Editorial: Intrepid as Catalyst for Independent Schools By Joel Backon, Vice President, OESIS Network

Intrepid as Catalyst for Independent Schools

Welcome to the premier issue of Intrepid. The USS Intrepid, a fearless aircraft carrier, provides the inspiration for our new magazine: a platform, wherever it sailed that provided force, depth, mobility, autonomy, flexibility, and opportunity, where none had existed before. And this, despite its cumbersome size, made it a tall order to shift direction on a dime, a similar characteristic of Independent Schools. Over its life, like our schools, the USS Intrepid reinvented and repurposed itself multiple times to extend its longevity, adapting to the contextual needs of the era. And like those who flew off its mobile runways, our students today have such an opportunity to soar from the trajectories we enable for them. As such, Independent Schools have the same unique opportunity in the education world. Sailing as we do in open regulatory waters, our schools have the ability to reinvent themselves regularly while maintaining or improving our high standards for students. The goal of this publication is to help our schools question and challenge everything we do in the service of improving our students’ learning experience. Intrepid, like its namesake, will be a provocative publication seeking strategic opportunity in the uncharted seas of learning. Joel Backon Vice President OESIS Network

Sound exciting? Our creative energy as a network of schools will move us beyond the fear of making mistakes to a place in which we thrive, even in the shadows of a contentious political climate and cultural transformation. The small sizes of our communities enable us to create our own cultures of learning, respect, empathy, and autonomy.

Intrepid asks you to move to the other side of fear, a world in which you can challenge what you do by questioning the basic assumptions; a world where failure is simply a misstep followed by learning and moving forward. Real innovative improvement is always the goal as you reflect on your day. Provocative questions move us beyond fear to a brand of education that strives for true excellence.

Why do we shut down behaviors we don’t fully understand?

Why do we assume that all technology and engineering courses are exciting for some kids?

When did we decide that a spiritual education (not necessarily religious) was not part of our school mission?

When did we decide that innovation was limited to the privacy of our classrooms rather than as a form of outreach to the wider community?

Why are autonomy and opportunity so important to learning, and how do those priorities make the case for pathways?

Why should we embrace deep discussion instead of abandoning it due to student distraction and inability to formulate effective arguments?

Read and own this publication with the promise of true innovation in mind. Always at its center will be the interests and agency of students. It’s your voice as part of the leading network for innovation at independent schools. We aim to amplify it.

Over the next few issues, we will explore transformational school change, how faculty practice true innovation, why some schools are creating an integrated program of both academic and cocurricular experiences as requirements for success, and how specific immersive student experiences can have an enduring impact for the life of the student. Please send us articles that reflect what your school is doing to challenge the status quo and be innovative, and if you are not certain if your idea is provocative, think about the USS Intrepid for guidance and inspiration or contact me.

If you are not an OESIS Network member, we hope you enjoy the premiere issue with our compliments and consider joining or subscribing in the future.

Joel Backon

Editor-in-Chief

Intrepid

4 Intrepid Intrepid is published quarterly by OESIS Network, Inc.

Subscriptions are included in OESIS Silver, Gold and Platinum memberships.