For almost 15 years, I have been involved with independent school education, as trustee, chief of finance and operations, teacher, parent, and volunteer at Francis Parker School in San Diego, one of the largest independent schools in the United States. I have been either directly responsible for, or intimately involved in, strategic planning, financial sustainability, campus and program design, global education, development, marketing, educational technology, admissions and financial aid, benchmarking and trend analyses, and risk management. I have consulted on 21st Century curriculum development, written, and given talks to educational and industry groups, and had the honor of teaching a version of my Falconer seminar in strategic and creational thinking to West Point cadets. Each year I lead a two-week trip in experiential immersion for students to the Philippines where our goal is to understand and experience the fact that 4 billion people in the world live on less than $2 a day.
Before working in education, I was a partner in JEBCO Seismic, Ltd., an international geology and geophysical consulting firm serving the oil and gas industry, where I directed business ventures in the former Soviet Union, South America, and the U.S. Gulf Coast. The most exciting part of that venture was working close to center stage in the economic and political transformation of the USSR, the end of the Cold War, and the historic opening of the communist-dominated economy to the outside world.
I graduated from Stanford University with a BS and MS in geology in 1980 and participated in a number of research expeditions studying the deep ocean basins of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Bering Sea with colleagues from Stanford, Woods Hole, Scripps, and the U.S. Geological Survey. After college I travelled extensively through Asia and taught for a year as a visiting professor in geology and environmental studies at Silliman University in the Philippines, one of the largest and oldest English language universities in Asia.
My wife, Julie and I live in Poway, 20 miles north of downtown San Diego. Our son, Josh, is a PhD candidate in systems biology at Stanford. Our daughter, Cassidy, graduated with her BA in Political Science and MA in History from Stanford, and is currently a professional volleyball player and member of the US National volleyball team.
Our team of student backpack journalists and backpack scientists will be following your postings. We want to thank you for sharing your book with Kids Talk Radio and sharing your stories about the Philippines. We are pleased that you will be adding educational content to your blog weekly. We look forward to interviewing you about some of your past adventures in Russia and your thoughts about where education is heading.
Kid’s Talk Radio is a pioneering project that is about to come into its own, I think. I will write about it as new projects continue to develop.
[...] Two of the schools that we work with in St. Louis were just featured in an engaging blog called Learning Pond: Innovation in Education, Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century by educator and blogger, Grant Lichtman. [...]
Just want to let you know I was able to read the Falconer over a rainy couple of days at the cabin, too wet to work outside and too cold to fish. Already reaping dividends in my after professional life as motorcycle rider and president of our riding group. A four hour “think outside the box” brainstorming session last night with the core members has infused many with enthusiasm and energy to undertake some innovative changes and seek new ways to growth and development. Thanks for the inspiration and motivation.
[...] not about technology. It’s about innovation. I think we sometimes confuse the two. In his blog Grant Lichtman writes about what he finds that is truly innovative in education as he travels the country visiting [...]
[...] http://learningpond.wordpress.com/grant-lichtman/ [...]
G-Man: You go, buddy! We are pulling for you. We’ve enjoyed the posts, but we suspect the heavy lifting is about to begin. We’re looking forward to the book! George and Karen
Thanks, folks. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods (literally) and all is well with the girls!
[...] For almost 14 years, I have been involved with independent school education, as trustee, chief of finance and operations, teacher, parent, and volunteer at Francis Parker School in San Diego, one o… [...]
[...] The Learning Pond. http://learningpond.wordpress.com/grant-lichtman/ [...]
[...] around The Learning Pond to discover Grant’s observations throughout his entire journey and be sure to check out his [...]
[...] right questions, ask “good” questions, and to identify problems. This reminded me of Grant Lichtman‘s “The Falconer” and his philosophy called the Art of [...]
[...] Some of the extraordinary educators offering plenary sessions are Bo Adams, John Hunter, Grant Lichtman, and Gabriel Rshaid. Mary Cantwell, Robert Dillon, Jill Gough, Eric Juli, Jessica Ross, and Ira [...]
[...] For almost 15 years, I have been involved with independent school education, as trustee, chief of finance and operations, teacher, parent, and volunteer at Francis Parker School in San Diego, one o… [...]
[...] in the !9th and early 20th century to those of today like Heidi Hayes-Jacobs, James Beane, and Grant Lichtman, extol the potential and success of programs that give students control. That said, many of us [...]