Dear Isolated Changemaker

What can you do when you see all of the potential, yet it seems like no one else does? How do educators and leaders champion real changes in education? What is actually working in schools?

It can feel like you’re the only one in your school pushing for change. You see the cracks in the system, the unsustainable workloads, the outdated practices, and you want to make things better. You know you could be offering more to your students, that your colleagues could be proactive instead of reactive, and that ultimately the status quo doesn’t function. The potential you see in education, paired with the lack of effective action, grinds your gears as you want to work in a profession that sustains you, your colleagues, and your students. It feels like the future of education itself is at risk. Yet, when you bring up the issues, your innovative ideas, or your perspectives, the responses from the educators around you are often dismissive:

“That’s just how things are.”

“We don’t have the budget for that.”

“It’s a great idea, but leadership won’t go for it.”

“We can’t put any more on our plate.”

The passive, apathetic responses are frustrating. It’s like trying to plant a garden when everyone around you is content with the overgrown weeds. But the truth is, you’re not alone in this mission, not really.

You might be the only voice speaking up in your school, but across the world, educators like you are asking the same questions, noticing the same obstacles, and implementing various reform initiatives.

Education is Evolving, Even if Your School Hasn’t Caught Up Yet

While your local school may seem resistant to change, innovation is happening in education. Leaders are generating ideas on virtual calls, professional retreats are inspiring more holistic approaches, and classroom educators are leaning into the power of collaborative practices. Below you’ll find some hopeful examples of schools/organizations that are successfully implementing real, effective reforms. Let these inspire you to envision what’s possible when a changemaker moves forward with their ideas.

• Team Teaching Models that distribute the educator workload more effectively & encourage collaborative instruction are being implemented in Arizona, supported by Arizona State University's Next Education Workforce. Explore how team-based strategic school staffing models are improving outcomes and maximizing teacher impact on student learning.

• Student-Driven Learning, an approach that emphasizes the student's agency and autonomy in their own learning journey. Classroom experiences are centered around engagement & curiosity, guiding students to develop reflective and metacognitive skills at schools like Graded – The American School of São Paulo, by prioritizing inquiry and discovery.

• Leveraging Technology for Human Connection, as championed by UnconstrainED, which works with schools and educators to leverage advancements in AI and automation to enhance, rather than replace, the relationships at the heart of education. By using AI effectively, educators can build stronger, healthier relationships with all students, and reclaim precious person-to-person time.

• Professional Development communities focused on collaboration, such as NESA (Near East South Asian Council of Overseas Schools), AMISA (American International Schools in the Americas), and AAIE (Association for the Advancement of International Education). The gathering spaces created by these associations consistently inspire collaboration around fresh ideas, promote generous interactions between professionals, and prioritize sharing sustainable teaching practices. They each strive to maximize student learning through transformative educator professional growth.

There are real shifts happening in schools and districts that recognize the urgent need for change in modern education. None of these examples placed the responsibility of change on individual educator, instead these reforms required teamwork and a shared vision. By assembling allies, building communities, and learning how to advocate in ways that led to real action, the changemakers in the above examples have shown that forward-momentum in education is happening.

You Don’t Have to Advocate Alone

The hardest part of being a changemaker is the isolation. But what if you had a community? What if you had mentorship from someone who could guide you through the challenges with a fresh perspective, who could help you articulate and present your ideas effectively to the naysayers? A network of bold, forward-thinking educators, where you can become the advocate that brings others into the shared vision?

That’s exactly why I created Educators at the Cafe - a space for leaders in education, like you, who see the need for change and are ready to take action through collaboration. As a mentor in effective advocacy, we will work together to:

• Develop your ideas into strategic plans leveraging shared values and clear presentation methods,

• Explore research-backed approaches from other schools in the EATC network that have seen proven improvements in student and educator experiences, before ideating how to bring these wins to your local school,

• Construct your support network of changemaker educational leaders so that you always have someone, as peer-mentors, to bounce ideas and challenges around with who is also fighting for effective educational change.

  

  Relaxing at a cafe in Qatar, years before I envisioned Educators at the Cafe.

You may be the only changemaker in your school, but you are not alone. There is a growing movement of educators who see the obstacles and believe in a better way forward. Let’s work together to create real, sustainable change as collaborative, bold educators who deeply feel that education shouldn’t be a fight for survival, but a space for possibility.

If you’re ready to learn how to be an effective advocate for educational reform in your local school, apply to join my mentorship cohort. Visit Educators at the Cafe to start.

Thank you for believing in possibilities. From fellow changemaker in education, until next time,

by Christina Kottmann (April 2, 2025)

(I was an international elementary educator for 10 years, I taught the American curriculum, I hold a Master of Arts in Teaching, and I’m dedicated to discussing systemic issues in education and sharing innovative ideas about education reform. My organization, Educators at the Cafe, helps school leaders implement reforms for student impact today, not tomorrow.)