Diane Tavenner: The Crucial Teacher, Parent and Child Relationship

In our last podcast, we spoke with Diane Tavenner about the path forward: How schools and families should prepare as we all head into the unknown – the launch of the first full school year during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Today we talk with Diane again, this time about how she – and the approach to learning that she developed through Summit Public Schools – got here.

Like anything else – perhaps even more so – education today requires a blend of the visionary and the practical: We need the extraordinary ideas and insights to reach the seemingly impossible goal of ensuring opportunity for every child… but also the practical paths – the daily steps required to make those opportunities possible.

But what should that blend look like? How does it integrate not only a clear focus on academics, but also what's happening beyond the classroom. And how should the crucial teacher, parent and student relationships and responsibilities work together to bring that vision to reality? 

Diane answers these questions. And as you’ll hear, “opportunity” and “practical” are very important words in her vocabulary.

Some background: Diane is the co-founder and CEO of Summit Public Schools, which operates 15 public middle and high schools in California and Washington State. She also serves on the board of T.L.P. Education, the organization helping schools across the U.S. to implement Summit Learning – Summit’s personalized approach to education. Before founding Summit, Diane spent ten years as a public school teacher, administrator, and leader in traditional urban and suburban public schools throughout California. 

Diane is also the author of “Prepared: What Kids Need for a Fulfilled Life,” which offers “a blueprint for how parents can stop worrying about their children’s future and start helping them prepare for it.”

One note before we start: This second conversation with Diane was actually our first one together. We recorded this conversation about five months ago – in fact, I open the talk by asking her about a great honor: Bill Gates had recently listed “Prepared” as one of his five holiday recommendations. Unfortunately, just as that conversation was about to post, Covid-19 hit, schools were in turmoil, and we delayed. We’re thrilled to finally release it now.

For more information, go to www.turnaroundusa.org/podcast