The People Systems Behind Educational Change

In this episode, host Jeremy Singer speaks with Sari Factor, Vice Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer at ⁠Imagine Learning⁠, a company dedicated to providing high-quality educational experiences. Factor, who began her career as a math teacher, has over 40 years of experience in the education sector and has held leadership positions at major companies such as Kaplan, McGraw Hill, and Houghton Mifflin.

Sari and Jeremy discuss the significant challenges of implementing change in K–12 education, which Factor describes as "people systems" that are inherently difficult to change. The conversation also touches on the sobering results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which showed a widening performance gap in both math and reading. Factor shares her insights from ⁠a Forbes piece she wrote in Marc⁠h, where she advocated for rethinking K–12 curricula to improve student outcomes. They also delve into the effectiveness of knowledge-based literacy programs and problem-based math curricula, and the challenges of getting them implemented successfully.

Here’s the link to the research referenced in the episode: https://www.imaginelearning.com/research-library/

Sari mentions that her favorite education book is Disrupting Class by Clay Christensen.

Key Takeaways:

> Curriculum and Pedagogy: Knowledge-building literacy and problem-based mathematics programs are effective because they are based on the evidence that people learn by making connections to what they already know.

> The Challenge of Change: Schools are "people systems" and are difficult to change due to factors like the short tenure of school leaders and high teacher turnover rates. Implementing new curricula can be overwhelming for educators, especially seasoned ones, as it asks them to change their practice.

> The Role of Teachers: Effective educational programs position teachers as facilitators and modelers rather than deliverers of instruction. The learning happens more through student inquiry and peer collaboration.

> The Promise of AI: Artificial intelligence can help reduce teachers' time-consuming tasks, like grading short writing assignments or drafting communications to parents, freeing them up to build more meaningful relationships with students.

> Looking Forward: Factor is hopeful that parental engagement and the school choice movement will drive innovation in education. She also believes AI will enable schools to move beyond traditional assessments and focus more on evaluating students' growth in durable skills like communication, resilience, and problem-solving.

Why You Should Listen:

This episode is for anyone interested in the real-world complexities of education reform. Whether you're a teacher, a school leader, a parent, or simply a curious listener, Sari Factor’s depth of experience provides a clear-eyed view of what works and what doesn't. She offers valuable insights into the "why behind the what" of curriculum design and implementation , highlighting how strong leadership and a focus on evidence can lead to positive change, as seen in the Philadelphia School District and Los Angeles Unified. Factor also shares a compelling personal anecdote about her time at McGraw Hill, demonstrating the courage required to make difficult decisions for long-term success.

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