HACK 10: change the mindset

eradicate deficit thinking

Hacking the deficit mindset can best be accomplished by framing every problem as an opportunity to learn from a new experience. Yes, the world of education is filled with many barriers, but as school leaders we determine what impact those barriers have on our communities. We can allow them to stay in place for teachers and students to stumble over or detour around, and thereby limit learning, or we can do our best to remove them, giving access to new possibilities where they can thrive and prosper.

Discussion Questions

• How do you facilitate discussions with staff that don't go back to..."we can't do that because..."?
• How do you help move people beyond deficit thinking?
• Who are your opinion leaders in school? How do you value and inform those individuals throughout the process of professional growth?