What to Stop Doing to Move Forward: De-Implementation in Education

About this episode

The episode discusses de-implementation in education with Dr. Kanyon Chism, focusing on prioritizing impactful work.

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Andrew Easton welcomes Dr. Kanyon Chism, Chief of Staff and Administrator at ESU 19/Omaha Public Schools (OPS), for a thoughtful conversation about de-implementation and the importance of creating space for the work that matters most in education. Dr. Chism shares how OPS began exploring de-implementation as part of its broader strategic work connected to the district’s moonshot goal of having all students reading on grade level by 2030. Inspired in part by Leidy Klotz’s book Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less, Dr. Chism explains how the district began thinking not only about what to add or implement, but also what to refine, reduce, replace, or stop doing altogether. This episode offers a valuable look at how school systems can move beyond initiative overload and begin building intentional processes for subtraction. For any educator or leader working to create coherence, protect time, and focus energy on the highest-impact work, this conversation provides both practical insight and a powerful mindset shift. Resources: Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less by Leidy Klotz. This book helped frame the episode’s conversation around…

People in this episode

Host: Andrew Easton

Guest: Dr. Kanyon Chism

Topics covered

• de-implementation
• education
• strategic planning
• initiative overload
• reading proficiency

Keywords

• de-implementation
• education
• strategic work
• initiative overload
• reading on grade level

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ESU 19/Omaha Public Schools

Books & works: Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less

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