Cale Birk is a former Head of Innovation from British Columbia, Canada and imagineer and co-author of PLC 2.0 - Collaborating for Impact in Today's Schools, The PLC 2.0 Toolkit, Changing Change Using Learner-Centered Design and now his latest work, Navigating Leadership Drift with Dr. Michael McDowell.
An educator in the public school system for 15 years, Cale was a biology, science and physical education teacher as well as a coach of volleyball, basketball and golf. As a former high school principal, his school was named a model PLC school after increasing student success rates across all grades and subject areas for five consecutive years. The father of two daughters in the K-12 system, Cale is passionate about helping educators and leaders experience and model the learning experiences we want for our students in their classrooms. Currently, Cale helps districts, schools and industry leaders answer the question, "What is our observable impact?" and focus on the observable changes in practice that make the difference for all learners. Using the lens of “impact” rather than “action,” Cale has helped district leaders, school leaders and teachers reimagine and implement team plans, school plans and strategic plans that matter to educators and can actually be observed where it matters the most–in classrooms with students and teachers. In addition to his work as an author and facilitator, Cale has been the keynote/featured speaker at conferences in numerous states and provinces around North America, done a TED Talk and given addresses and workshops in Canada, the United States, Asia, New Zealand and Australia. In one of his latest projects, Cale is developing a global collaboration/observation network for school leaders from around the world to bring international perspectives, ideas and solutions to instructional challenges in our schools. |
DRIFT reminds us to keep our moral and education eyes on the road, while we are clear, engage in conversion, cultivate, and construct the optimal conditions to eat our eggs while aiming for the stars. Witty, powerful, with observable impact. If you have been looking for a book that speaks the truth about the impact leaders can make on student learning, this book is for you. In Navigating Leadership Drift, authors Birk and McDowell examine the behaviors that impact student learning most and provide specific ways to address the gaps and avoid the traps that cause us to drift. I walked away from this book a better leader and I believe you will too! Educational leaders and “Drift” authors, Michael and Cale, compel educational leaders to avoid the leadership “drift”. The drift of trying to do everything or expecting everyone else to take on everything that results in extreme initiative fatigue. Their solution is simple but not easy. Michael and Cale urge school leaders to anchor school wide goals in influences that have the potential to yield one year’s growth in one year’s time to ensure observable impact for absolutely every learner. Every human who is trying to make observable impact in our schools needs to read this groundbreaking book! |