Russ Quaglia - The Power of Voice in Schools: Listening, Learning, and Leading Together

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This book is dedicated to those with the voices closest to our heartsour children and grandchildren. May you always use the power of your voices to listen, learn, and lead with others to make a difference in the world around you.

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Voice is about listening, learning, and leading togetherand this book epitomizes that process. Although there are four authors listed on the cover, this was unquestionably a much larger Quaglia Institute team effort. From the day this book started as an idea until the final page was proofed, the Quaglia team worked together to analyze what we have learned from collaborating with incredible students and educators. I am honored to recognize a few of our colleagues who have had a profound impact on our work.

Jason Caine, the newest member of the Quaglia Institute family, lives his life through an aspirations lens. He is always dreaming big and working hard to achieve those dreams. Jason is naturally curious and sincerely interested in learning about and with others. He has an extraordinary ability to genuinely connect with virtually every person he meets. It has taken Jason just a few short months to make his most recent dream a reality: establishing the Australian Institute for Voice and Aspirations.

Dr. Michael Corso, a teacher and theology department chair at Catholic Memorial School in Massachusetts, is one of the most caring and dedicated educators on the planet. Mickey's guidance and support have influenced me both professionally and personally. Mickey's insights have been integral in the progression of our voice and aspirations work over the years, influencing countless students and educators. Mickey himself embodies the definition of the lifelong learner; we can all learn a great deal about life by the way he lives his.

Dr. Joe Meloche, superintendent of the Cherry Hill Public Schools in New Jersey, wears bright pants and colorful bow ties, both of which pale in comparison to his brilliance and optimism. Joe navigates the world of education in the most genuine way, looking for the best in others, finding ways to support them, and always doing what is best for students. Joe is one of the most sincerely caring people I know and is always willing to give of himself to make things better for everyone. Joe truly epitomizes the voice and aspirations work.

Carol Alexander, director of A-G Intervention and Support in the Los Angeles Unified School District's (LAUSD) division of instruction, is an inspirational beacon of light. In a world that sometimes seems filled with smoke and mirrors, Carol's frank and honest demeanor is incredibly refreshing. Carol is extremely committed to making a difference in students' lives to ensure they achieve their aspirations. Every time I leave a meeting with Carol, I am determined to try harder, do better, and make a bigger difference.

A special education teacher (along with many other roles!) in LAUSD, Michelle Brait is the type of person who makes a difference the moment she walks into a classroom. Students of all ages are drawn to Michelle's infectious smile and welcoming demeanor. Her passion and commitment to every student she meets is exemplary, and she has a way of instantly making students feel valued. (On top of all that, Michelle's admirable work ethic makes me feel like a sloth!)

Sue Harper works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the full Quaglia team is always moving in the right direction. This is no small feat given our individual schedules, yet Sue approaches each taskand daywith enthusiasm. Sue wears many hats and readily rotates them to accomplish everything that needs to be done! I know that the work behind the scenes is essential, and I couldn't be more appreciative of Sue's willingness to jump in at any time to help with everythingand always with a smile.

We all have forces around us that make sure we stay on track, focused on the ultimate goal. My force is a powerful one named Genny Ostertag, Director of Content Acquisitions at ASCD. Genny's calm confidence and caring nature allow her to achieve a most difficult tasksimultaneously respecting and challenging authors. Genny's poise, professionalism, and willingness to engage in difficult discussions consistently assured me that we were in this together, equally committed to the purpose and importance of this book.

I want to give special thanks to my coauthors Kris, Lisa, and Deb, who collectively represent brilliance at a level rarely seen in any profession. Their loyalty and commitment to the work we do is nothing short of astonishing, and they believe in the endless potential of each person they meet. Reflecting this belief, 100 percent of the royalties from this book will be donated to support students who are committed to fostering voice and aspirations in their schools. On behalf of students and educators around the world, I thank each of you for making this world a better place. You are far more than colleagues to me. You are gifts to a world that needs the kind of hearts and souls you each possess.

The greatest acknowledgment of all undoubtedly goes to the thousands of students who have provided us with their insights, fueled our passion, guided our thinking, enlightened our hearts, and straightened us out when we were simply off track. It has been a privilege to learn with each of you every step of the way, and we are incredibly grateful for your honest perspectives and insights. Your voices have influenced the trajectory of our voice and aspirations work and in turn had a positive impact in schools around the world. Your voices have been heard, listened to, and valued beyond words.

Dr. Russ Quaglia
Founder, Quaglia Institute for School Voice and Aspirations

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A self-scoring inventory, My Voice Potential, is available online for you to reflect on personal attributes that affect the potential of your voice being heard, valued, and acted on:

www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/books/quaglia2020_120021.pdf

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For nearly four decades, we have been working to inform, reform, and transform schools. Inform with the data gathered from the voices of students, educators, and parents. This is different from test scores, to be sure, but it's no less valuable as a basis for driving decisions. We have gathered hundreds of thousands of surveys, conducted thousands of focus groups, and participated in countless conversations with students and teachers in this effort. Reform because the data we have collected suggest the inherited, industrial model of school has been failing a majority of students for quite some time. We are not alone in this assessment. The dropout rate in both secondary and postsecondary schools in our country is worrisome; the persistent academic achievement gap is intolerable; and the racial inequality in the discipline meted out in our schools is unacceptable, to say the least. Finally, transform because what is required is not simply an improvement to current approacheswe need a radically new approach.

Student Voice: The Instrument of Change (Quaglia & Corso, 2014) introduces the Aspirations Framework, which is an approach that ensures every student has the ability to dream and set goals for the future while being inspired in the present to reach those goals. That book is filled with practical suggestions grounded in research and the real experiences garnered from educators working in schools.