Efforts to forge new paths don’t necessarily falter due to bad decisions or poor leadership.
More often, it requires changing a fixed mindset, interrupting the status quo, and thinking outside traditional solutions that:
Arthur C. Clarke, in his 1962 book “Profiles of the Future”, stated: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
It may be my background in STEM, but I see much of life as an experiment. I’ve spent over three decades trying to keep an open mind and look outside the box, prodding, testing, dissecting, and mindfully observing and experiencing the world and our profession in new lights. I’ve experienced time and again the magic when people of like and unlike minds are willing and able to work together. I create environments where that can happen.
The key goals of developing new programs and evolving existing ones are to empower students, strengthen teaching, and build community. Programs may be sustaining or “single use.” They can be events, classes, courses, pathways, curriculum units, or extra- and co-curricular activities.
This process includes mission and goal alignment; evaluating needs and resources; developing a plan with timelines, parameters, responsibilities, and communications; establishing measures of success.
Professional development (PD) and training should be specifically aligned to staff needs and mirror the kinds of learning practices we know work with our students. My offerings are designed with a view of educators as skilled and knowledgeable professionals. They are personalized, capacity-building, measurably productive, and fun.
Successful school districts have more than working programs and well trained staff. They are organizations that function effectively, ethically, collaboratively, and transparently. I help leaders maximize efficiency and organization, strategically plan, improve organizational identity (“branding”), access grants and sponsorships, develop partnerships, and improve community involvement.
“Dr. Natanagara’s comprehension of technology environments makes him the rare administrator who understands when and even more importantly when not to use technology to solve an issue.”
Jay Attiya, Director of Information Technology, Toms River Regional Schools
“Marc is a master of communication and creativity. He has always been generous with his knowledge and skills, whether working with K-12 students, graduate candidates, or seasoned educators.”
Harvey Allen, former Dean of Education, Monmouth University
Like you, I’ve worked with guest speakers, corporate trainers, and prepackaged solutions that didn’t take root.
I’ve seen us all spend millions on technologies, programs, and platforms that weren’t the best fit and didn’t stick.
I’ve listened to the advice of what I saw as trusted sources, some of my closest peers, and found they didn’t apply to my particular students, situations, or communities.