ˈvanˌgärd, ˈvaan-, -gȧd noun
Etymology: Middle English avaunt garde, vantgard, from Middle French avant-garde, from Old French, from avant- fore- (from avant before, forward, from Latin abante ) + garde guard — more at advance , guard
1. : the troops who march at the head of an army : van
2. : the leaders of thought, taste, or opinion in a field (as art, letters, or politics) : the forefront of a school or movement
the educators may be in the vanguard , but … they are bucking no trends — W.H.Whyte