Posted 11:21 AM by Susan Darst Williams

THANKFUL FOR OPPORTUNITIES

It's a paradox, but the things that appear to be negative for Nebraska education -- budget deficits, voter turndowns, assessment hubbubs -- all are actually very positive opportunities.

Over the next few weeks, Go Big Ed will be presenting some breakthrough ideas for how to navigate through these challenges and come out with a better, stronger education system.

We just can't afford to do things "the way we've always done them" any more. We need to turn to what works in the private sector. We need competition. We need quality control. We need to encourage good people to go into education. We need to work smarter.

Three words should guide us: cost-effective, creative and constructive.

It's time to rethink and reshape what we're doing in K-12 education, with a firm goal of providing equal opportunity to Nebraska's children and the very best preparation we can muster.

Send your suggestions and ideas for systemic change to me at swilliams1@cox.net and stay tuned.

Albert Einstein said it best: you can never solve a problem on the level on which it was created. So c'mon, Nebraska. Let's take it to the next level.