Let's just start at the beginning...

It's not often that something happens to make you look at life in a whole different way. Most things we experience either support or upend a conclusion to which we've already come. We feel the way we feel about things, and that's basically it.

I've had one of those perspective-altering experiences this week....and it began when the little one went to preschool. Now, I've always been a big proponent of preschool. I think every kid should go. I think it does wonders and can make all the difference on the other side of the educational timeline. Kids who go to preschool do better in kindergarten and, ultimately, in high school. I used to teach kindergarten and the teachers on my team could tell you on the first day which kids had been to preschool. Those kids, invariably, were soaring farther at the end of the year and went on to a better elementary school experience. We put the big one in preschool early and I am consistently amazed at how well she's done.

When we found out we were moving, the first order of business was finding a school. It's a hard thing to do from a distance, and I developed a new sense of empathy for the parents with whom I've worked. We were blessed with the little one's placement in our last home, and knew that he couldn't just go back to playgroups or staying at home with Mom. He needed to go to school.

Looking for a school schooled me. Think there's a chasm between the haves and have-nots surrounding public schools? It's nothing compared to the preschool gap. To find a program that engages your kid, broadens his horizons, teaches him the incidentals vital for school success, and is just plain fun is almost impossible. Now, it's not hard to find someone to watch your kid. Those places abound. But a school? One that lays a foundation? You better have two things - time and money.

Time, because the place will not be open all day every day. The best programs are quite limited and are only available for a limited time during each day. I was amazed. The all day programs weren't much more than I could do in my living room, a glorified babysitter. But those, expensive, half-day programs? Wonderful. Filled with stimulating curricula, well-trained personnel, and well-designed facilities. We walked into the school we ultimately chose, and the little one just lit up. He felt at home and the teachers included him without hesitation. At the end of his first week, he's enamored with lining up, cleaning up and taking turns. In short, he's already learning the important lessons - the things that bring school success. Did I mention he's the only kid in the whole school who looks like me?

Which got me thinking, why doesn't every kid have that chance? We are in a situation which allows for me to stay home. As a result, I can shuttle the little one back and forth. And he can learn. What happens to the kids who don't? The starting line is moving further and further back, so the kids who come in the race late have more and more ground to cover. That has to change, or a whole segment of our society will be doomed before they get a chance to start.

All this time, we've been thinking that the answer lies in getting kids ready for college. I'm beginning to believe that we just might make real progress if we put the same amount of energy in getting them to kindergarten.

Another way to see it...

It's almost the first day of school! In our house, the first day of school has always been a big deal. This year, it's perhaps a little bigger because the little one will be heading off to an actual school for the first time, and the big one will be heading to the seriousness of third grade. GI Joe is also spending the year as a student - for both the Army and as a graduate student. So, we are a wash in books, pens, computers, and crayons. It's a beautiful thing. Education really is the great equalizer, and the next big push in the civil rights movement. It's that crucial, and I'm so glad it's such a priority in our house.

This year, however, I will not be in school. As a student, teacher, or counselor. It's the first time in a long time, and it's given me an interesting perspective. I'm on a quest to create a career for myself that will better survive the frequent moves and, as such, am doing a lot of thinking about the larger questions about education. Why doesn't every kid learn? Who decides what's important to learn? What can I do to help make it better? Do we serve the world better by striving to help everyone or to create, via our own families, lifelong learners ?

I'm still working on the answers to those. I did, however, come a long way after attending parent orientation at my daughter's new school yesterday. I see a lot of myself as a child in my daughter. The child lives to learn, and considers everything she does a chance to get something new. She asks questions constantly, and to everyone she meets. To that end, we were so excited to attend the meeting yesterday afternoon. We were not disappointed. The school? Pristine, state of the art, award-winning architectural design. The principal? Enthusiastic, prepared, professional. The auditorium? Packed with parents, grandparents. The vibe? Filled with anticipation.

The meeting started innocently enough. Logistics, plans for the first week, standard stuff. And then, the important part - test scores. The school is currently at 97% proficiency in both reading and math. Meaning, 97% of its students are reading and doing math on grade level. That, in this day and age, is simply amazing. Yet, they aren't satisfied. The principle went on to say that this year's goal was 100%. How will they do it? An extensive support system for kids needing help and regular professional development and collaborative planning for teachers. So regular that the kids have half days at least two Fridays in each month. And this is where it came to me - the answer to how we fix education is not that difficult. We make it a priority, treat educators as professionals, and we fund it properly.

The next step for me was easy...if that's how we get it done, what do I do to help?


My initial plan was to become an independent consultant, after I met someone who was having amazing success. After a little more introspection, I've realized that a think tank or non-profit is a little more my speed. I don't have the hustle to get and keep a lot of clients, and I think it's extremely unfair that the folks with the ability to pay $200 an hour gain another leg up by hiring someone to guide them to even more advantages. So, I guess my plan is to change the world by finding the strategies to answer the big questions and make sure everyone gets a copy of the playbook.

So, here I am. This blog is a quest to keep my sanity and stay focused on the path. If anyone's out there, I hope you'll join me, and indulge me.