Future-Driven Leadership Means Acting Now

President's Corner

We are preparing students today for the world of tomorrow. This is a truism often cited in education, but are we really readying our students to function in our ever-changing world?

To achieve different outcomes, we must have different inputs. Yet at a basic level, many school systems still measure student learning by seat time and standardized testing and focus on traditional academic subjects at the expense of critical thinking and practical skills.

Reinventing the education system to prepare students for personal and professional success in a world that seems to change overnight is a daunting challenge, but necessary, nonetheless.

Here are some key strategies to consider as we lead our school districts into the future.

Personalize learning. To fulfill our mission to meet the needs of all students, we must tailor education for every individual, taking into consideration their interests, strengths and learning needs.

Technology can play a major role in fulfilling this goal, such as using artificial intelligence, virtual labs and other digital tools to create an engaging, interactive and personalized learning environment.

Teach skills for the future. Technology is changing our lives on an almost-daily basis, especially in the workplace, so it’s challenging to identify specific skills that our students may need in 10 years. However, some work and life skills are essential regardless of the times, such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and digital literacy. Our curricula should reflect these skills.

Get hands-on. Project-based learning was once relegated to occasional special extra projects and programs. Today it should be the norm in our classrooms. When students work in a hands-on way and tackle real-world problems and solutions, they gain a deeper understanding and practical application of knowledge.

For project-based learning at an advanced level, developing strong partnerships with local communities and industries can facilitate real-world learning opportunities. For example, the Edmonds School District in Washington partners with T-Mobile to offer high school juniors and seniors two-year paid summer internships with the company. During their internships, they can earn a web development certificate through Edmonds College and become eligible for a job at the company.

Promote interdisciplinary studies. When we teach students individual subjects like English, math and science, students often don’t recognize how intertwined these areas can be. By breaking down the silos of traditional subjects and promoting interdisciplinary learning, we encourage students to explore the intersection of different fields and learn to solve problems from multiple perspectives. By encouraging language learning and understanding of global issues, we help prepare students for a connected world.

Engage students in their learning. These strategies are all valuable but not effective without student engagement. Give students a voice in shaping their education and let them define their own success — whether that means providing learning experiences based on their stated interests, offering independent study opportunities, engaging them to define their own learning assessments or simply encouraging them to share their ideas and opinions about their learning environment.

Transforming the education system is a gradual process that requires collaboration, innovation and a willingness to adapt. Working together with our teachers, students, families and communities, we can make the changes we need to prepare students today for the world of tomorrow.

Gustavo Balderas is AASA president in 2024-25.