What if educators acted like change agents? | John Patton | TEDxStGilgenInternationalSchool

Educators play an invaluable role in the world: the ability to inspire and initiate change. Greater than measurements and statistics however, is the importance of empowering young minds to find their voice. Although this is no easy task, it's certainly worth living for.
John Patton is the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Coordinator, Head of Science, Director of University and Careers Guidance and teacher of Biology and Sport Science at St. Gilgen International School (StGIS). After beginning his teaching career in a public high school in Colorado, then moving on to another school in Wyoming, John became increasingly dissatisfied with the focus of education on graduation numbers and test scores. He relocated to Austria in an effort to redesign education in such a way that emphasises why students should be learning, not only what they are learning. With a heart for positive change, John has focused much of his teaching on living sustainably and the role we need to play in our current climate challenges. In his time at StGIS, John has contributed to the design of a new curriculum in grades 7-10 which is skills and growth oriented, reshaped a scheme for advising and mentoring, delivered multiple in-house professional development sessions aimed at character development in young people, designed cross-curricular learning sessions, contributed to writing the school’s mission statement, and designed an information management application for schools. John holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership, a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Secondary Education, and an Associate Degree in Music Performance. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx