My Assistant Superintendents for Finance and Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, as well as my Director of Communications and Instructional Technology and I visited Apple Corporate Headquarters in October 2017. We were invited to Apple to engage in educational leadership development activities, active team-building opportunities, and effectively explore the latest Apple education products and Apps. We spent time with other district leaders from Illinois exploring the Apple Campus prior to the new Apple Park opening as part of an Executive Briefing hosted by Apple, Inc. in Cupertino, California.
While exploring the Apple Campus along with our guide, Patrick Beedles, an Apple employee sought me out and introduced herself to me. I was floored when she told me she wanted to meet me and chat as a result of all the transformative tech and STEAM work I led while at Lane Tech. I was flattered while also impressed that Apple was aware of the facility constructs I led with my fellow administrators and teams.
Beginning in 2012, we initiated transforming Lane Tech into an Apple school. We created and implemented a wide spectrum of innovative programs and accompanying learning spaces that have ever since, remained in place. The creative, innovative programs and spaces we designed afforded all students opportunities to be exposed to meaningful, relevant teaching and learning.
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The professional learning opportunities we engaged in at Apple were valuable and provided time for professional conversations, seminars, and a backstage pass with Apple to examine a spectrum of Apple leadership development perspectives.
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While in California, we also visited other schools/learning organizations affording students Makerspace opportunities in San Francisco before returning back to our district to share what we had learned.
Chris
Referenced links and documents:
Developing the Cambridge learner attributes: Chapter 4 Innovation and Creativity. Cambridge Assessment International Education.
Leading Innovation in Education. Childhood Education International. 2021
Marathon by Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart
Principals as Innovators: Identifying Fundamenta Skills for Leadership of Change in Public Schools, Rosabeth Moss Kanter. Public Education Leadership Project at Harvard University. PEL-078, 2016
Teachers’ exposure to professional development and the quality of their instructional technology use: The mediating role of teachers’ value and ability beliefs, Margaret A. Bowman et al. Journal of Research on Technology in Education. 2020
Unspoken Words by Chris Dignam