Positive Deviants:

I am relieved today that there appears to be an agreement reached in the ongoing Teachers’ Strike in this province.  Potentially, we could be back to normal early next week.  What this means is that now there is an increased sense of urgency for me and my fellow principals and vice-principals as we await the teachers, staff, and students.  We have a lot to get ready, and a short time to do it.

Amidst the rush this week, I will still be thinking about the need to improve what we are doing at our school.  We are not meeting the needs of a significant portion of our students, for one reason or another, and that must change. 

It is the need for change that drives my thinking today, and has me reflecting on some things that Seth Godin writes about in “Tribes.”  Godin’s description of, what he calls “positive deviants” has fueled my hope for the coming school year. 

Godin says, “As a general rule, managers don’t like deviants.  By definition, deviance from established standards is a failure for a manager . . . So, most of the time managers work hard to stamp out deviance (and the deviants who create it)” (p.112). 

However, deviance is really all about change.  Deviants are those who push the boundaries and try new things.  They are the innovators, and the ones who think differently, pushing themselves and others to explore new ideas, concepts and practice.

The interesting piece that Godin adds, and the part that causes me to be hopeful is, “it turns out that employees who are committed to change and engaged in making things happen are happier and more productive” (p.113).

We need more leaders, more deviants – more agents of change

Godin says that process is simple:  “find the leaders (the heretics who are doing things differently and making change), and then amplify their work, give them a platform and help them find followers – and things get better” (p. 113).

As we embark on the new school year, I am offering another commitment.  I will identify the leaders, the heretics in our building who are taking the leap and embracing new things and stretching themselves in order to improve the learning for our students.  We will look for positive evidence of the impact on student learning, and help to amplify the work by getting others on board. 

In our school, we have the programs; we have the resources; and we have a strong, dedicated staff of teachers and learning support people who care about students.  What we need is some “out of the box” thinking by some positive deviants who will lead the change needed to improve the learning for all of our students.  I know we have it within us.