By Ryan Bradford
It’s time for me to confess something. As a former teacher, site administrator, and current Director of Technology, I find it very easy to get caught up in shiny object syndrome and, as Robert mentioned in his last post, constantly being on the lookout for the next great tool that will solve all of our problems. I’m looking at you, every new AI tool currently being pushed on social media as the savior of education, even though you’ve only been on the market for three months!
The challenge with this mindset is that a single tool will not change anything, especially if you purchase it without a system for implementing it. If you don’t believe me, go into your closet, pantry, or garage, and I’m sure you will find a purchase for some item that promised to revolutionize your life, but it now sits and gathers dust because you purchased it without a plan for implementing it.
What creates change is the system behind a tool.
I know for some of our readers, the idea of creating systems is not very appealing and can seem pointless. It would be amazing if we could just show up to our schools, open up our laptops, and get to work. Trust me, I wish we could work that way.
Our current reality is that we work in a complex education world with multiple variables, unpredictability, and an increasingly complex world of legal compliance. Without coherent systems in place, this reality can quickly become overwhelming and unsustainable and lead to burnout and stress. All of these factors, when combined, lead to good people leaving our profession, which ultimately leads to our students not getting the education that they deserve.
So, how can we, as educators, navigate this complex environment and foster an ecosystem that supports the long-term well-being and success of our students and staff?
Systems Over Struggle 
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