Shaping the Future of Education with Dr. Kapono Ciotti (EP164)

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Dr. Kapono Ciotti, a leader in social-constructivist education, directs the PEAK Distinction Model. He promotes student-driven impact education globally, influencing educators in 100+ schools to shape the future of education. Kapono champions Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, with 15 years at the National Association of Independent Schools. 

Your WHY 

My strong belief in education being an act of social justice drives my work.

School is Community

Your Philosophy and Background

I attribute my educational philosophy to my schooling experience in a progressive, social-constructivist school during his early years in Honolulu, Hawaii. I taught in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Dakar, Senegal, for over a decade before moving into school leadership. I have led schools in the United States and Egypt, where I put into practice the philosophy of “students making the world a better place,†shifting school culture to impact-based education practice. 

I earned a Ph.D. in International Education in 2018 from Northcentral University, a Master’s degree in Social Change and Development from the University of Newcastle, Australia, and a Bachelor’s in Language and Cultural Studies from The Evergreen State College, Washington. I currently live between Hawaii, Cairo, Egypt, and Dakar, Senegal.

All of us are indigenous.

Your Journey as an Educator

I have worked internationally in educational change organizations, leading the work of Deeper Learning and place and culture-based pedagogy, was the Executive Director for What School Could Be, and now am leading the PEAK Distinction Model through What School Could Be. In these roles, I have trained teachers in over 100 schools and school districts on four continents, impacting hundreds of thousands of students. In addition, I spent 15 years as National Faculty for the National Association of Independent Schools in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, facilitating national and international learning experiences. As a curriculum writer, he has authored multiple curricula for federal and non-profit programs. His work has significantly contributed to the organizations What School Could Be, The Buck Institute, EdLeader21, The Pacific American Foundation, and many others.

A little rain brings thousands of blooms and then they wither.

What do we value in education?
We need ongoing support.

PEAK Distinction Model

The PEAK model ensures students develop Purpose, focus on Essential skills and mindsets, experience Agency, and foster deep retained Knowledge because we believe the future of education lies in students developing three sets of PEAK Human Traits traits.

https://www.reimaginelearning.ca/peak-distinction/

What does this mean for System Change?

Through What School Could Be (WSCB), we present raw data with evidence of deeper learning to lead the reflection process. We then repeat the cycle to continue the growth.

1. Reflect and Assess: Work through the change process by reflecting on and assessing strengths and challenges according to seven areas of focus in our diagnostic tool.
   
2. Mobilize to Reimagine: Reimagine the future by reviewing the data to plan the focus areas.
   
3. Take Action: Access learning opportunities with workshops, micro-credentials, design sprints, personalized coaching, and more to honor skill sets and experiences connected to working with students and the reimagine plan.
   
4. Celebrate: Help tell the story of the successful change process and level of PEAK Distinction.

 https://www.reimaginelearning.ca/survey/

Landscape of Learning Model

I co-authored this guide with Jennifer D. Klein which offers the landscape model and its three elements: understanding what students bring to the ecosystem, defining the horizon, and charting the pathway. It is about shifting the metaphor from the Industrial to the Landscape Model.

The learning landscape is an ecosystem like a meadow. It is about helping them get out of the metaphysical bog and teach them how to swim. Instead of working toward ACCESS, it is about changing that to moving toward SUCCESS. 

https://www.principledlearning.org/the-landscape-model-of-learning

X: @kaponoc
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kapono-ciotti-99426746/
Email:kapono@thepaf.org
Websites: kaponociotti.com;
www.reimaginelearning.ca/peak-distinction/

Pacific American Foundation
www.thepaf.org

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I hope you enjoyed my conversation with Dr. Kapono Ciotti, who directs the PEAK Distinction Model and promotes student-driven learning to impact education globally. It was such an honor that Dr. Ciotti shared his story and his WHY on my virtual porch. Please share this post and podcast with your friends. 

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