Meet Laurance Specht, Matchbook Learning's new Blended Instruction Specialist at Merit Prep, our charter middle school in Newark, New Jersey. Laurance has over 19 years of experience working in schools in NYC as a teacher, Dean, Technology Coordinator and Blended Instruction Coordinator. Long before ed-tech was cool, Laurance was working in this space. We sat down with Laurance and asked about his motivation for joining Matchbook Learning's team.
What would you say is your biggest challenge in being a Matchbook Blended Instruction Specialist at Merit Prep?
The biggest challenge will be to bring a teaching staff with such diverse experiences and comfort levels with technology in the classroom, to embrace the Matchbook Learning Model while meeting the needs of an equally diverse student population.
What are your goals for this next year?
I have a few goals for the next year. First, is to meet each teacher at their own comfort level and support their professional development within the Matchbook Learning Model. Secondly,I would like to help the academic gains for each student at Merit Prep by assisting the teaching staff engage and challenge each of them in their own way. Lastly, for myself I want to continue to growth as an educator and leader by reflecting, revising, and improving my own knowledge of Blended Instruction methodology.
What are the keys to accomplishing a school turnaround?
There are several keys to accomplishing a school turnaround. One is to have a vision of what the turnaround needs to look like and the understanding that it is multifaceted. The second key is to find quality educators willing to engage in shifting the paradigm. Lastly, a willingness to innovate and invent what does not exist to advance the turnaround.
What most attracted to you this position?
What attracted me to this position is that it allows me to leverage my skills and experience to help educators grow while helping an underserved population of students have a high quality, cutting edge education.
How would you describe your most unique accomplishment to date?
Most unique accomplishment to date would have to be developing my own tools and structures for a blended classroom environment before it was known as blended learning. I would use all types of online tools, build my own content and student communication tools. I considered my own kind of “pirate radio”. No one knew how to describe my classroom but they knew it was working.
Why should gifted educators consider working for a Matchbook school?
Gifted educators should consider working for a Matchbook school because you will be on the forefront of 21st Century education, be given the opportunity and supports to develop your craft while teaching students who deserve more.
What are your expectations a year from now? How will you be different?
A year from now I expect to be working with a group of educators who are becoming teacher leaders, transforming and honing their craft. I expect to see students who have not just shown academic but personal growth. It’s hard to say how I will be different. Ideally, I will be wiser, more comfortable in my role, and looking to improve my own work.
