March 13, 2025

Driving in a Blizzard

(Surviving Chaos)

I had two meetings scheduled on March 5th and then fly home to Austin, TX. March 4^th, the night before, snow started falling. By morning 7” of snow on the ground, winds of 30+ mph, and roads covered. Blizzard conditions. (fortunately I lived in MN for 40 years – home field advantage) Meetings were canceled. I was scheduled to depart at 8:00 pm. HA.

So, at 6:30 am the journey to the airport began to get an 8:50 am flight.

Navigating in a blizzard is similar to dealing with the changing educational environment. See if you agree?

Blowing snow reduces visibility.
There were no lines visible on the road.
Slow Down.
Wind & Gusts come unannounced
Focus on windshield & traffic ahead

Recommendations

Clearly define the outcomes desired. Write, talk, and involve all stakeholders. When you can’t see very far ahead, look for small frame of references. Who are the leaders? Do they help create ways to move ahead, safely? Leaders must clearly define and redefine the future keeping our goals and values in our line of sight. There will be lots of distractions and leaders must keep focus on the preferred future.
When in chaotic conditions, look for any reference points. In normal conditions there are lines, guardrails, road signs, and landmarks etc. When the environment is changing rapidly, the pace of change is accelerating, and we start wondering who or what is in control. Remember the basics of learning. Good research is based what worked in the past. HOW do we adapt to changing conditions and use creativity for responding to changing conditions. For years we have focused on test scores as the only assessment for learning. Today, the ‘soft skills’ are now the ‘hard skills.’ Educators teach more than subjects. They model and teach meta skills for the future. Organizations want people who embrace diversity, be creative, working in collaborative settings, and rehumanizing the culture of schools/workplaces.
Proceed with caution. When conditions are risky, pay attention to the surroundings. The interstate I was driving on has a speed limit of 65 mph. My speed, and most of the cars around me were traveling at 30-35 mph. Occasionally a fast driver would pass, to go around. Fortunately, they did not cause any damage to most of the cars on the interstate. They did cause increased risk. The goal is not to stop progress but be smart about the response. Assess the risk, get strong commitments to the ultimate goal, LEARNING, and build the culture to support learning for students, staff, and the community. Each person must evaluate the risk of doing nothing and the risk of doing something. In toxic cultures, risk is harder to manage.
What are the winds of change? Read, converse with other professionals, track the political winds which are external, and, as a priority, track the internal relationships in the school, district, and/or community. The future usually hits you in the temple rather than the forehead. The more you are aware of the environment, the more you can anticipate the winds of change and prepare for them. Who saw AI coming? Some people obviously did. Educators are still trying to catch up with technology and the results of COVID. Start thinking 6-12 months ahead rather than only managing the day-to-day issues. Keep in mind driving in a blizzard requires constant adjustments in steering, braking, and accelerating
Focus on the road ahead. Be fixated on the road ahead, the destination? Follow in the tracks of the car ahead. That gives you a clue to the path. At the same time, you may have to deviate depending on barriers that might appear. Glance at the rear-view mirror occasionally to see if a car is moving faster or is too close. Looking at the windshield is going to be more productive in the long run. You can’t control what is behind you. You must control what is in front

Driving in a Blizzard

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Driving in a Blizzard

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