In a recent blog post, I described features of schools that are on a mission to create great learning environments, drawing on work done by the London-based RSA**. As a newly appointed Fellow of the RSA, I have been exploring their work in more detail, looking for ways in which we can contribute to their work, and where we can improve our work by drawing from the work their staff and other Fellows are doing.

One model I find intriguing is the work being done by School 21 in London, which shares values with many of our partner schools. For a snippet, they focus on building a teacher corps populated by four key attributes. In hiring, they look for:

Pioneers—people who want to change the way education is done.
Craftsmen—those who think deeply about the craft of teaching.
Multipliers—those who build capacity and develop others.
Integrity and Humanity—people with a sense of moral purpose and strong values.

I’m confident that for each of us, these attributes resonate with our highest professional ideals while they also challenge us to continue growing. They are woven into our partnership work with you, and in the sessions at our upcoming conference. As we move along together in our shared work, I encourage each of us to reflect on these attributes as we collaborate in service to your students and our profession.
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** More formally, the RSA is the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Commerce, and Manufactures, founded at a London coffee house in 1754 to encourage a range of civic improvements.