As many of you know I am a brand strategist and most of my clients are P-20 schools and systems of schools. So when I see a book titled, Education Nation, I am going to check it out. In this case I checked it out and then bought it. This week while flying to and from the east coast of the United States I read the book, and I am glad that I did.
Many of the views expressed by author Milton Chen, we share at the BrandED Consultants Group. You might know Chen from his days as executive director of The George Lucas Educational Foundation. Chen was also a director of research at Sesame Workshop and worked on Sesame Street, The Electric Company and 3-2-1 Contact. He has also been an assistant professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Chen advances the idea that there are six leading edges of innovation in schools, including the edge of thinking, curriculum, technology, time, co-teaching and youth. I will leave the details up to you when you read the book. I am often working on projects that require creating a common language for stakeholders to tell their school's story and I am always seeking ways to leverage innovation when it is an authentic reason to believe in the school or system of school brands.
So I resonated with Chen's views on how to do so with his edges of innovation. I also liked what Chen says about language. In the 21st century he professes that we think about teachers as coaches and students as partners. It seems that every day we hear about education reform. Most have no relevance. I think Chen's book has merit in this regard.
I am confident that Chen understands in the 2st century it is important to develop an education brand strategy to recruit and retain the right students, parents, teachers, investors and others.
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