This past month has been a whirlwind for me-my post last month outlined my beginning of my transition to the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School in Executive Development. One of my activities this past month was an invitation by the US Navy (one of my clients) to spend 24 hours on an aircraft carrier as a "distinguished visitor". I have to tell you that it was one of the most incredible experiences I have had on a number of levels. 
Yes, I got a chance to land on the aircraft carrier out to sea with the landing wire (a "trap") and got the chance to catapult off the flight deck (the "cat"). Yes, I got a chance to see on the flight deck the fighter craft landing and taking off-up close and personal. Yet, there were absolutely two key lessons that I learned that apply directly to our educational system. Both of these lessons deal with professionalism.
1-The incredible professionalism of the sailors on the carrier was remarkable. The average age of the sailors on the carriers are 19 years old. These are young men and women who are one year removed from high school. They are quite impressive in the choreographed manner in which they launch, land, and secure the multiple aircraft over and over again in widely varying conditions. They engage in activities where the slightest mistake can be catastrophic. And they do it flawlessly. I had the chance to talk with several of the senior level officers who noted that they continue to be even more impressed with the level of skills that their sailors have coming out of high school. 
Coincidentally, the picture of the sailor is a family friend's relative-an incredibly humble and talented young man.
2- Professionalism doesn't necessarily mean do your own thing in a vacuum. There are ways that you launch, land, and secure the planes that either are proven to work or have evolved based upon conversation and collaboration among people within a community. The pilots talk about what lessons they learned from a certain flight plan. Sailors engaged in keeping gear clean talk about what works to do their job better by experientation and collaboration (By the way, Texas Pete or other tomato based hot sauces are terrific at keeping metal clean and sparkling-if it works that way on metal, I'm VERY cautious now about putting it on my eggs!)
While I've always thought that there are success stories in our American education system, we have focused necessarily upon what we can do better and differently. We continue to have challenges and cannot ignore those challenges. Yet, continued collaboration and discussion outside of a vacuum generate new ideas to better do our jobs/help more children learn. I hope that as we start another school year, we create structures, systems, opportunities, or whatever tools and tactics we can use to get and keep conversations going and bring educators together to do our work even better.
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