The Once and Future School tells the inspiring story of an elementary school in the Florida Keys that became a beacon of educational reform and innovation. The school’s transformation began in the wake of a showdown between Florida’s teachers and the state legislature—a conflict that culminated in the election of Governor Rubin Askew.
Under Askew’s leadership, a Commission was established that inspired legislated reforms which empowered principals, teachers, and parents. The Once and Future School emerged as a model of what schools could become when freed from rigid, top-down administration. Through the newly established autonomy granted by the reforms, the teachers and the community engaged their newly created powers and established an environment of creativity, joy, and extraordinary achievement.
This book not only recounts the remarkable journey of one school but also serves as a larger commentary on the power of trust and decentralized leadership in education. It’s a story of ordinary teachers and parents achieving extraordinary things when given the freedom to innovate, and it offers a powerful blueprint for educational leaders everywhere seeking to create lasting, meaningful change.
This story serves as an inspiring example of what can be achieved when trust and autonomy are placed in the hands of those who know students best.