Keynote Presentation given at the Network of Innovation and Inquiry Conference on May 2, 2014 in Richmond, BC.

1. INNOVATIONTHAT STICKS
Real Examples From Real Schools
May 2, 2014
CHRIS KENNEDY
Superintendent of
Schools,West
Vancouver School
District
2014 Networks of Inquiry
and Innovation
Symposium
#NOII2014
Stories of
Change:
Pictures of
Possibility

2. ALL ABOUT CULTURE

3. “Culture Eats Strategy
for Breakfast”

4. A Culture of
Innovation
A Culture of
Yes
More than
just trying
stuff –
disciplined
inquiry
Feeling
permission
takes time

5. Focus on a Few
Things

6. Inquiry
• No one “model”
• It is more than just
asking questions
Self-Regulation
• Start to focus at the
younger grades
• Looking across
domains
Digital Access
• Start with teachers
• Modernize classrooms
• Embrace BYOD in the
context of equity

7. Common secondary
timetable
• One District Campus
• Joint Ownership of
students and learning
School Wide
Signatures
• Every school needs an
elevator pitch
• They don’t need to be
the same but need to
be part of a coherent
network
STRUCTURES

8. ALIGNING RESOURCES
Learning Teams
 Dedicated
$100,000 for
teams to use –
micro-budgeting
 Meet inside and
outside the
school day
 Work with a
mentor
 Ends with a
celebration
ALIGNING RESOURCES

9. “So if you ever wondered if the
innovation grants were making a
difference – just take a look at what’s
going on here! There is a massive shift
in teaching and learning”
Elementary School Principal

10. DISCUSSION
What are the structures in your
school and district that are promoting
a culture of innovation?

11. NEW ROLE FOR PARENTS

12. Parents are part of the process not just
observers of the polished product

13. INNOVATION IN ACTION
Letter grade
free
assessment
Maker
movement
iPads in
elementary
music class
Reggio Emilia
inspired
programs
Bienalle arts
projects
across
schools
Passion
projects
Heart rate
monitors in
PE

14. What is
something that is
“sticking” in your
school and / or
district that didn’t
exist 3 years ago?
DISCUSSION

15. What Does Support Look Like?CELEBRATE RISK TAKING

16. SHINE A LIGHT ON INNOVATION

17. MATTERS
WHERE LEADERS SPEND THEIR TIME MATTERS

18. Teachers
Schools
Districts
Governments
• Will make it easier
for students...
• Will make it easier
for teachers...
• Will make it easier
for schools...
• Will make it easier
for districts...
To be
FLEXIBLE

19. Yeah, but . . .
?How do you
scale the work

20. YOU DON’T
YOU CONNECT AND BUILD NETWORKS
Think diffusion not replication

21. Where you can find me:
ckennedy@sd45.bc.ca
604-202-4379
@chrkennedy
Chris Kennedy
cultureofyes.ca
www.sd45.bc.ca