From Rule Followers to Ruckus Makers

Stop Managing, Start Designing

AuthorAuthor

Dan Watt & Danny Bauer
February 10, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

The secret to school transformation might be hiding in your most unlikely place: faculty meetings.

While many principals struggle to keep teachers awake, a growing movement of Ruckus Makers uses an unconventional 90-minute format that turns these sessions into engines of innovation.

Are you ready to shake up the status quo?

First time reading? Sign up here and join 5,704 Ruckus Makers Doing School Different 🎉

INSPIRATION STATION

It’s okay to steal — Feel free to share any of these links and how we write about them and drop ‘em right into your staff newsletter this week.

  • 🐐 200-Goat Fire Brigade: Your students are going to love this story, about Roy Austin of El Dorado’s Goat Central, and his herd of four-legged firefighters helping prevent wildfires 

  • 🥇 One Word for Kids: A couple of weeks ago we shared a story about using one word to set goals. Your younger students will love this engaging read-aloud too!

  • 👩‍🏫 Education Transforms Lives: UNESCO’s powerful exhibition showcases stories from around the world to illustrate how individuals and communities across diverse contexts are empowered by education

  • 😜 For all the math teachers, here's a real-world word problem: If a Vancouver company is selling 'artisanal' firewood bundles at $1000 each, how many classroom supply orders could you have funded instead of buying one bundle of fancy sticks?

A MESSAGE FROM CLASS COMPOSER

Playing Whac-A-Mole With Student Placement?

Moving a student to another class to address one problem often leads to creating another.  With a paper-based process, it's nearly impossible to account for all the data manually. Class Composer will help you visualize all the data to ensure equitable classes.

THE RUCKUS MAKER MONTHLY THEME: DESIGN THINKING

Design Thinking for Culture Change: Moving FROM Compliance TO Creative Problem-Solving

School leaders often feel stuck between maintaining the status quo and fostering innovation. Design thinking offers a powerful framework to bridge this gap, transforming compliance-driven environments into spaces where creative solutions thrive.

Reframe Challenges as Opportunities 

Let’s start by rethinking how we approach school improvement. When we shift from mandates to possibilities, we open doors to innovation.

  • Replace mandates with "How might we..." questions

  • Set up weekly innovation labs for problem-solving

  • Transform "Submit lesson plans by Thursday" into "How might we ensure planning supports student success?"

These strategies help create test kitchens where teachers can brainstorm without judgment and take calculated risks. When educators feel safe to experiment, they find better solutions that stick.

Build Teacher Agency Through Experimentation 

True change comes from empowering your team. Create structures that support teacher-led innovation while maintaining high standards.

  • Create mixed innovation teams of veteran and new teachers

  • Establish "sandbox spaces" for testing new approaches

  • Dedicate time for peer observation and sharing insights

  • Document and share small victories to build momentum

When teachers feel ownership over improvement processes, they become powerful advocates for positive change. Their enthusiasm becomes contagious, spreading innovation throughout your building.

Start Small, Learn Fast 

Before rolling out major changes, think small but strategic. Focus on gathering real evidence of what works in your unique context.

  • Create pilot programs in single grade levels

  • Launch a 90-Day planning process

  • Gather focused feedback using Plus/Delta protocols

  • Track progress visually to celebrate learning

  • Adjust based on real classroom impact

  • Scale what works, modify what doesn't

Culture change happens one experiment at a time. When we focus on learning rather than compliance, we unlock our school's true potential.

Where can you begin? Start by identifying one area where compliance is holding back innovation in your school. Frame it as a "How might we..." question. Better yet, hit “reply”, share your success with us, and celebrate your best year yet!

Let's make some noise. 🚀

"When we focus on learning rather than compliance, we unlock our school's true potential."
Dan Watt

LEADERSHIP EDGE

MONDAY VIBES

WEEKLY CHALLENGE

From Routine to Innovation

School cultures often get stuck in traditional patterns that limit creativity and growth. This week's challenge invites educators to transform one routine process into a dynamic learning opportunity.

Your Innovation Mission:

  • Identify a current process that feels mechanical or restrictive

  • Reframe it with a "How Might We..." question

  • Gather a small, diverse team to brainstorm alternatives

  • Prototype one innovative approach

  • Test the idea in a focused setting

  • Collect and reflect on feedback

Transform FROM rigid procedures TO collaborative learning experiences. Meaningful change on your campus will happen through intentional, small experiments that unlock your school's creative potential.

Ready to accelerate your impact? Join our 90-Day “Best Year Ever!” Accelerator and turn these insights into transformative school-wide strategies! 🚀

Keep Making a Ruckus,

PS … Did you know there is a premium edition of this newsletter? This week we shared an article on XXX (refer back to Thursday’s article)

How did you like today's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Reply

or to participate.