Earlier this month, I shared my personal story with cancer. It’s a story headed toward a happy ending. I compared the universal cancer fight with the universal fight underway in schools and communities to reach every child so that, once and for all, we eradicate the achievement gap just as teams are working diligently to wipe out cancer. Here are a few more thoughts for us to ponder.

From the words of the science-fiction television show of the 70’s, The Six Million Dollar Man, “Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world’s first bionic man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster.” What if we were saying, “We can prepare him, we can teach him, we can inspire the best in him – we have the technology, we have the know-how, and we have the way.” Across our country today, within educational systems, we have thousands of professional learning teams tackling the issues of failing students and closing gaps. How are we using the language of coaching – committed listening, paraphrasing and presuming positive intent – to hear each other? Is everyone at the table? How are we setting aside our own interests to work together in high performing teams, with focused and urgent commitment to find what every student needs to be successful? Just as cancer doesn’t wait, kids don’t wait.

It’s an old plot but we have a new script with new language; language that does not blame or point fingers but holds possible all ideas and potential. Together, let’s continue to write a new chapter that learns from the overwhelming challenge of cancer to the overwhelming challenge of youth today. Let’s find our collaborative answers together. The stakes are equally high. No Hollywood ending for us – just real life and healthy successful kids every day!

Reference: Time , April 1, 2013, “How to Cure Cancer.”

By Kathy Kee, PCC