The Final Whistle: What Happens When Education Closes Its Doors?

Walter McKenzie
May 8
4 min read

by Benita C. Gordon, Guest Blogger

This is the third in a series of pieces on the transformation of education by Benita C. Gordon.

We keep looking to the shore, but maybe it’s time to start building the boat - whether to stay, leave, or return stronger.

This week, I finally accepted something I didn’t want to believe: 🛟

The raft isn’t coming.

No national reform strategy.

No top-down transformation.

No sweeping rescue from “the system.”

We’ve been taught to wait - to trust the next election, the next budget cycle, the next school board vote.

But it’s time we say it plainly: public education is being unraveled.

And if we want to keep going, to keep educating, to keep reaching young people, we’re going to have to build something ourselves.

But Wait - What Does “Build a Raft” Even Mean?

It means you don’t stay in the water waiting. It means you assess where you are, what you have, and where you’re called to go. And then? You build.

But here's what we don’t talk about enough:

Not all rafts are built for the same purpose.

Let’s break it down.

4 Types of Rafts You Can Build (Choose Yours)

1. The Escape Raft

Purpose: You’re leaving the system to start fresh.

You’ve tried. You’ve spoken up. You’ve stayed late. You’ve given it all. And now it’s time to go. You’re building something new that reflects your values and vision.

Examples:

Microschool founder
Educational consultant
EdTech creator
Independent thought leader, speaker, or coach

This raft is for the visionary. It’s for those who feel called to break away and build new shores.

2. The Supply Raft

Purpose: You’re gathering tools, resources, and knowledge to bring back and serve.

You may stay in the system or return to it - but you know you can’t pour from an empty cup. This raft is for recharging, re-skilling, and reimagining.

Examples:

Sabbatical or leave to learn and grow
Enrolling in fellowships, programs, and innovation cohorts
Transitioning to a lateral role to gain new perspective
Working in adjacent fields (policy, philanthropy, nonprofit)

This raft is for the learner-turned-leader. You leave to grow so that when you return, you're equipped to do the work differently.

3. The Anchor Raft

Purpose: You’re staying inside the system to protect and innovate from within.

You know your school, your students, your community - and you're not leaving them behind. You’re the one who keeps the doors open, the culture strong, the work moving forward.

Examples:

School leaders resisting harmful policies
Educators implementing innovation from the inside out
Advocates for building teacher pipelines, mentorship, and retention
Teachers forming collectives within districts

This raft is built with grit. It’s the one that holds the line, even when the storm rages.

4. The Connector Raft

Purpose: You’re bridging the gap between systems, roles, and communities.

You help others get across. You see what’s happening in all parts of the ecosystem and create pathways, partnerships, and possibilities.

Examples:

Education concierge (👋🏾 That's me!)
Coalition and community builders
Ed founders collaborating across traditional and alt models
Policy and advocacy connectors

This raft is relational and strategic. You move between worlds and help others do the same.

💡 Don’t Build Alone

The biggest mistake we make? Trying to build in silence.

Every raft - no matter what kind - needs crew, community, and care.

Ask yourself:

Who’s in my boat now?
Who do I need to invite aboard?
Who’s waiting for a rope from me?

Whether you’re leaving, staying, learning, or guiding others - you can’t do it alone.

🧭 Final Word:

Choose Your Raft, Know Your Role, Move with Purpose

It’s not about fear - it’s about freedom. It’s not about abandoning ship - it’s about knowing when to swim in a different direction.

The system as we knew it is shifting. But that doesn’t mean our purpose disappears. It means we get to deliver it in new ways.

So I ask you:

Are you building to leave or to stay?

Are you the supply runner or the anchor?

Are you the connector or the quiet protector?

Whatever you choose - build it well. Build it wisely. Build it to last.

Drop a 🛟 below and tell me: What type of raft are you building right now?

Originally posted March 30, 2025 at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rescue-raft-isnt-coming-why-we-have-save-ourselves-benita-c-gordon-2dcge/m/pulse/part-2-whistle-has-blown-so-whats-plan-benita-c-gordon-ufnse/

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This bold call to next steps is cross-posted with permission. It was originally published by Benita on March 16, 2025 here.

Benita C. Gordon has been an educator for more than 25 years, doing the work from the ground up: leading classrooms, launching schools, designing curriculum, and now disrupting the status quo through microschool innovation. She is the founder of Global Education Concierge, where she helps educators, parents, and community leaders build learner-centered environments, whether it’s a hybrid homeschool, a micro-hub, or a culturally-rooted global learning model. You can contact her directly at gordonglobalec@gmail.com.