Before launching the foundation s education grant programs last spring, I had the good fortune to travel the country for most of a year speaking to colleagues, fellow superintendents, as well as to other education experts, policymakers and practitioners. All of these voices contributed to our education agenda. Education leaders want access to learning experiences that incorporate the opportunities of technology and the challenges of whole systems improvement. The commitment we have made is to assist every state with building a leadership development program that moves schools and systems of schools closer to this goal. Effective educational leaders engage teachers in designing high achievement environments and use technology as a tool to advance their vision.
Good schools are no accident.
They are better by design. And there is a great leader behind every one. Tom Vander Ark, former superintendent in Federal Way, Wash., is executive director for education for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, P.O. Box 23350, Seattle, Wash. 98102.