I have been thinking a lot about something I read two summers ago in the book Switch by Chip and Dan Heath. In a chapter titled Find the Bright Spots, they tell the story of Jerry Sternin, who went to Vietnam for Save the Children, and was given six months to develop a solution to the serious problem of malnutrition in children in rural communities. His conversations with experts on the topic focused on the many obstacles–poverty in the villages, ignorance about nutrition, poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. Sternin labeled these facts TBU, “True but Useless”. He acknowledged these obstacles, but knew that if he concentrated his efforts on solving poverty, ignorance and failing infrastructure he certainly would not solve the problem of malnutrition in six months, and maybe never. Instead of trying to develop solutions to highly complex problems, Sternin decided to spend his time identifying children in the villages who were bigger and healthier than others and studying the nutritional practices of their mothers; the Heath brothers call these mothers “bright spot” mothers. Sternin and his team created structures that supported other mothers in replicating the practices of bright spot mothers and, within 6 months, 65 percent of the children in the villages were better nourished. when researchers came to Vietnam later to gather independent data they found kids in Sternin’s villages were still healthier, including those who had been born after he left. Sternin’s team succeeded in creating lasting changes in practices that resulted in positive and important measurable change. In six months!

How did Sternin do this? What can we learn from his practices? Here are some lessons I took from his story and, in italics, questions it raised for me about our work:

• Sternin had an easily observed, compelling and sensitive standard by which mothers could identify success (“That mother’s child is taller and weighs more than my child; as I copy her practices I can see my child putting on weight and growing as well. S/He’s getting healthier!”). Are there better ways to measure the impact of our work using easily observed, compelling and sensitive standards; e.g., are students with disabilities using learning strategies to independently complete their work; can they complete independent work accurately; are they responding more frequently and accurately to higher order questions; are they identifying realistic post-secondary goals and mastering skills related to those goals; are they earning acknowledgements for appropriate behavior more frequently than for inappropriate behavior?
• Sternin identified solutions that were “locally grown” and that could be done easily with readily available resources. Can the RSE-TASC create more opportunities for sharing successful practices within our region? Can we provide more frequent opportunities to analyze critical elements of success at quality improvement team meetings, New CSE Chair trainings, the Forum for Programs for Students with Developmental Disabilities and PBIS Coaches’ Forums?
• Instead of telling mothers of malnourished children what to do at trainings, Sternin asked bright spot mothers to share their practices in cooking classes, where they modeled practices that other mothers could practice and discuss with them. Are we doing enough modeling, coaching and peer-to-peer activities to support on-going implementation of practices? 
• Sternin avoided focusing on complex problems and solutions, the TBU, but instead focused on empowering mothers who felt, “There is a solution for my child, and it’s something I can do!” Are we focusing enough on simple solutions that provide short-term gains and build capacity for longer term success? Do we provide training and support on practices that can be easily implemented in classrooms? Are we building self-efficacy as we train?

In our work with districts and schools in 2013-2014 , we will be focusing more on finding and learning from bright spots. In upcoming issues of the RSE-TASC Reporter the trainers and school improvement specialists of the Lower Hudson Regional Partnership Center will be sharing bright spots from their work with educators in our region and identifying “locally grown” practices and systems that have led to a positive, important, observable improvements for students with disabilities.  Look for Bright Spots as a regular feature of the newsletter. We’d love to hear from you as well!

Reference

Heath, C. & Heath, D. (2010) Switch: How to change things when change is hard. NY:  Broadway Books.