Full Description
The future of school isn't just a dream-it's already happening.
What if we could build schools and systems that prepare every student for college, career, and life, not just for a test? It turns out, we can. The future of public education is being built right now in the Anaheim Union High School District, and this book shows you how they did it.
This isn't just another theory; it's a practical guide—filled with rich narrative and hard evidence— to transforming education from the inside out. Following Anaheim's journey, you'll see how a mid-sized, urban district moved beyond standardized testing to create a system that truly serves its students and community. It's a story of courage, collaboration, and a deep commitment to helping every student thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Discover how to:
Empower teachers - unyoked from teaching to a test designed in a bygone era— to lead deeper learning innovations from the classroom up.
Connect academic learning to real world skills through meaningful community partnerships.
Support the whole child by prioritizing student agency and well-being alongside academics.
Achieve remarkable results, including higher graduation rates and college and career success.
Build cross-sector partnerships to transform teaching and learning and reposition the public good in public education.
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Our Why
Prologue: Moving From Aimlessness to Systemness
From Aimlessness: How Have We Missed the Mark?
The Anaheim Story in Brief
Toward Systemness
The Flow of the Book
The Moves Ahead
Chapter 1: Beginning With Teachers and Students Together
The Challenges in Public Education, 2025
System Change With Teachers and Students
Genuine Connections
Space for Innovations
The Unlimited You
The Emotional Quotient
The Forward Push
Key Takeaways and Reflective Questions
Chapter 2: Tracing the AUHSD Journey
Reshaping the Narrative
Digging Deeper
The Journey's Beginning
The 5C Innovative Architecture
eKadence and the Journey Forward
Key Takeaways and Reflective Questions
Chapter 3: Developing Teachers as System Thinkers
System Thinking for Systemness
Systemness Thinking and the Teaching Profession
Jason Collar
Sabina Giakoumis
The Team at Walker Junior High
Key Takeaways and Reflective Questions
Chapter 4: 8 Factors for Systemness: The Individual Stance
Thinking Big, Starting Small, Learning Fast
Factor #1: Shared Purpose/Meaning
Factor #2: Belonging
Factor #3: Time
Factor #4: Autonomy
Key Takeaways and Reflective Questions
Chapter 5: 8 Factors for Systemness: The Collective Stance
Factor #5: Good Leaders
Factor #6: Teachers and Students Together
Factor #7: Community Linkage
Factor #8: Artificial Intelligence
Key Takeaways and Reflective Questions
Chapter 6: Reimagining a Teaching Profession, With Teachers and Students Together
Advancing Teaching as a Profession
Teachers With Students
A Reimagined Teaching Profession
The Social Side of Learning and Leadership
Schools Designed for Distributing Expertise
Talent Development Systems
Key Principles of a Reimagined Profession
Key Takeaways and Reflective Questions
Chapter 7: Breaking Through to Systemness: The Next Five Years
Innovation Design Steeped in Transcendent Thinking
AUHSD's 8-Factor Interactive
The Journey Continues
AUHSD Systemness Journey: 2025-2030
The Deeper Learning Road Map to Systemness
System Conditions for Spread and Sustainability
The Rise of Public Education
Epilogue: Entering More Complex Terrain
Forward Movement
The Internal System
The External System
A Hopeful Future
Appendix
Deeper Learning Road Map: Assessing Strengths and Opportunities
Index
