Aaron Nelson is an instructional leader and presenter specializing in professional development and coaching around innovative teaching and learning.  He holds a B.A. in Sociology and History from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College.  In addition, he holds an administrative credential from California State University, San Marcos.   He has worked as a founding faculty member, curriculum designer and technologist at several secondary schools in San Diego County, Assistant Principal of Aviara Oaks Middle School in Carlsbad, California, and Principal of Magnolia Elementary in Carlsbad, California.  Aaron is currently the Principal of Calavera Hills Elementary School in Carlsbad, California. He lives in Encinitas with his wife and two children.

What I Believe about “Education”

  • Kids are C-Creatures (creative, collaborative, curious, connected) and schools need to treat them as such.
  • Kids need multiple, quick opportunities for failure, revision, and success in order to build what Tom and David Kelley (IDEO) call “Creative Confidence.”
  • Teaching and learning need to be rooted in real-world problems for student engagement.  Opportunities must be meaningful and relevant.
  • Students are digital natives living in a digital world – their learning must be connected to others locally and globally.
  • Learning needs to be public – students (and teachers) do their best work when they know that others will see it.
  • Who a student “is” is as important as what they “know” – developing character, responsibility and empathy are critical for young learners.
  • If you can look up the answer easily in a Google search, it probably isn’t worth spending time on in class.
  • Innovation is critical to preparing students for their future – don’t do the same thing tomorrow that you are doing today.
  • If a lesson is really “engaging” it better change from year-to-year, or even day-to-day.
  • Being willing to question, challenge and change course is the mark of a good teacher.
  • Nobody ever did anything truly meaningful alone.  We need each other, and we do better work when we are together.  That goes for kids too!