In this episode, Mike Duncan, president and CEO of Battelle for Kids, explores the concept of a portrait of a graduate and its importance in shaping education. He discusses the need to include all voices in creating a portrait that reflects the competencies most important to students' success.

Duncan emphasizes the value of inquiry-based learning, self-direction, and creating products that have an impact beyond the classroom. He also highlights the importance of leveraging the talent within schools to build capacity and co-create the design process.

The episode also touches on the importance of psychological safety in creating an environment where students and educators feel comfortable taking risks and failing. Duncan shares his insights on how to be a transformative principal and the resources available to support principals in their leadership journey, such as the EdLeader21 network and the Future Cast report.

This episode provides valuable insights into the role of a portrait of a graduate in shaping education and the essential qualities of transformative principals.

• Locally developed, globally positioned
• Including all voices in creating a portrait of a graduate
• What competencies are most important in a portrait of a graduate?
• Being good people and a good citizen.
• Put their perspectives on the table, and let people do their
• 5-7 most powerful.
• Portrait is the very beginning of that journey.
• Inquiry based learning, self-direction, products that have impact beyond the classroom
• Portrait of a graduate as a catalyst.
• Knowing vs. doing curriculum
• Learning expo -
• Leveraging the talent in our schools already to build capacity on
• Cocreating the process of designing
• It’s about time, you need coaching, support, and help in doing it efficiently
• How to be a transformative principal? Create Psychological safety to create and fail.
• Bill Daggett Episode
• EdLeader
• Future Cast

About Mike Duncan

Mike Duncan is the president and CEO of the national nonprofit Battelle for Kids. Prior to his role, he was one of the longest-serving superintendents in the state of Georgia, having been the superintendent at Pike County Schools since 2005. Before arriving in Pike, he was a high school principal, high school and middle school assistant principal, and a middle school teacher. Mike earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Georgia in 2004. He has been a member of EdLeader21, the national network of Battelle for Kids, for over a decade and previously served as the network’s advisory vice chair.

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