Systems Thinking and 21st Century Education: a Case Study of an American Model for High School Educational Reform

The story of the Central Educational Center (CEC) is a living example of what happens when one of the world's foremost experts in human performance, Dr. Joe Harless, applies his expertise to public education. This story, as told through six years of research, is the realization of multiple compelling visions: the role of systems design in improving public education, how career and technical education can lead to district wide educational reform, the promise of innovative charter schools and parental choice, and finally a local community that came together to do something about an education system that was failing their community. CEC's success is a testament to the power of collaboration between community members that deem society as the primary stakeholder of education, emphasizing student preparation with relevant, marketable skills for life alongside academic preparation for college. CEC has systematically changed the HOW and WHAT of traditional public education. This story details CEC's journey from vision in Harless's book The Eden Conspiracy (1998) to reality and suggests potential pathways for replication on local, state, and national levels.