My education about education

By Timothy Terry

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In 2005, I was asked to join the board of trustees of Willowwind School in Iowa City. Willowwind was founded by a group of educators in 1972 after The University of Iowa closed its elementary school.

I was reluctant to get involved. I am an accountant and financial adviser, not an educator. In addition, I was well aware of the continuous public debate surrounding all things related to education. But Willowwind seemed like a worthy cause and I signed on.

I have received quite an education on education! The experience has totally changed my perspective. I have come to understand not only the challenges confronting educators and administrators - many of which were discussed at the recent Governor's Education Summit in Des Moines - but also the intersection of aspiration and reality.

The aspiration is to prepare the children for the world they will enter as adults. The reality is how to do it with diminishing resources. There are no easy answers.

This is particularly true in public schools where administrators are charged with a mandate of educating everyone. Throw in a world of expanding technology that demands a larger percentage of a shrinking budget, and it is little wonder public school administrators are forced to make choices that were unthinkable a decade ago.

Private schools like Willowwind are not

exempt from these realities. We face the additional challenge of providing a superior educational experience to justify our existence. It is that simple.

We are able to meet this challenge thanks to the generous support of parents, donors and dedicated educators.

We also have the ability to commit resources to areas that might otherwise be deemed expendable. Art, music and Spanish are core components of our educational experience. Fortunately, our supporters agree.

We are able to make course corrections quickly. An example is our math curriculum. Two years ago, we adopted Everyday Math. While it is an excellent program, our educators asked the question that has become emblematic at Willowwind: “Is this the best we can offer our students?” As a result, the decision was made to switch to Singapore Math, which we believe will provide a better foundation and be more rigorous for our students. Our educators immediately committed themselves to having this program in place by August.

As an independent school, we were able to move quickly to make important changes in our program for the benefit of the children - one of the most distinguishing characteristics of an independent school.

I have learned that all educators share the same goal: preparing their students for the world they will inherit. Unfortunately, shrinking resources are significantly compromising their ability to accomplish that goal. It is my hope that private schools like Willowwind will serve as a valuable example of how partnerships among educators, families and the community can create and sustain a model education - one that helps each child succeed in an increasingly complex future.

Timothy Terry of Iowa City, chair of Terry, Lockridge & Dunn and World Trend Financial, is president of the Willowwind School board of trustees as well as a board member of UNESCO City of Literature. Comments:

tterry@tld-inc.com