Chris Lehmann, principal of the
Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, teaches a class to a group of mostly senior students called Modern Educational Theory (see Chris's letter to the students of the class
here). I found out about the class from the SLA student taking me on a tour of the school in session during the 1st day of
Educon 2.2. That Chris teaches a class like this comes as no surprise -- he believes that the education experience is something we should do
with students, not
to them, and it shows in SLA.
This was my 3rd trip to Educon, but the 1st for my colleagues Isaac Zawolo and Dr. Ann Kennedy. It was apparent to each of us that we were in a truly amazing place of learning. As our guide took us from class to class, walking into any class that we wished, and talking with students and faculty (especially students!), what we saw everywhere is characteristic of SLA: confident, articulate, reflective students
actively engaged in learning -- learning not just how to do things, but why.
The educational experience at SLA is informed throughout by the three essential questions: How do we learn? What can we create? What does it mean to lead? and the five core values: inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation, and reflection, that guide its mission. Students at SLA are so articulate because they
articulate, day after day, at SLA. They are able to answer deep questions about what goes on at their school because reflecting on their experience is a core part of what they do there.
As we undertake the creation of the
Governor's Career and Technical Academy in Arlington, I hope we can learn from what I saw at SLA to bring our students the same kind of education for a democratic society that the SLA students experience.
