Cinde Lock
“We cannot continue to follow antiquated traditionalist practices that do not prepare students for the world today, let alone what it might look like tomorrow.”
Q: Name | Location | Years in Education
Cinde Lock | Pickering College, Newmarket, Ontario | 30+ years in education
Q: Tell us the story of your journey to becoming an educator. What are the significant waypoints along that path?
I have been involved in education for most of my adult life and was a teacher and administrator in overseas schools for over 20 years. I always loved to learn and am happiest when I am learning something new. My first experience teaching was in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in West Africa where I was an intern with the US State Department at an international community school. I fell in love with teaching and with travel from that experience and it has shaped my life ever since.
Q: Who inspired you (friend, family, coach, mentor, guide, sponsor, advisor) to become an educator, and/or get involved in education?
I have had many incredible mentors over the years. One of the most meaningful was my Ph.D. supervisor, Robert (Bob) J Wilson who taught me to look for the simplicity within the complex and then help others to see what is most meaningful in life this way as well.
Q: When (and where) do you feel you are most likely to succeed as you practice your educational art, and your educational craft?
“I succeed best when I am supported and feel that I can take risks and try new things. I am least successful when I am being timed and assessed. I think most children and teachers feel the same way!”
Q: What are the skills you feel most confident using in your life, and work in education?
As a leader, I focus on developing the people who develop the school. I try to build my skills to be able to help others be successful - such as coaching, mentoring, and supporting. I am constantly learning and trying to keep current in my own knowledge as well.
Q: What are the most significant challenges you are working to overcome as you define what school could be?
“I think change management is one of the biggest challenges that change agents face. I work with some incredible teachers but many are not yet comfortable with taking risks and changing the way that they think about teaching and learning.”
Q: Describe some of the most rewarding moments in your time in education; those crazy days when you knew you were having an impact...and it felt really good.
Every time that I have directly engaged students with the real world and with people who are doing something meaningful in the world, I feel there has been a meaningful impact. It feels great when we can find ways for students to work together with others in the community on a project where both can learn and benefit from each other. These win-wins are hard to set up initially but are powerful learning opportunities for students.
Q: What do you most want to learn from this global online community of your fellow educator-leaders?
“I want to connect with like-minded educators who want to lead the way for change in education. We cannot continue to follow antiquated traditionalist practices that do not prepare students for the world today, let alone what it might look like tomorrow. I want to talk about how to instill passion and purpose in the hearts of our young people, to help them develop a drive to do something that makes the world better in some way.”
Q: What is something quirky that you love about yourself and would help other community members to get to know you?
I am an ideas person. Sometimes I feel that my brain is popcorning with ideas and I need to slow it down or I'll drive others crazy!
Q: Ben Franklin supposedly said, "Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." You might think Ben was full of baloney, but we are wondering when YOU are most awake, alive, productive, creative, and/or reflective. Early morning, late at night, some other time?
I am an evening thinker and terribly groggy in the morning.
Q: Cold night, snow out, warm fire, hot beverage, or hot day, white sand beach, shorts and slippers, cold beverage?
Hot day, warm beverage, cozy fire. Heat and comfort all the way!
Q: The coolest thing that happened to me today (the day I am filling out this form) was…
We had our second day of cross-grade community projects today in our Middle School. The program is called SPARC (Student Projects Advancing Real Change) and it involves students: making socially interactive video games for seniors to combat their feelings of isolation; working with a housing shelter to create an advocacy campaign for more affordable housing in our area; helping a new company launch their service-animal business; creating a historic walking tour of our area to support the Historical Society to bring more tourists to our area, etc. It is such a cool program and it was a great day today to see the kids so excited and involved in all the projects and with all our community partners.
Q: Putting on your futurist cap: What might your school/learning spaces (or “schools” in general) look and sound and feel like in 25 or 50 years?
“Personalized education is the way of the future with touchpoints for connections and engagement embedded throughout. The school is the community and the community is integrated into learning.”
Q: And finally, what do you think is the purpose of education? (Clearly not a small question, but we hope you enjoy responding!)
To open children's minds to the infinite possibilities around them. Then help them have a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives.