Bert Strassburg's Blog

Education requires all of us working together. Let's recognize and build on the strengths of students. Let's recognize and build on the strengths of parents. Let's recognize and build on the strengths of teachers. I believe that every voice is imperative in this trio. The most emotionally impactful music often has the greatest dissonance at points and yet also finds its way to a pleasing harmony. Dissonance is necessary for success. Let's not give up on students, parents, and teachers working together. I believe in you!

95% of brain activity is unconscious.  Education transformation is needed so that we can tap into the inherent gifts of every student.

My approach as an educational leader utilizes the findings of cognitive psychology, neuroscience research, and neuro-linguistic practices. Focusing on student strengths and designing pedagogy that gifts all students with the ability to tap into both the conscious and unconscious mind is the true purpose of education and provides the conditions necessary for high intellectual performance. My belief is that school needs to be an oasis where racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, and religious discrimination are all eliminated and are no longer a barrier to having the support and learning necessary to achieve self-actualization.

Educational systems, both past and present, are primarily based on “conditioning the conscious mind”.  Yet research has proven for years that 95 percent of our brain activity is unconscious.  This means that a majority of the decisions we make, the language we use, the actions we take, our emotions, and behaviors, depend on the 95 percent of brain activity that lies beyond conscious awareness.  Tapping into the unconscious mind is necessary for self-actualization.  Defined, self-actualization is the realization or fulfillment that every persona has inherent talents and potentialities, a drive to live a life of learning. This means that ALL students WANT to learn - marginalized students cannot be excluded in this statement, even though systems, structures and societal norms may indicate “evidence” otherwise.  Every human is given a promissory note that they have an intrinsic desire to gain knowledge and live a more fulfilling life.  This belief or rather this knowledge creates the critical foundation for educational transformation.