(Originally posted on Servant Principal.) By Walter A. Kozlowski Principals should be visible. This seems to be an agreed upon ideal, to which I also subscribe. However, there are two things I know about being visible as a school leader. First, I will never be able to be as visible as I want to […]
What’s Most Important on Opening Meeting
(Originally posted at On Principal.) By John Falino It’s hard to believe that the start of another school year is quickly approaching. As school leaders are putting the finishing touches on a summer that was filled with scheduling, staffing, professional development, and a multitude of other tasks that go along with ensuring the successful start […]
Embrace the New Year and the New Teacher...
(Originally posted at Education, Leadership and 21st Century Pedagogy.) By Pam Gildersleeve-Hernandez The Back to School blog posts are appearing. They’re showing up in our in boxes, our Twitter feeds, on Google+ and our Facebook feeds. Where just a week ago, our social media was filled with pictures of smiling couples, groups of friends […]
Gathering Feedback from Staff for Person...
(Originally posted on A Principal’s Life.) By David Ellena As we approach the end of the school year, my thoughts inevitably begin to turn towards the next school year. It is like this every year. I start to look at what went well, what didn’t go so well and things I want to focus on […]
Key Practices of High-Performance Instru...
(Originally posted on Eduleadership.) By Justin Baeder What does it mean to be an instructional leader? Too many definitions contrast instructional leadership with “mere” management, as if the management work that administrators do isn’t related to teaching and learning. I believe that it’s all connected, and that an effective instructional leader is also an effective […]
Major League Communication – Walter A. K
(Originally posted on Servant Principal.) By Walter A. Kozlowski I recently read a description of a miscommunication between a major league starting pitcher and the team’s manager. Following the completion of the sixth inning, with ninety-nine pitches thrown, the pitcher assumed he was done for the day. The manager, however had other plans. […]
Top 10 for New Principals – Julie Trepa
(Originally posted at Leadership that Matters) By Julie Trepa I remember my first day on the job as an administrator. I had just been hired as an associate principal for a middle school of approximately 1,200 students; it was July 1, and I couldn’t wait to get my feet wet. I walked into my office […]
Flipping Staff Meetings The Why, How, a...
Going into my 15th year as a teacher, I have been through a lot of staff meetings. This may surprise you, but they are not a highlight of my job. In fact, I never found them particularly helpful in my practice. Most of the information in typical staff meetings I have sat through could have […]
An Outline for Going Google – Brad Curri
(Originally posted on BradCurrie.net ) By Brad Currie Image Credit: http://edurolearning.com/images/2014/05/gafe.png A good friend of mine, Billy Krakower, recently asked about my thoughts pertaining to a strategic Google Apps for Education (GAFE) rollout plan. Below you will find what I shared with him via email a few weeks ago. I. Assess Needs of Staff […]
Teacher Voice: The Secret Ingredient in ...
(Originally posted on Lead Learning with John Wink) By John Wink As a singer who loved music so much that I majored in it, I have never had a problem making my voice heard. It takes very little muse for me to share my gift with others. All I need is a tune in my […]
Avoiding Bear Traps – Chris Hubbuch
(Originally posted on Inquiry to Results.) By Chris Hubbuch Little could be more painful that being in the clutches of a bear trap. Just thinking about that word is enough to conjure thoughts of oversized metal blades clasping the limb of an unsuspecting animal or hunter. I like to use the term “bear trap” to […]
9 Leadership Lessons Learned as a Conduc...
(Originally posted at Larry Walsh, High School Principal.) By Larry Walsh Raised in the Seattle area, I have been a professional musician since my teens. I have directed award-winning High School Bands, musicals and community orchestras. My expertise in percussion and keyboard have allowed me to perform throughout the United States with orchestras, jazz and rock […]
The Principalship: What’s Most Important
(Originally posted on On Principal.) By John Falino I wrote a post over a year ago on the Principalship and the most important aspects of the position. As I move further along into my fourth year, the position continues to be multi-faceted, fast moving, and ever-changing. Simply put, no one day is ever the same. […]
A Veteran Teacher’s Advice on How to Be
By Julia G. Thompson A Veteran Teacher’s Advice on How to Be the Inspiring School Leader Your Teachers Need A building administrator has a thankless job almost all of the time. Making sure that a school runs smoothly can be a crushing responsibility. Everyone in the known universe—parents, teachers, students, the community, social media–has plenty […]
5 Ways to Make a Change Happen Faster –
(Originally posted on Eduleadership.) By Justin Baeder When change happens too fast, it overwhelms people and diminishes their confidence that they’ll be successful. Skills take time to develop, and no one wants to be judged too quickly on a skill they are still developing. But some people think they should have three or four years to […]