We assume that you are aware of the book we wrote and published in 2000, The EDUCATIONAL ENTREPRENEUR, Making a Difference. Otherwise you would probably not be visiting this site. As two longtime educators we are proud of our efforts. Originally, we wanted to celebrate the ideas and lives of educators who chose to "make a difference" in the lives and learning of literally thousands of young people. We are satisfied that we have successfully done that.

However, in the process we identified a serious problem. Each one of our examples had to leave the traditional educational environment in order to develop the ideas that inspired him/her. More often than not that decision was a result of frustration and a sense of a lack of fulfillment. We saw this as a loss to the schools in which they served.

Since 2000 we have been working on some ideas that might be helpful in identifying what must happen if the energy and creativity of our identified Educational Entrepreneurs had occurred and at the same time encouraged them to remain in the school and/or school district where their product, program, technology or service was first identified. (see A Paper by Chuck, the three models; The Creative Process, The Entreprenurial Process, The Educational Intraprenurial Process) We are convinced that learning would improve for all if somehow schools and other learning environments were structured to identify and support potential educational entrepreneurs in stead of discouraging them. It is increasingly obvious that instead of keeping people we are forcing them to leave. This amounts to a serious loss of talent and energy. We are excited about the possibility of identifying specific changes that must occur within "the system" for creative people to function, find satisfaction and stay.

We are currently planning a book, preparing a series of workshops and seminars, and looking to honor people who have already created new ideas to improve learning and have stayed "in the system." We want to contact as many of these people as possible. We are interested not only in what they have done, but are equally interested in knowing more about the local environment the supported and encouraged their efforts.

Please forward any such examples to us. We will build a catalogue of all such successful instances after we get permission from the originators. We know of a few. However the more models we find the more powerful support system we can provide.

Let us hear from you.