Partnerships: Building on Our Strengths & Seizing the Opportunities

1. Partnerships: Building on Our Strengths & Seizing the Opportunities Ron Fielder AESD Annual Conference April 2-13 --- Olympia/Tumwater, Wash

2. Greetings & Observations • Some History • Deep Respect & Appreciation • Excitement & Optimism “ESDs as national leaders in next generation models of service, innovation, & collaboration”

3. Overview • The Context • Emerging Trends • Examples from the Field • ESA Leadership Expectations • Value of Partnerships • The Who & What of Partnerships • ESAs & Partnerships: A “core competence”

4. The Context • Why Context is Important? • Demographics, Demographics, Demographics!! • Workforce Crisis -- Talent! • Declining Public Dollars • 4 Generations in Workforce • Proliferation of 20th Century Solutions • Blaming People

5. The Cost of Education—K12 & Higher Education • Partisanship: right/wrong, black/white, either/or • Success = Complacency • Disruptive Technologies…..now in education! • Anti-government, anti-union…….. • In Schools: Time was the Constant – Achievement the Variable. • International competition

6. The Coming Jobs WarJim Clifton – Gallup The Ten Findings/Demands • Job Creation – The New Currency of All World Leaders. “The number one social value in the world is my job.” • Job Creation Can Only Be Accomplished in Cities – “….it is as local as politics.” • Three Key Energy Sources of Job Creation: 1) Top 100 cities, 2) Top 100 Universities, 3) 10,000 local tribal leaders.

7. Entrepreneurship is Far More Important Than Innovation – “It is better to invest in entrepreneurial people than in great ideas.” • America Cannot Outrun Its Healthcare Costs – “Every leader must put physical fitness at the core of everything they do or surrender!” • Education: Whole Cities Need To Declare War On Their Drop-out Rates – “The fate of our Nation depends on it.” (student spirit & hope)

8. We Must Double Our Number of Engaged Employees. • Customer insight/centricity is critical. • Every Economy Rides on the Back of Small to Medium Sized Businesses. • Triple Our Exports in the Next Five Years – 20X In The Next 30 Years! --------------------------

9. Trends • Focus on Efficiency • Focus on Innovation – now everywhere, even poorest slums • Focus on “design” • TED • Clinton Global Initiative • Design Methodology • “Design has become the engine of innovation, giving mere ideas, shape & substance……turning ideas into solutions

10. Systems Thinking / Interactive Design Ackoff / Gharadjedaghi Eastern Iowa Corridor • Knowledge: Access & Tools • Content: Free & High Quality…….no longer the sole property of the teacher & professor! 24/7 for all! (ITunesU, Coursera, Khan Academy, TEDed, etc.)

11. Achievement is the Constant – Time is the Variable • Focus on Competency – Standards Based – Personalized Learning • Focus on Certification & Endorsement Not Seat Time • More College Credit in High School • Parents Want Choice & Individualization for Children • Changing Roles for Educators

12. KnowledgeWorks – New Roles Personal Education Advisor Learning Fitness Instructor Edu-vator Assessment Designer Learning Journey Mentor

13. Higher Education under Fire…… • “Flipping” or “Flipped Classrooms” • Regional Action/Innovation Networks • Renewed Focus on Shared Services • School Building focus on: RTI, PLCs, Direct Instruction, Authentic Intellectual Work…… • Increasing/Expanding Partnerships & Collaboration

14. Partnerships: The Role of the ESD • Catalyst • Convener • Facilitator • Designer • Participant • Evaluator

15. Partnerships with……. • Local Schools/Districts • Local For-Profit and Not-for-Profits • Colleges & Universities • Other ESDs/ESAs • State Department of Education • State Associations • Regional/National Vendors

16. Types of Partnerships • Person to Person • Organization to Organization/s • Public/Private • Various Types of Public Organizations, i.e. schools, city/county government, libraries, child care organizations, etc.

17. Who Partners? • Individuals: employees, community members, local school officials, elected officials, business & non-profit officials. • Teams/work groups/disciplines • Boards • Organizations

18. La Piana Partnership Matrix From Greater Autonomy to Greater Integration Collaboration • Decision making remains w/indiv. Orgs • No permanent organizational commitment Strategic Alliance • Involves a commitment for the future • Shared decision making • Agreement driven

19. Corporate Integration • Involves changes to corporate control and/or structure, including creation and/or dissolution of one or more organizations. • Joint Venture Corporation • Merger / Acquisition • Management Services Organization • Parent/Subsidiary Organization

20. Susan Caldicott /Thomas Edison Competencies of Innovation Mastermind Collaboration • Recruit for Chemistry & Results • Design Multi-disciplinary Collaboration Teams • Inspire An Environment of Open Exchange • Reward Collaboration • Become a Master Networker

21. Keys to Partnerships • Be Someone Others Want To Partner With • See What Others Want and Need Out of the Partnership • Study the Emerging Literature About Partnerships…..i.e. La Piana & others………..there are techniques & processes from which to learn. • Establish Prior Mutual Expectation • Frequently Review the Partnership Parameters • Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Partnership

22. Some Examples • CESA 1 • GWAEA • Eastern Iowa Compact “Education For the Innovation Age” – handouts • Vollmer – Great Conversations Training • New Public Library – Early Childhood • STEM / Science Kits / Co-location • Pearson Power School

23. In Washington…….. • ESD 105 – Instruction Rounds Project w/ Harvard & Richard Elmore • Puget Sound ESD – Project to Lower the Achievement Gap – a committed partnership with some districts • ESD 112: website & STEM Partnership • ESD 113: Personnel Cooperative

24. Closing Thoughts……. • “Legacy” Through Partnerships • Ackoff: Work, Play, & Learning • Life Is Too Short to Drink Cheap Wine! • Or too short to…………….. • “waste a single moment” • “not to savor the beauty around us” • “for loneliness” Thank You

25. Ron Fielder Clinical Professor Education Policy & Leadership Studies College of Education University of Iowa ronald-fielder@uiowa.edu 319-350-4765