Closing out 2017, A4LE is very proud to usher in the coming year with great a new publication, Learning Spaces. The last few issues of Learning Spaces have been available to members of A4LE to demonstrate the incredible examples of projects globally that advocate for innovative learning environments. The A4LE membership cannot continue to thrive and to provide these examples, without a strong basis from which to operate. 2017 was a year to entrench ourselves globally and as such has been a year of re-building. It has meant re-establishing many of our organizational practices to create that foundation from which we continue to thrive.
It makes a great deal of sense to look back briefly on these elements of change that will allow this organization to expand its global presence. With that, I believe there is value in describing the Board’s vision for this organization as it has been developed over the past year.
So, allow me start with this…why do we come together as a membership? My guess, (and what we hear over and over), is that we come together to share best practices, to network with colleagues and to learn from each other. All of these are important reasons however I would hazard a guess that the unique and humble members of this organization actually come together for a greater reason. I believe that we come together for the common good of “enhancing the learning environment for all children”. I believe we all share that one both pragmatic and esoteric goal and it is the reason we are all together.
With that global vision goal in mind, this organization has been working tirelessly to put in place a thought process and framework to allow the association to flourish. We as an organization are now over 4600 members globally. The association recognizes that global growth so we are working hard to make sure it is easy for all to benefit from being a member.
Over the last several years we have had a series of committees and task forces in place in which our members have participated. A common theme emerging from each of these committees was the need to develop a global perspective from which to base all future association action. As part of that, there was a specific task force initiated called the Global Organization Task Force. In our Annual Conference in Philadelphia in 2016, this task force conducted a workshop that solidified issues developed through the duration of that discussion.
Since our Philadelphia conference, the Board and staff have been busy developing the framework to accomplish those goals. The association has set the following in motion:
- Steering Committees - We have streamlined what was a cumbersome Committee process to three critical Steering Committees for the association; These new steering committees are named; Development Steering Committee, Membership Steering Committee, and Knowledge Center Steering Committee. The Steering Committees have a simplified reporting structure in place to the Board so that we can better focus on our global initiatives. It is the Board’s hope that these committees will flourish and will attract participants globally to help advocate for the future of the organization.
- Strategic Planning - We then held a Strategic Planning session this past spring in New Orleans, Louisiana to focus our efforts as an organization on Global initiatives and to further develop how we will support these three steering committees. This planning session included leadership from each of the regions globally to help reinforce that international voice.
- Technology – throughout 2017, staff has been implementing a new set of technologies at the International Staffing level to better support a global organization. Look for implementation of these technologies soon to include social media platforms for communication in the format that our younger generation is so familiar with as well as a totally new website platform.
- Global Structure - The Board has begun discussion of both financial and Governance structures to create an organization that truly supports Global growth. A Global Organization Task Force is in place to continue the work put in place by the Board. Once that discussion is complete, we will begin to implement staffing models to best support that global governance model.
- Global Representation - Members of the Executive Committee regularly attend each regional conference on behalf of the International Board. From this activity, there is a great exchange of ideas. More importantly though, this year, the Board of Directors in its entirety attended the Australasian Conference held in Singapore. This opportunity provided for an incredible exchange of ideas, best practices and enhanced the cultural identity of the multitude of members throughout the world. Additionally, in both 2016 and 2017 members of the Board of Directors visited the United Kingdom to provide support for the expanding UK Membership and to participate in the strategic partnership activities currently underway.
- Global Mission and Vision - a Mission and Vision Committee was put in place to develop those statements for the organization going forth. This Committee consisted of six members: two from Australasia, two from Canada and two from the United States. That Mission and Vision was thoroughly vetted as one that supports our future global presence.