From the Executive Director

Ann Etchison, Executive Director Virginia ASCD

Te Journey Continues…

Well into the 21st century, public education is literally atwitter about reform and changes needed in teaching, learning, and leadership. Through conferences, blogs, and journals, edu- cators weigh in on how to resculpt our schools. Virginia ASCD members include diverse and reflective educators helping to identify critical skills needed by teachers, administrators, and learners as we move forward in our no longer brand new century.

At our 2009 Conference, Bill Daggett shared the Rigor/Relevance Framework created by his

International Center for Leadership in Education to define an academically rigorous cur-

riculum that incorporates real-world relevance. Daggett’s work offers a pragmatic way of us- ing familiar language to review and determine the level of rigor and relevance in classrooms across the Commonwealth. Practitioners at the Conference showcased efforts currently underway to promote rigor and to define needed change.

In a recent blog post, Conference presenter Will Richardson reminds us that our “vision of change is still amorphous.” Technology in 21st century schools is a set of tools that Albe- marle County Superintendent Pam Moran indicates we need to reduce distance between learners and learning. VASCD webinar instructor and VCU professor Jon Becker discusses the purpose of schooling and reviews arguments needed for school change.

Public education has reached critical junctures before. The speed in which communication systems change makes our grappling with needed changes different, essential, and urgent.

We encourage you to share your thinking about rigor in the 21st century by posting a dis- cussion or link to your blog on the VASCD Ning site or by including VASCD in your Twit- ter posts. Help us harness our experiences and intellectual might to define what we in Vir- ginia mean by rigor in our 21st century. Together we are a powerful force for purpose-filled change!

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Virginia Educational Leadership Vol. 7 No. 1 Spring 2010 10