Why Teachers Must Become Change Agents

Michael Fullan

Dr. Karen Burke, CSJ

Western Connecticut State University

Personal Reflection

Why did you become a educator? Why do you remain in education?

To Make A Difference in the Lives of Students

Fullans Theme

To make teaching a noble and effective profession teachers must combine the mantle of moral purpose with the skills of change agentry.

Four Core Capacities for Building Greater Change Capacity

Personal Vision-Building Inquiry Mastery Collaboration

Personal Vision-Building

Examining and re-examining why we came into teaching. What difference am I trying to make personally? Creating a vision forces us to take a stand for a preferred future. Alternative Assignment: Write your own vision statement for you as an educator.

Inquiry

The essential activity for keeping our paradigm current is persistent questioning. Life-long learners Career-long learners Fueled by information and ideas in the environment.

Mastery

Expertise is central to successful change. Strong initial teacher education Career-long staff development Not just exposed to new ideas but skilled in them!

Collaboration

There is a ceiling effect to how much we can learn if we keep it to ourselves.

Work together Join forces Team up Work in partnership Pool resources Act as a team Cooperate with each other