Technolandy

Day 12 (of SOL 2025) Summer of Learning… Dear Dr  @chrkennedy  supporting innovation

In his annual year end blog, Chris had some good questions… here is question 

12. How can we build systems that support innovation without burning people out?

1. Time and Money. I would love our program (and even a school) to have a day a week – the old 20% time of google, where everyone – students and adults were mandated to learn whatever they wanted – and then choose a credit on the graduation pathway that was going to replace.
2. Embed the design thinking framework!

1. Shift from Pilot Projects to Sustainable Prototypes

Instead of overloading staff with constant “new initiatives,” frame innovations as prototypes with feedback loops built in.
🔁 Try → Reflect → Refine → Repeat
Give educators time to iterate, not just implement. Innovation becomes less overwhelming when it’s approached as gradual improvement, not urgent overhaul.

2. Create Protected Time and Collaborative Space

Innovation takes time—beyond the lunch break. Build collaborative, job-embedded time into the schedule:

• Common prep blocks
• Innovation “sprints” or studio days
• Cross-role PLCs (not just same-grade teams)

If we want creative thinking, we need to stop treating time for it as a luxury.

3. Make Innovation Belong to Everyone, Not Just the “Keeners”

Too often, innovation rests on the shoulders of the enthusiastic few.
Instead:

• Flatten hierarchies: invite voices from all roles
• Celebrate micro-innovations: small changes count
• Focus on “permission to try,” not perfection: psychological safety fuels risk-taking

When innovation is shared, supported, and celebrated across the system, it becomes energizing—not exhausting.

🔄 Innovation Can’t Live Only With the “Keeners”

Too often, systems lean on the same eager early adopters—the keeners—to lead every new initiative, pilot, and “exciting opportunity.”
But innovation that relies on a few can’t sustain a system meant for many.

✅ It’s not about asking the willing to do more.
It’s about designing systems where everyone can contribute, safely experiment, and feel ownership.

✨ Instead of spotlighting only the boldest moves, we need to:

• Celebrate quiet, steady innovation
• Build structures that invite reluctant voices
• Value progress over polish

Innovation thrives when it’s shared—not shouldered.

You know what we’ve got to stop doing? Relying on the keeners to carry innovation. And sometimes the keeners have to learn it’s okay to say ‘no’ (something I say better than I model… kinda like using sick days…)

Yes, we love them. They’re passionate, brave, and willing to try just about anything. But if every new initiative lands on the same few people, we’re not building a sustainable system—we’re building burnout.

Innovation can’t be a reward for enthusiasm. It needs to be part of the culture, not an extra burden.

That means:

• Making space for the quieter voices to lead in their own way
• Celebrating the small, steady improvements, not just the flashy pilots
• Designing systems where everyone has permission—and support—to try something new

If we really want change that sticks, it can’t depend on a handful of heroes. It has to be something we grow together.

Sometimes, the keeners need to get better at saying no.

When you’re excited about learning and energized by change, it’s easy to say yes to every new idea. But even passion has limits. Constantly being the “go-to” can lead to exhaustion, resentment, or worse—losing that spark altogether.

Saying no isn’t resistance.
It’s self-preservation.
It’s making space for others to step in.
It’s modeling boundaries in a culture that too often rewards burnout.

So let’s not just build systems that include more people in innovation—
Let’s also build ones where our most passionate people don’t get stretched until they snap.

If we want sustainable innovation in schools, we have to stop leaning on the same passionate few. Innovation shouldn’t be an extra burden—it should be built into the system. That means protected time to explore ideas, collaborative space to iterate, and a culture where everyone—not just the keeners—has permission to try. We need to move from flashy pilots to steady, shared progress. Because real innovation isn’t heroic—it’s supported, safe, and systemic.

Thoughts for the video component:

One-Minute Mystery: “The Case of the Burnt-Out Innovators”

They were the spark-pluggers. The idea people. The “yes, I’ll pilot that too” crew.

But by June?

They were exhausted.

The same faces showing up at every innovation table… were starting to fade.

So what happened?

Turns out, the system wasn’t broken—it just wasn’t built to last.

There was no protected time.

No space to reflect, refine, or share the load.

Innovation had become a reward for enthusiasm instead of a responsibility shared by all.

The solution to this mystery? the secretary didn’t do it…

The answer is about Working smarter, together.

Thanks to Steve Jobs:  

“Let’s give time to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules but know they can’t be the only ones to innovate. And while they have no respect for the status quo, they celebrate permissions to try – even if just 20% of the time. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. So give protected time and collaborative spaces and embrace some sustainable and unsustainable prototypes. Because this changes things.  This pushes the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world of education, are the ones who will.