What I Learned

This course helped me see education in a much bigger way. I used to think of school as something that mainly happens in classrooms. Now I understand that what happens in schools is connected to many other parts of society like healthcare, social work, and community programs.

We talked a lot about how policies (rules or guidelines made by governments or school boards) affect what educators can do. We also explored the role of school leaders and how they can help different systems work together to give students the support they need.

Here’s a closer look at the main things I learned:

                                                                          🔄 Systems Are All Connected

In real life, students don’t just live in the school system they are part of many systems at once. For example, a student might:

• Need support from mental health services

• Be involved with child welfare

• Live in a community that lacks resources

If there’s a problem in one system, it often shows up in school too. For instance, if a student doesn’t get the healthcare they need, it might affect their ability to learn or even show up to school. To really help students, educators need to understand what’s happening outside the classroom too. We need to communicate with people in other systems, like social workers or healthcare providers, so we can work together to support students.

                                                                                📜 Policy Affects Practice

Policies are the rules or plans that guide how things should be done in schools. But even when a policy sounds good or fair, it doesn’t always work well for every student once it’s put into practice.

For example:

• A policy might say that all students should get the same support.

• But some students need more help than others to succeed.

So treating everyone exactly the same doesn’t always lead to fair results. That’s why teachers and school leaders need to think critically about how policies are affecting their students especially those who might be facing challenges. As a future leader, I need to not only follow policies but also question them and speak up when they aren’t working well for everyone.

                                                                             🤝 Inclusion Takes Work

Inclusion means making sure all students no matter their background, ability, or needs can fully take part in learning and feel like they belong.

It’s not enough to just say, “Everyone is welcome.” We have to:

• Remove barriers that make it hard for some students to succeed

• Listen to students and families who are often left out

• Make changes in how we teach, plan, and lead

Inclusion isn’t automatic—it requires real effort and awareness. It means going beyond the surface and making sure every student has what they need to thrive in school.