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

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 why individuals and organizations often default to adding more, even when subtraction may be the better path forward. https://leidyklotz.com/subtract/ “De-implementation: Creating the Space to Focus on What Works” by Peter DeWitt. This article offers a helpful education-specific overview of de-implementation, including the distinction between informal and formal de-implementation processes. https://corwin-connect.com/2022/05/de-implementation-creating-the-space-to-focus-on-what-works/