
So began the presentation of Dr. Anthony Muhammad to Gobles teachers during the week of professional development that kicked off the 2013-2014 school year. He had been invited by the district after two elementary teachers, Chris Quist and Deb Tiller, had the opportunity to hear him speak at a conference two years ago. Given the popularity and power of his message, Tiller and Quist knew he would inspire the work of our district, yet there is a long waiting list to bring him to a school.
Muhammad is a nationally known educator and author on culture, data, school improvement, and professional learning communities. He made a stop in the district in-between lectures in London, England, and several dates coming up in Australia. A Michigander by birth and still a Michigan resident, Muhammad told teachers here he was glad to be working so close to his home. He is currently traveling the country and world sharing the kinds of insights he wrote about in books like Transforming School Culture that give answers to the questions he asked us, based on research and the evidence coming out of successful school all over the world.
During his presentation Muhammad told teachers he liked what he saw in Gobles. “You are doing a lot of things right here,” he said. “I can look at Gobles and see the evidence that people care about kids here and that you have a vision and mission to do what’s right. Improvement is an ongoing, collaborative process, but you're starting this work with the right mindset.”