| Usually innovation focuses on the students and their | | | | with minimal or no cost (some may provide a cost |
| families. You are constantly looking for better ways to | | | | savings) |
| serve them. That is good. | | | | Inform the board |
| Do those innovations live up to the expectations? | | | | Make the changes over the summer |
| Think about the Olympic skier who studies the winning | | | | Have a renewed and more vital ministry in September |
| techniques of several competitors. The skier likes | | | | Remember, most innovations are discovering the |
| some of the new ideas and decides to try them. The | | | | obvious. As an example, think of the hockey goalie's |
| skier takes along the same old bent poles he or she | | | | mask. Knights were wearing facemasks long before |
| has been using for years. Will the new techniques live | | | | hockey was being played. Catchers in baseball have |
| up to expectations? | | | | been wearing masks for how long? Why are goalie |
| The same is true for a parochial school that introduces | | | | masks a recent innovation? |
| the latest innovation in classroom teaching. Without | | | | Yes, a hockey mask costs money. However, it is |
| corresponding changes in the school's administrative | | | | cheaper than the loss of a goalie. What changes |
| process, teacher evaluations, or other areas, the latest | | | | could you make that cost a little and save a lot? |
| technique may be unable to deliver its full potential. | | | | You and your staff practically live at the school. You |
| Sometimes the new technique fails to deliver the | | | | are the ones who are best qualified to identify the |
| expected benefits. The current traditions, policies, and | | | | innovations. What innovations are waiting to be |
| habits inhibit success. However, unintentional it does | | | | discovered at your school? How much money is the |
| happen. | | | | average Christian school loosing because it has |
| Without periodic substantive renewal in all areas | | | | overlooked simple innovations? |
| (maintenance, janitorial, busing, administration, board, | | | | Your staff probably has several good ideas. |
| fundraising, etc.) vitality is lost. | | | | Discovering them together will strength the team, help |
| Next Step: | | | | the staff feel valued, and contribute to sustainable |
| In an upcoming staff meeting, ask the staff to | | | | success. |
| recommend changes to the non-classroom areas of | | | | Education is a rapidly evolving area. The operation of |
| the school | | | | the school must keep pace with the classroom, if we |
| Discuss the suggested changes with the relevant | | | | want to maximize the benefit to the children. |
| departments and determine which ones are possible | | | | |