We all know the greatest change is often made from the top down… So, do you want to learn how to create change starting at your school board? Want to shift your school system to focus more on creativity and student outcomes? We have an incredible change maker to share his tips and strategies with you. In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood welcome AJ Crabill, a school board coach and conservator at DeSoto Independent School District.
Listen in as AJ talks about his role as a school district conservator, detailing his approach for translating what the community wants for their school system into a vision the school board can support and implement. He notes the role of creativity, creative thinking, and creative problem-solving in the school board’s decision-making process and ultimately, student outcomes.
“That’s a large part of what my team and I are constantly up against is accelerating a shift from an adult inputs focus – the budgets, the books, the buses, all those things – to a student outcomes focus.” – AJ Crabill
AJ highlights a few strategies he uses to guide school boards in reallocating resources and focusing more on student outcomes. He also shares examples of creative goals, plans, and solutions school boards have come up with to do that. Then, AJ addresses the challenges and barriers you might run into when creating change at the school board level.
AJ’s Tips on Creating Change in Your School Board:
- Give your school board permission to focus on creativity. Come together as a team of parents/teachers and be clear about what you want your kids to be able to know and do. Clarify that part of that lives in creativity, ambiguity, and uncertainty.
- School boards want to help educators be affective at their craft. As an educator, give your school board the resources, research, and tools you need to be the most affective at teaching.
AJ’s Tips for Educators, Board Members, and Parents on Bringing Creativity into the School System:
- For school board members, go watch school board meetings in different states than your own. The variability is significant! This will free your mind to pursue something different than what you’ve always done.
- For educators, think about what it would take to create the most ideal lesson plan for one specific item. Release the urgency and spend 2-6 months developing the most epic, amazing lesson plan and see what you can create.
- For parents, spend time going through everything your child is expected to learn this year and see where you can participate – what areas do you have knowledge or experience in? Consider partnering with your child’s educator in that area.
“People want their kids to be set up for success and it’s the job of the school board to listen for that vision of the community and do everything in their power to make sure that that possibility is coming alive through the work of the school system.”
AJ Crabill
AJ Crabill is the conservator for DeSanto Independent School District, where his leadership led to a remarkable improvement from F to B ratings in academics, finance, and governance. With a career dedicated to educational excellence, AJ has also served as deputy commissioner at the Texas Education Agency, focusing on state-wide student outcomes, and as Board Chair for Kansas City Public Schools. His impact is driven by a commitment to accountability, sustainable growth, and success in public education.
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