AISI: The Little Innovation Engine that Could

I've been prompted by a couple of friends (the good kind of friends who push and prod you into doing those things you really should do for your own good but are reluctant to dive into) to get blogging again. My challenge with it is this post. Before I can write about other things, I have to get past writing this post...the one centered on what's happened with the de-funding of AISI. I've started at least ten times, but couldn't work out just what I wanted to say. It's a very emotional topic for me, and still fairly fresh. But not as fresh as the day the Alberta government budget was tabled and we learned, along with other Albertans, that the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement would no longer be funded as of April 1st, 2013. Not only that, but the entire School Research and Improvement Branch, which I've come to call my working home, would be disbanded. Some of us would be placed elsewhere, others would be on their own to look for new work. The announcement was for the most part received in stunned silence. It was inconceivable.

But now I've had some time to grieve AISI...privately and connectedly...and it's critically important to acknowledge my deep gratitude for all my comrades-in-arms who together helped each other process the loss and the implications, moving forward. You know who you are...many of us are still banding together in the online community.

Why would the ending of a government funded program cause such a stir? Such is the legacy of AISI, the little innovation engine that could. The global social media community came alive with messages of support even in advance of the final decision...AISI was the catalyst for so much positive change in Alberta schools and in the teaching and learning sphere. And that's the good news. So -- onward. As another good friend said to me not long ago, "What's the best that could happen?" Love that. And so I'm framing the rest of this post, and my thinking and efforts going forward, around that question.

...the best that could happen is that the AISI community rallies and continues to move forward in their quest for learning, innovation and knowledge building, finding ways around challenges, barriers and lack of funding because that's we do around here.  

...the best that could happen is that the online community expands to take in more educators, administrators,  learning coaches, pre-service teachers, district office personnel and researchers who are passionate about connecting and learning together. 

...the best that could happen is that the drive for the improvement of Alberta schools, teaching and learning continues and that there is a place where innovation can be celebrated, capacity can be built, and students most of all will benefit. 

And finally, the best that could happen is that AISI will be remembered as the foundation on which transformation in education in Alberta was built.