Future-Proof Talents: WASC President Barry Gloves on How Schools Can Inspire Innovative Youth
The notion of uncovering passions and defining purpose to find success has challenged the youth from different generations. In the age of artificial intelligence, the future is undoubtedly now, and it brings a newer set of problems and issues that even the brightest minds of today find hard to navigate. And so, how can the current generation tackle an age-old dilemma and face an uncertain tomorrow? 
The latest Keystone Education Salon edition on the future of education looked at the upcoming challenges and opportunities awaiting Generation Z with insights from Dr. Barry Groves, President of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Dr. Groves addressed an audience of Keystone Academy students, faculty and staff, and parents at Keystone Performing Arts Center on October 8 (Tuesday) with his talk, “Cultivation of Innovative Talents and Interpretation of World Top Universities”.
Keystone was the first stop on Dr. Groves’s tour of WASC-accredited schools in Asia. To date, WASC has accredited over 5,000 schools worldwide. Keystone officially became a member of WASC in 2016.
At his opening speech, Dr. Groves said the Keystone community is “fortunate to have such a wonderful school” with an “incredible facility” and commended the Academy for going through the re-accreditation process. In March 2025, the WASC accreditation team will revisit Keystone for re-accreditation evaluation.
He also called Keystone “the best school” on his visits to “the best of the best” schools in Asia.
“We are encouraging people in schools to look at multiple options for students—to give student agency, to give student voice even at a lower level,” Dr. Groves said.
The challenge of finding passion and purpose
Following his address, Dr. Groves had a conversation with Keystone Executive Head of School Dr. Emily McCarren about the transformative impact of technology on education and the critical skills children need to navigate the uncertainties of our rapidly evolving world.
“We’re finding more and more students—we call them Generation Z, which are students now in their 20s and younger—have more passion for things than previous generations,” Dr. Groves said. “[They have] passion for the environment [and] social justice. [They have] passion for helping people in poverty and … are ill.”
He also answered questions from the audience, sharing ideas about how students should select their ideal universities. Addressing a student’s question about cultivating passions, Dr. Groves remarked that young people did not need to develop life-long passions and shared an anecdote about his son, whose interest in drawing as a child became handy later when he made illustrations for a medical text during his medical school.
Dr. Groves’ sharing resonated strongly with Dr. McCarren, who wished many young people could hear this experience and reality.
“Your passion doesn’t have to be what your career is going to be,” Dr. McCarren said. “[It can be] just what you care about now and [you] have to invest time and energy in doing something amazing.”
In her letter to the community, Dr. McCarren built on Dr. Groves’ anecdote and wrote that it “signals the challenge when kids think that ‘passion’ and ‘purpose’ must line up with traditional school subjects.”
“It was a double bonus that Dr. Groves emphasized the reality that there are many pathways to success in life,” Dr. McCarren continued, “and that focusing on a narrow definition of success (usually defined by admissions to a small number of colleges) doesn’t serve learning or our kids’ futures very well.”
For Dr. Groves, equipping children with fundamental skills is necessary to make them future-proof, and that parents and educators should help the youth build self-confidence so they can make their own choices.
“It doesn’t have to do as much about where you go, but [it is about] who you are and what you’ve done,” Dr. Groves said.
About the Keystone Education Salon Guest Speaker
Dr. Barry Groves is the president of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and an ACSA emeritus member. He was the Superintendent of Schools for the Mountain View Los Altos High School District in California from 2006-2015. He was the Superintendent of Schools for the Cambrian School District for 14 years prior. His honors include the Honorary Service Award from the California State PTA in 2015, and Chairperson of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce in 2014. He has authored multiple publications and has presented on a variety of topics, including faculty evaluation, human resources, and accreditation. Dr. Groves received his doctorate in education from Stanford University. 
About WASC
Founded in 1962, the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) is one of the world’s leading accrediting associations. It is also one of the six regional accrediting organizations in the United States, providing assistance to schools around the globe, especially in California, Hawaii, Guam, Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
To date, WASC has accredited over 5,000 schools worldwide. WASC also maintains close cooperation with the International Baccalaureate Organization, the Council of International Schools, the Hawaii Department of Education, and other educational organizations.
ACS WASC advances and validates quality ongoing school improvement by supporting its private and public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary member institutions to engage in a rigorous and relevant self-evaluation and peer review process that focuses on equity, inclusion, and access to high-level, rigorous learning opportunities for all students.
