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Innovation is a process

By Anonymous
I've just finished reading How to Innovate: The Essential Guide for Fearless School Leaders and I am reminded of the statement that came up at the Innovate 2015 conference at The Graded School here in São Paulo that I wrote about earlier.  In the panel disscussion on the first evening Denis Russo Burgierman Editor-in-Chief of Superinteressante, Brazil's leading monthly magazine, made the point that innovation is a process.  It doesn't just happen as a good idea pops into your head and away you go.  
From the reading I see that this is very true.  The movement that happens due to the innovative idea happens when structures are put into place to allow for and encourage the following through with.  I've worked with many teachers and admin who have innovative ideas but no culture within which to flourish.  This is probably the most difficult portion of becoming an innovative school.  The process and suggested exercises that Brown and Berger have put forth in How to Innovate provide us with the how's and the what's of how to develop this culture and make it specific to our own school and the vision that we have of it.  As I wrote in the earlier post, I think it is this consistent asking of "why" and "what if" that will drive this culture of innovation.  When you see others, teachers and admin alike questioning long held structures and policies with the focus on the betterment of student learning you feel a sense of safety opening the door to innovation.     
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