Schools usually fail before someone steps up to try to diagnose what's wrong and fix it. Meanwhile, hundreds and thousands of learners suffer through subpar educational practices that might meet the needs of a select few, but not the majority.

When it comes to health, we know that prevention is the best medicine. We take care of our bodies so we can remain healthy for many years. But in our antiquated school systems, we sadly don't take the same approach. And it's our children who feel the brunt of this.

That's the focus of my conversation this week with Aimee Evan, PhD, author of the new book Student Centered School Improvement: Identifying Systemic Changes Essential for Success. There are so many factors in the success of a school, beyond the school ranking, what extracurricular activities are available, and what student grades look like. Aimee encourages parents and educational leaders to dig deeper to take care of all layers of the schools so students can truly be successful.

About Aimee Evan, PhD:

Mom, researcher, school improvement specialist, author, and former accountability director, school turnaround lead, and middle and high school teacher.

Jump in the Conversation:

• [1:49] - Catalyst for dedicating career to improving education
• [4:33] - We're more likely to try to make a change when we see what needs to be done first-hand
• [5:34] - Unpacking how to meet the needs of students
• [7:18] - We have two educational systems in the U.S.
• [8:54] - What should we be doing to improve schools
• [9:40] - We're waiting for the Gordon Ramsay of education
• [10:54] - The current school improvement policy is to wait for the school to fail
• [12:40] - How being a mom has impacted her mission
• [18:10] - How listeners can take steps to school improvement
• [18:38] - We look for a good fit for our kids and conflate that with "good school"
• [19:57] - Parents and teachers can see what's happening inside school
• [26:18] - A real harm is laying all change on shoulders of teachers and leaders
• [27:20] - You might have new tires but you're not going anywhere because you haven't checked your engine
• [29:20] - Engaging teachers in the change that needs to happen and utilizing all the support systems they have access to
• [30:19] - Aimee's Magic Wand
• [31:28] - Maureen's Takeaways

Links & Resources

• Connect with Aimee on LinkedIn
• WestEd
• Student Centered School Improvement: Identifying Systemic Changes Essential for Success by Aimee Evan, PhD
• Episode 42: The With Heart Project
• Episode 97: Creating Trauma-Informed Classrooms & Putting Kids First
• Email Maureen

• Maureen's TEDx: Changing My Mind to Change Our Schools

• The Education Evolution
• Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
• Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
• LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
• EdActive Collective
• Maureen's book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids

• Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
• The Micro-School Coalition
• Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
• LEADPrep