose. The members would seek abalanced curriculum of physical, intellectual and artistic habits. The teaching process would involve appreciating, valuing, andstudying together, characterized by kindness toward one another, consideration, and cooperation—in a beautiful place: in a place for quiet thought, but not isolated from worldly concerns. This placewould be continually evolving; a place where the faculty not only tries to teach students to do things, but also to help themunderstand what they are doing.

In sum, it would be a small, friendly, learning community with a few students and teachers, striving forexcellence, cooperating, helping each other learn, sharing joys and hardships, and studying together. It would never be a completedtask, but an adventure for all.

A few years later, as superintendent of a larger school district, parents, faculty and the community as awhole developed the following vision: We started with the motto,“Public Education with a Personal Touch.”Then we listed the ideals we would work for:

1. Strong basic education for good citizenship.