(Originally posted on The Colorful Principal.) By Ben Gilpin 2014 was the start of something special. That something was #ClassroomCribs. I’m a believer that learning spaces matter. As we jump start 2015, I feel it is critical to talk about where we’ve been and what we’re learning. This past summer +A.J. Juliani, +Erin Klein and I began working […]
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 […]
If You’re Ever Trapped Behind a Door, I
Originally posted on Skins of Ill Shaped Fishes.) By Bjorn Paige There is a big ax in my office, red handled, heavy, the kind a firefighter might swing. It lies next to a duffle bag of emergency supplies (bandages, rope, flashlights) and reminds me that part of being a site administrator is being ready for […]
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 […]
Belding, Vernon, Rooney – 21st Century P
Imagine that you are not an educator, and do me a favor. Close your eyes and think about what comes to mind when I say one word…principal. Most of the people that I know outside of the educational field will mention one, if not all three of these names: Richard Belding, Richard Vernon, and Edward […]
Principals do Sleep Sometimes – Jessica
(Originally posted on Love the Learning.) By Jessica Hanson One of my awesome first grade teachers shared this with me and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the first grade humor within the story. But, after closely reading the story I thought, “Wow, this first grader may be on to something.” Principals can command kids. […]
A Connected Educator Should Run Twitter ...
(Originally posted on McCoyDerek) By Derek McCoy This recent article on Vox.com caught my eye about the CEO of Twitter – Twitter’s CEO is stepping down. Here’s why the company’s in trouble. It was an interesting read about popular social media site. I was drawn to it because Twitter makes me think of connected educators […]
Seven Ways To Grow Leadership Respect –
(Originally posted on Terri Klass Consulting) By Terri Klass Managers are frequently asking me how to gain the respect of their teams and bosses. They feel that they have great insights to share but are having a challenging time being recognized. They will inquire: “Why can’t I get my boss to respect my decisions?” “My […]
3 Administrative Non-Negotiables: How I ...
(Originally posted on Hallway Access.) By David Hochheiser School administrators bear the weight of myriad responsibilities. Our days are filled with diverse questions, interactions, scenarios and tasks. Some of these happen predictably and can therefore be planned for, but many realities in our purview present themselves organically, with little forewarning. Schools are living systems, hopefully […]
You Better Stop…Make Mistakes…and Listen
(Originally posted on Love the Learning.) By Jessica Hanson From August 21st, 2014: “This week I am having my teachers write letters to themselves. The prompt is: “I want to teach somewhere that….” They are to return them to me, signed and sealed. I am not going to read them. At some point in the […]
Classroom Observations: Leading In A Cul...
(Originally posted on On Principal.) By John Falino Accountability. This term is now at the political forefront as state and federal officials consider the best ways to improve our schools, student performance, and of course teacher performance. The discussions and changes have naturally led to more questions about the validity and true worth of standardized […]