It's always good to see people that have gone off your radar — those people who were once friends, roommates or neighbors, but because of careers, marriages or whatever came next in life, it's been awhile since a connection has been made.

This happened to me this week while I was visiting family in Nashville. I ran into a good buddy who I haven’t seen for 10 years. When we were in high school and college, we shared a love for politics, baseball, reading, good debate and Brooks Brothers clothing. While re-connecting, I realized we still have the same taste in the above, but our perspectives have changed.

Over the past 10 years, our paths have gone in different directions which have resulted in different views. As we talked, I noticed my friend had disillusionment with government, baseball and the next generation. Our conversation was good, but he seemed tired, as if everything he worked for is on a treadmill that never gets anywhere.

As I think about the future of education, 21st-century skills, student-centered approach, Converge magazine and so on, I wonder if those of us who want to see major change in the way students learn and connect will become tired? Will the system we are up against be so large and powerful that the thought of change and the constant barriers become a disillusioned obstacle? How will we keep our focus to make students become the reason (once again) that education is the best possible? Let me give you three quick ways I believe we can stay on target:

Remember the student
Education is not about us (the teacher or curriculum specialist). It is about the student — the child who sits in the chair, plays in the classroom and is ready to learn. That child needs the teacher and curriculum specialist, but the focus should be on the student: meeting them where they are and assisting these kids as they travel where they need to go.

Change a little at a time
I'm not a huge fan of small change (like committees…who likes committees?), but the world is a big place. Making small and incremental changes throughout districts, counties and school organizations can lead to changes in state and federal policy. Groundswell can work — we need to form an education Tea Party!

Leadership, leadership, leadership
Change won't come from an education czar. It will be local leaders who are tired of the theories about what will work and just go and do something! Our students are too valuable. There isn’t anymore time to wait, no more books to read and theories to discuss. We know what works: putting students first. If we keep that focus, education won’t be what causes our disillusionment.