This post is part of a series inspired by the #IMMOOC book study of Katie Martin’s book, Learner-Centered Innovation.  

The organizational chart for the school division I work in looks like this:

It’s a pretty typical org chart with the Board of Education at the top, followed by the Director of Education, the superintendents, and so on.

A good friend and I have often speculated how education might change if the org chart were to be flipped, so that students took the top spot, followed by front-line staff, staff at division office, with the Board of Education at the bottom.  Would it change the outlook of the system in general?  Would having students at the top of the chart be the constant reminder that we are all there to serve them, and that our relationships with them are of primary importance? If nothing else, I believe the idea would produce interesting discussion.

My school division is a good place to learn and work, but I wonder if this one small innovation would make it even better. I’m not sure if this is “thinking inside the box”, but I believe that having students at the pinnacle of the organization would send a clear visual message that students are first and foremost in the work we do.