People trust the immediate schools in their neighborhood, but somehow, all the others are bad.

Technology

increased number of charters

Vouchers

Enrollment shifts

• More political

• Conflicts of interests (testing companies and making money vs. student needs and learning)

• School board members and competing agendas (personal and political)

• The role of the superintendent has changed

• The role of the teacher has changed

Character development

AI for teachers in the classroom, etc.

Skillset students will need

Responsible use of technology

Public education has become a victim of generalization.

The swinging pendulum of technology.

Funding. No change.

Cell phone availability

one to one technology

Google has replaced experts

A conspiracy has morphed into a full on attack on public education.

Big money is supporting work vs public education

Social media

Parents want more of an individualized plan

More centralized control at TEA, SBOE, and leg.

Voices and sentiment about public ed. Everyone has a platform and can say whatever they want.

Losing federal gov't checks and balances.

More politicized.

Push for school choice and this results and more competition.

More distrust.

TEA more data driven and has greater oversight/control of local decision.

Attendance is different.

Teacher shortage.

Accountability has changed.

Technology has changed rapidly.

Political landscape and polarization.

Retention and recruitment challenges.

People have access to information that is algorithm driven—may or may not be factual.

Rise of mental health needs

Rise of culture wars

We know more and are educating students in more innovative ways

Culture wars

Local versus state control

Family support / misunderstanding what public education is for

Mental health.

• Legislation/Policy changes - lack of understanding and unwillingness to understand

• AI and the the digital learning article

• Social media

• Teacher shortage and quality of teachers

• Funding

• Vouchers

The digital information and how that contributes to the belief of misinformation

Generational differences

Accountability

Higher ed is not keeping up with teacher ed needs

Virtual classrooms

Teacher shortage. Fewer candidates what to be teachers and fewer admin want to stay in the role.

Increasing costs. Harder to do business with pub ed.

Increasing needs with growing students in special populations and programs. The requirements associated with special program are more complex.

Managing and educating students.

Don’t talk about it…be about it.

Choices versus charter schools, private schools

Safety and security

The state wanting us all to be the same, teach the same, and use same resources.

Competitive with different schooling systems, like private, charter, and micro-schools

School safety

CTE and college bound to give a pathway for all

Teaching soft skills

Putting kids in schools that are "prison-like" and restrict authentic learning.

Communicatiom Expectations

Parents expectations of schools

Technology is addressed- responsible usage

Don’t just talk about it…be about it.

• Focus on what is best for students

• Keeps us grounded in our why

• Helps rally the people that what to find solutions to the most pressing issues

• Focus on transformation - in learning and leadership

  
  

OPening of a conversation that helped bring other into convo.

Expanded vision for accountability. General recognition that evaluating students is much more than a few simple metrics.

Provided a sense of continuity and unified vision.

Echoing Cathy Bryce—need for ethical leadership

Teacher recruitment and retention

caution around AI, digital world—2008 we did not know some of what we know now

It gave me a place to go and people to talk to when I didn't know what to do.

It shaped who I am as a leader.

It gives us a common language to work with from all around the state.

It gives me a growth mind set.

Gave educators courage

Addressing social emotional needs, AI, social media, etc….

Our schools are grappling with a significant teacher shortage, worsened by difficulties in recruitment and retention. This is happening amidst an environment of increased hostility, fueled by social media and an overload of informationthat blurs the lines between fact and opinion, a stark contrast to a time when people were more open to diverse viewpoints. Adding to these challenges, the local board of trustees is perceived as having a self-serving agenda, with school politics becoming increasingly less local and more influenced by broader political forces.

We have this wonderful roadmap, but getting the message to the teachers is a challenge.

Social Media

Teacher shortage

Safety and security concerns

Behavioral concerns

Mental health

Boards more politicized and less accepting of opposing positions