Elliot Washor's TGIF 09.04.2026

Are you with me now? AJ Ryder 

AI Did not Create the Education Crisis.

It Exposed It.

Good news! The website for our book launched a day ago. Masson Sam did a great job putting the whole thing together. Next steps are getting an op-ed into a national newspaper or magazine, starting the social media campaign, and lining up podcasts, conference appearances, and workshops.

I spoke with Anna this week about getting books to our staff and schools so they can do some group work around the book. I also talked with Chris and Mayra about getting the word out. The book launches January 17th, and so far the reviews have been great. More to come.

I’ve had lots of face-to-face meetings in California this week while keeping up with the START Center work in New Jersey. My hope is that each of these efforts influences the other—and so far, so good.

On Tuesday, Andrea and I met with Ed Mills and Tara Teodoro at Cal State San Marcos, where they updated us on the process of getting the IBPLC accepted for admissions. We also talked about Cal State Sonoma, Sacramento, and other Cal State campuses participating early on in the IBPLC admissions process.

Then, the next day, Andrea, Anthonette, and I met with Devin Vodika and Katie Martin from Learner-Centered Collaborative. We covered a variety of possibilities for our work in San Diego, including having students from local school districts complete the IBPLC and then having students apply to Cal State San Marcos. That would give us a chance to see the entire process play out—from the work students do in high school to how a university looks at and uses the credential.

We also talked about connecting Learner-Centered Collaborative’s superintendent network to the IBPLC and to our upcoming Guided Experiences at the San Diego Met and Lincoln. Those experiences will focus on Advisory, the IBPLC, and real-world learning.

There are a lot of pieces moving right now—California, New Jersey, the IBPLC, START Centers, and The Education Pivot. What interests me most is how these pieces begin to connect and influence one another. That’s where the real learning is.

By Thursday Anthonette and I were meeting with Equity Fellow Vernon Moore the Deputy Superintendent and Andy Trakas from Adult Education in Sweet Water Union High School District – Chula Vista. This is a continuing conversation about LTI’s, Skilled Trades, the Bi-National programming going on there and being part of our focused convening group for San Diego County.

Finally for San Diego work Anthonette, Sonn and I wrapped up the week with a meeting with Craig Beswick from Learn 4 Life. The things they do really well around back end support for their charters and programs and the things we do well on advisory, real-world learning and the IBPLC dovetail. With Sonn in the room, the conversation went from local to national.

Texas Two Step

This week, I thought I was going to have a meeting with Ted Fujimoto, an old friend who now lives in Texas, about how he might support our work there. Well, the tables got turned a bit. The meeting quickly shifted when I asked Ted what he was doing these days.

It turns out he is working with Dr. Anthonio Corrales on a process called Built to Deliver. Both Ted and Anthonio started their leadership journeys young. At 27, Anthonio ran for Governor of Venezuela. I’m not doing their work on leadership justice here, but I will say that they have a very interesting way of thinking about leadership—one that begins with two simple words: “I wonder.”

I bring all of this up because Ted said something that hit me just like my childhood buddies comment did the week before when he said:

“It is better to be thorough than brilliant.”

This week, it was Ted stating:

“Really good execution trumps a good idea all day long.”

There’s something about putting those two thoughts next to each other: better to be thorough than brilliant, and really good execution beats a good idea. We spend a lot of time looking for the next great idea. Maybe we should spend a little more time wondering how to do the good ideas we already have really well.

Silent Civics

Because we are working with the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, our meetings on Thursday and Friday gave me time to reflect on why and how Labor Day came to be. Those meetings also inspired Charlie Plant to write a nice piece in his TGIF about our work in New Jersey, his own participation in unions, and BPL’s history with the labor and civil rights movements, going all the way back to Miles Horton.

Stephen Schaffer’s TGIF also took me back. His calling out of vuja de and his long subway rides through New York City stirred up a memory of my own: riding those same subways back to Brooklyn after finishing my 1:00 a.m. shift in Manhattan, where I waxed floors—a union job—in the J.C. Penney Building at 46th and 7th.

Every night, that subway ride home was a free performance, with a cast of characters you couldn’t find anywhere else.

Happy Labor Day!

Next week, I’ll in Providence where I always go to visit The Met this time of the year and catch up on the going’s on there.

Be Well!