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. […]
Spirit – Creating a Space Where Hope is
Originally posted on Skins of Ill Shaped Fishes.) By Bjorn Paige Have you ever had someone you trusted be so honest with you that you found yourself shaken? It’s in those moments when we’re blessed by the clarity only another pair of eyes can give us about ourselves that we grow. It’s seldom a compliment, […]
5 Tips to Help Teacher Morale – David El
(Originally posted on A Principal’s Life.) By David Ellena In this day and age of “education reform”, it seems that teachers and public education are under attack from all sides. The media and politicians continually erode the public confidence in the very people who we watch dedicate themselves on a daily basis to our students. […]
To Inspire and Be Inspired – Annabelle’s
(Originally posted on Expanding Learning Frontiers.) By Brad Latzke Last October, Annabelle, a grade seven student at Shanghai American School, came to school just like any other day. She felt a little dizzy before going home. Within hours, Annabelle suffered a devastating stroke brought on by several undiagnosed brain tumors. She underwent emergency surgery and her […]
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 […]
Embrace a Mistake – Amy Heavin
(Originally posted on Leading Inspired.) We’ve all heard the quote by Vince Lombardi, “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” Every moment is a learning experience. Mistakes are no different. We all make mistakes. We are human – it is bound to happen. If we are not willing to […]
The Most Dangerous Phrase in Education –
(Originally posted on Communicate, Coach, Care: The Central Purpose.) WARNING!!!! You are about to be exposed to a highly dangerous and contagious phrase. These words, when used together in a sentence, can be toxic to others, and cause damage that can take years to repair. Hold your breath, grit your teeth, and read the phrase […]
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 […]
Leading Change in Education – Chris Wool
(Originally posted on Common Sense School Leadership) By Dr. Christopher Wooleyhand The process of leading change in education is complex and challenging. John Kotter is recognized as an expert on the topic of leadership and change. He wrote Leading Change in 1996, which Time magazine selected as one of the 25 most influential business management […]
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 […]
4 Steps a School Administrator Can Take ...
(Originally posted on School Administration Mastery.) By Sam Rangel Beyond the horizon, across the vast expanse of the ocean, the captain envisioned a new world. He was certain that a better world existed, but he just needed to get there. He knew he couldn’t get there without some help. As strong as he was, and […]
They Didn’t Teach Me That – Walter A. K
(Originally posted on Servant Principal.) By Walter A. Kozlowski I recently posted to Twitter that I was wondering whether Parking Lot Management should be a topic included in school administrator preparation programs. The comment seemed to resonate with a few people and it led me to thinking . . . what else do school administrators regularly […]
Personal Regard: Why Being Gruff Isn’t W
(Originally posted on Eduleadership.) By Justin Baeder The principalship is tough work, so it’s no surprise that it both attracts tough-minded people and makes people tougher over time. It makes sense to be increasingly realistic and pragmatic as you gain experience, but too often we forget a key element of effective leadership: personal regard. Our […]