The Public in Public Education
- Catherine Addor
- Oct 12
- 3 min read
Choosing to work in public education is not simply a career path; it is a calling to serve entire communities. If you are entering public education, you are serving the whole public, not just those who are easiest to reach, most resourced, or most visible. Every decision, from the smallest classroom choice to the largest district policy, carries the weight of inclusion or exclusion. Innovation in this field is not about novelty. It is about designing systems, practices, and cultures that leave no one behind.
Lead with a Lens of Inclusion
Innovation begins with awareness. Decisions in schools either widen access or unintentionally create barriers. The mindset shift occurs when leaders and teachers recognize that inclusion is not an accident; it is a deliberate choice.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Who is not being reached by my current practice?
Which students appear in my success stories, and who is missing?
How can I ensure that resources and opportunities reach those who may not be aware of them or may not ask for them?
Actionable Steps
Review outcome data to identify equity gaps.
Proactively invite families who are less connected to school conversations.
Communicate opportunities in multiple ways and languages so no family is left uninformed.
Design Structures that Remove Barriers
An innovative mindset refuses to settle for systems that only work for some; it seeks to create solutions that benefit everyone. Structures in education must be built to serve the full range of learners and families.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Which policies unintentionally create barriers?
How do routines or schedules favor convenience over equity?
Who is expected to advocate for themselves in order to receive support?
Actionable Steps
Audit school policies with a focus on unintended consequences.
Build multi-tiered supports that address both academic and social-emotional needs.
Provide pathways for students and families to access help without needing insider knowledge.
Nurture Belonging as the True Innovation
A school may have technology, curriculum initiatives, and programs, but if students do not feel they belong, innovation falls flat. Belonging is the most powerful foundation for creativity and growth.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Who feels like a guest in their own school community, and why?
What messages do our traditions and symbols send about who belongs?
How do we celebrate the cultural strengths of students and families?
Actionable Steps
Create daily rituals that affirm identity and voice.
Involve students and families in shaping curriculum and school culture.
Broaden recognition to include diverse forms of achievement.
Sustain a Cycle of Reflection and Renewal
Public education is dynamic, and so must be its innovators. Growth comes from a willingness to notice exclusion and the courage to respond with change.
Questions to Ask Yourself
What evidence shows that exclusion exists in my setting?
How am I holding myself accountable for equity?
Where do I need to grow beyond what is comfortable to serve my students better?
Actionable Steps
Set and track equity goals with clear timelines.
Establish systems of feedback with students and families.
Partner with colleagues to monitor progress and refine practices.
Sometimes decisions in education unintentionally exclude certain students. A rule may protect order but silence a voice. A lesson may highlight a narrative but miss another equally vital one. A policy may serve many while leaving some at the margins. These moments are not failures to hide but opportunities to innovate. The accurate measure of an educator’s work is not how smoothly systems run but how deeply they reach into places of need. Public education achieves its promise when teachers and leaders see exclusion as a call to action and belonging as the standard. By stepping into this work with courage and creativity, schools can transform barriers into entry points and create communities where no learner is invisible. Serving the whole public is not the easiest path, but it is the most essential one.
Comments