Last week, Fundación Educacional Oportunidad had the privilege of presenting its innovative way of working using the methodology of continuous improvement and networking at the sixth annual Summit on Improvement in Education organized by the Carnegie Foundation in San Francisco, USA.
The Carnegie Foundation is a leading educational research and policy center for educational improvement in the United States. Since 2008, the organization has been promoting the use of scientific methods of educational improvement and fostering the formation and growth of networked communities. In the last ten years, thousands of leaders, principals, teachers, policy makers, researchers and administrators around the world have begun to use this methodology.
In 2017, through the creation of the "Spotlight on Quality in Continuous Improvement" category, the Carnegie Foundation recognizes initiatives that can be replicated by schools around the world, providing clear and powerful examples of the application of improvement principles, methods and tools to solve educational problems worldwide.
In 2018, Fundación Educacional Oportunidad was recognized as "Spotlight on Quality in Continuous Improvement", along with 5 other U.S. organizations, which join 7 U.S. institutions awarded in 2017, being Fundación Educacional Oportunidad the only organization outside the United States to obtain this highly relevant international recognition.
Since 2011, Fundación Educacional Oportunidad has implemented the methodology of continuous improvement and networking in its professional development program for teachers and directors "Un Buen Comienzo", which seeks to contribute to improving the quality of early education, supporting schools in improving pedagogical and leadership practices so that children can achieve better socioemotional and language development.
The recognition obtained is due to the Foundation's experience in the use of the methodology of continuous improvement and networking in the Chilean educational context and the positive impact of this innovation in school improvement, where the Foundation is changing early education in Chile with the first network of schools working with a focus on kindergarten education.
Marcela Marzolo, executive director of Fundación Educacional Oportunidad, stated: "we are very proud to be part of the Spotlight institutions, as it has allowed us to share our experience of almost 8 years with others who are just starting to work with continuous improvement and at the same time it opens great learning opportunities for us from our relationship with others who are also innovating with continuous improvement and networking".
