Over the course of the Annual Meeting, seven Think Tanks met periodically to brainstorm solutions to a fi ctitious school’s myriad problems. One participant commented, “I loved the Think Tanks and the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation with my peers.” Another enthusiastic soul put it best: “Hooray for active participation!”

Betty Hale, President Emerita, Institute for Educational Leadership, and former SSATB Director, acted as the overall facilitator and helped to pull the experience together. In Saturday’s plenary session report, she made the following observations:

• There is a bias toward immediate action; more time is needed to understand the problem(s).
• Leaders must have the ability to prioritize.
• In taking action, you must evaluate whose buy-in matters most.
• A standards-based, transparent admission process will only become more important in an environment where people demand results.

The Think Tank experience would not have been possible without our dedicated group of volunteer leaders – Board Members, Outreach Directors, and SSATB Staff:
Greg Buckles • Britt Flanagan • Kilian Forgus Aimee Gruber • John Harrington • Michael Horsey Ellen Moceri • David Mumby • Susan Nelson Lawrence Sampleton • Mary Will Thomas Tom White • Melanie Williams