Here we are – a final post for year 15 on Culture of yes.

As another year comes to a close, I find myself looking back at 2024 and all the moments that made it memorable. It’s become a tradition for me to reflect on the year and put together a “Top 3” list—just a quick way to highlight the ideas, experiences, and surprises that stood out the most. 

If you are wondering what you might have missed, here are the previous years Top 3 lists:  2023 (here) 2022 (here) 2021 (here) 2020 (here) 2019 (here) 2018 (here) 2017 (here) 2016 (here) 2015 (here) 2014 (here) 2013 (here) 2012 (here), 2011 (here) and 2010 (here)

This isn’t about covering everything or being overly formal; it’s more like sharing a few of my favorite highlights from the year. So, grab a Booster Juice or settle in to a White Spot Pirate Pak and join me as I look back on what made 2024 special.  

Top 3 “Culture of Yes” Blog Posts which have generated the most traffic this year:

1.  28 Reasons to Love Teaching from a 28 Year Veteran
2. Thinking About the Anxious Generation
3. Taylor Swift’s Masterclass:  Lessons in Leadership for Schools

Taylor Swift’s popularity is everywhere.  If I take a look at this year’s most read posts in a couple of months, the recent post about her will probably be number one. It is just much newer than the others ahead of it.  The 28 Reasons post was probably my favourite post to write, so nice to see it connect so well with people.  How people find this blog continues to be interesting.  For many years Twitter drove much of the traffic, now LinkedIn is a far more common place for people to find it.  And then certain posts, like when I write about parenting or sports, or Taylor Swift, are well shared through Facebook.  Overall the metrics show readership up about 25% year-over-year and numbers are the highest they have been in about a decade.  Still not at the numbers of 2011 – 2014 (the glory days of the edu blogosphere) but great to see that I can still connect with such a strong network.  Interestingly, the least read post this year was The Art of Staying Relevant.

Top 3 Shifts in BC Education in 2024:

1. Limiting Phones in Schools 
2. The growth of AI 
3. Focus on literacy and numeracy

Looking more broadly, like many jurisdictions across North America, British Columbia put in rules to limit the use of technology, and in particular cellphones, during school time.  A couple takeaways from this change for me, 1) It went over very well with not a lot of challenges.  Students quickly adapting to new procedures, and the limits were flexible enough to recognize different rules for different ages and circumstances is important and 2) The fear of some that these changes would push back the thoughtful use of technology in schools did not come to fruition.  Students and staff are still using technology as appropriate, but are in most cases being more intentional.

I have covered AI a lot, including a full post (HERE), just last week.  BC has had a big advantage because of forward thinking work from the Ministry of Education.  The resources are available HERE.

And the refocusing on core learning skills of numeracy and literacy is an important focus, again in BC and beyond.  In part as a result of dipping results in international assessments, in part because of a sense that COVID had a negative impact in these areas, and a reevaluation of the topics that have dominated education conversations, these key areas are being given additional attention.

Top 3 Things I was Wrong About:

1. Cell phones
2. In-person meetings 
3. AI resistance

Always good to think about areas where you have changed your thinking. And sometimes you just have a hunch that proves to be wrong. 

When it comes to cell phones, as I noted above, I expected the limitations on students to be met with more resistance from students (and also parents trying to get ahold of their children).  What happened was it really went smoothly.  Students knowing that other students also didn’t have access during class time seemed to have a positive impact for everyone.  And the flexibility (at least with the rules in BC) to allow technology still for purposeful class use meant digital efforts continued to move forward. 

I finally relented and moved a series of our administrator meetings back to in-person.  I had been a hold out thinking they should continue online. I liked the idea of our staff not having to travel from their schools – the chance to save travel time and also lessen time out of buildings seemed like a win.  What I was missing was that these meetings were an important connection point for people, and the informal meetings that often occur at these sessions are actually crucial.  

And I was sure parents were going to want AI banned in schools.  Not that it is possible, I was just expecting a repeat of the social media conversation from 15 years ago.  It has been completely different.  I think parents see that AI is changing their lives and actually they are often looking to the schools to upskill themselves.  I think our parent education sessions on AI are so well attended in part because parents know they need these skills for themselves.

Top 3 AI Tools for education I have used (not counting ChatGPT):

1. Brisk
2. Magic School
3. Claude

OK, full disclosure.  I had a very similar category last year, and I am using none of the tools now that I wrote about then.  This speaks to the fluidity in the space and how quickly things are moving and new AI tools are emerging.  I am also not calling these free tools, as although they all have free versions, they also have paid versions.  It is dangerous to get hooked on the free version of any of these products, and often features might start as free and move to the paid version or vice versa.  In looking at these 3 tools, I like Brisk particularly for secondary schools and for its integration with Google.  It is really easy to get started with for teachers.  Magic School is our core AI tool in West Vancouver, and it has a simple interface and I like it particularly for younger students as you can turn off and on specific parts of it.  And Claude is one I use more and more with writing.  It is  a competitor to Chat GPT and I find they offer a good contrast when looking for feedback.  I often use them in tandem with my writing.  Before publishing this post, both Claude and Chat GPT were used to get feedback.  

Top 3  TED Talks I watched this year that pushed my thinking:

1.  What is AI Anyway?

2. How the US is Destroying Young People’s Future

3.  Sport Leadership:  Are We Lost?

Top 3 artists for me according to Spotify this year:

1.  Paul Simon
2.  Simon and Garfunkel
3.  The Beatles

Not much to see here – other than for all the things that change in the world, my music tastes are not one of them.  The Beatles snuck in the bronze medal spot this year over James Taylor.  I am still my parents musical tastes.  

Top 3 Concerts I Saw This Year:

1. Taylor Swift
2. Bruce Springsteen
3. Pearl Jam

OK, so my concert list is a little more modern than my regular musical listens (Of course I would trade all the concerts I see in any given year for one more Simon and Garfunkel reunion concert).  I have already referenced the Taylor Swift concert earlier as it led to one of my most read posts.  It was also a particularly nice event for me as I was treated to the ticket by my older daughter who was lucky to get some of the last minute tickets that were released.  Another artist who went for more than 3 hours, Bruce Springsteen, put on an amazing show.  And Pearl Jam was on my concert bucket-list and it was great to see them in-person.  I am always so impressed with how Springsteen and Pearl Jam make every show different.  

Top daily 3 streaks I still have going:

1. 10,000 Steps
2. Running 5 km a day
3. Photo posting to Instagram

Yup – I can just cut and past my top 3 here from last year, and many years now.  It will be a bigger deal when any of these come to an end.  These streaks are all about discipline and consistency, qualities that I think are so important, and often in short supply today.  The steps streak in now at every day for 11 years.  I wrote about the running streak HERE when I crossed the 1000 day mark in October 2023, the streak is now over 1400 days, and I continue to post a photo every day – something that will hit 10 years or just over 3650 days of posting. photos on January 1st.  

Top  3 photos from this past year that make me smile:

A great West Vancouver leadership team tradition – Adult Pirate Pak Day!

I can vividly remember the story this young learner was telling me with his loose parts he was using.

One of many fun family traditions – strawberry picking day on Father’s Day Weekend.

I could have easily picked so many other photos.  I love going through my photos from each day to look back on the year – a great collection of work, family and friends.  I stopped making them public a few years ago, but I still post them to Instagram and archive them.  Scrolling through them will always make me smile.  

Final Thoughts

As I wrap up my reflections on 2024, I am once again struck by the power of traditions, both big and small, to anchor us through the whirlwind of change. This blog, my streaks, the music, the moments with family and colleagues—they remind me that even in a world reshaped by technology and shifting priorities, the things that truly matter remain steady.

This year has been one of growth and learning, filled with new challenges and exciting opportunities. Whether through conversations about AI, embracing the evolving landscape of education, or simply finding joy in a Pirate Pak, I’m reminded of the importance of staying curious, connected, and optimistic about what’s ahead.

To all of you who’ve read, shared, and engaged with these posts throughout the year—thank you. Your reflections, challenges, and encouragement fuel my writing and inspire my thinking. Here’s to stepping into 2025 with the same energy, passion, and hope that have carried us through this transformative year.

Happy holidays, and see you in the new year!

The image at the top of this post was created using Chat GPT.  I also used Chat GPT and Claude in my review and editing process for this post.