Change Management | G&D Associates

Why change?

As the world around us continually evolves, so too must our approaches to developing the skills, habits, and knowledge required to empower individuals to attain personal and professional success. Our challenge as educators is to ensure that today’s learners are ready to embrace the obstacles and opportunities of our dynamic world and thrive as members of their local and global communities. To achieve this, it is widely accepted that our educational system must make a shift from traditional “one-size-fits-all” instruction to a model which creates individual learning experiences that are meaningful and relevant for all. This change is essential to address the varied needs of our society and foster the dispositions needed to be an active participant in today’s global workplace.

For years, educators have seen this need and worked toward more learner-centered approaches despite systemic limitations. Pockets of innovative change have been highlighted at all levels; however, widespread change has not yet occurred. The lack of a paradigm shift is not to be attributed to indifference, but rather to the absence of a clear model for achieving scaled educational change that can be personalized to individual learners, classrooms, schools, districts, and wider communities.

The difficult question is how?

How do we engage learners who are used to customizing their experiences outside of school?
How do we create equitable access to the most impactful learning experiences?
How can we prepare students by arming them not only with the answers but with thoughtful questions and the ability to analyze information?
How do we promote creativity and critical thinking skills rather than quashing them to promote conformity?
How do we enable each child to personalize their learning?
How can we engage and partner with parents, businesses, universities, and other groups on this journey?
How do we get the most out of partnerships and ensure they are effective and create two-way benefits?
How do we motivate and get buy-in from teachers and other staff members?
How do we overcome “initiative overload”?
How do we ensure that all staff have the resources and training they need?
How do we identify and gather the resources that we need?
How will we transition—all at once or in stages?
How do we implement change and measure progress?
How do we communicate the great things that are happening in our organization?
How can we become more effective at recruitment and retention?
How can we promote a positive perception of our school?

Change Management Services

Whether you are working on one of these questions or all of them, G&D Associates can help. We lead educational organizations through complex change with a wide range of services to match your specific needs and goals.