Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

One thing I learned near the end of my 30+ years as a teacher: focusing on test scores destroys all interest in learning.

Most initiatives in schools are about political empowerment of administrators not improving learning.

“That’s the way it used to be done” isn’t evidence we should return to it.

The effect of so many of the trends leaders tout are regression to the mean.

Things we should not have to say: If your process isn’t clear to you, then it won’t be to your clients or students either.

So many assumptions go unrecognized and unchallenged.

How do we really know the answers calculators generate for complicated operations are correct?

Diverse teams make better decisions.

Here is your regular reminder that many of us are not paying attention to what you say because we have seen what you do.

If we knew then what we know now, your education would have been much different.

There are certain colleagues who will rant and try to engage you in angry dialogue… waiting 3 seconds after they end and saying OK tends to make them walk away in a huff. Ty it. It’s fun to watch them.

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. - Albert Einstein

Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere. - Carl Sagan

One thing I learned during 30 years as a teacher: reporting adult bullies will result in a meeting at which you hear “we investigated, but found nothing.”

I judge people based on the length of time I can speak with them before they espouse conspiracy theories.

Hype. Crash. Slow build back with the useful & effective “things.” This is a common trend.

If a project failed because of incompetence, was it sabotaged?

Education that nurtures curiosity over education that generates answers… yes, please.

I noticed the log on screen (“by logging on you are agreeing to our terms of service”) at an organization has grammar errors. Should I bring it to their attention?

Yes, one can ruin a life full of good work by making terrible decisions near the end of their career… at least I’ve lost respect for competent leaders late in their careers.