Originally posted on Skins of Ill Shaped Fishes.) By Bjorn Paige It was simpler as a teacher. In my thirteen years in the classroom making meaningful connections with students was my first priority. Sure, we had books to read and papers to write, but I knew that kids don’t learn from teachers they don’t like […]
Lessons from Outside of Schools – David
(Originally posted on Hallway Access.) By David Hochheiser Do you know what these are? I didn’t until a stranger tossed the red one to me, and my seven-year old lit up with a “That’s the kind I usually use.” The joy in his face and the fun we had after will forever be a perfect […]
Building Positive School Culture: 20 Ide...
(Originally posted on Principal Matters.) By William D. Parker School or work environments are like home environments–it doesn’t take long to figure out if you are in a happy, productive place or not. Last week I was in Oklahoma City for a meeting with OASSP, the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals, when we were […]
The Speed of Innovation – David Steward
(Originally posted on One Administrator’s View.) By David Steward Recently, I was fortunate to engage in a chat on Twitter that accompanied a local district beginning to discuss innovation and change for their kids. The chat was extremely interesting (check out #ImagineSPS to see the discussion) and got me reflecting on change, innovation, and specifically […]
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 […]
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 […]
Make it a Priority to Stay Engaged All Y...
(Originally posted at A Principal’s Life. ) By David Ellena As a new year begins, hopefully we have all set goals and determined things that we will do better this year than last. I know I have. I always say that I am going to spend more time in classrooms (is there ever a time […]
How Does A School Move From Good to Grea...
(Originally posted on On Principal.) By John Falino The beginning of the school year is always an optimal time to engage teachers in some “big picture” thinking. Enthusiasm and energy are at a high as teachers are well rested and optimistic about the possibilities of a new school year. As part of our two-day opening […]
Demand Different – Dr. Robert Dillon
(Originally posted on Principally Speaking.) By Dr. Robert Dillon School leaders, teachers, and those that surround the work of education are in a difficult space. The demands to achieve are higher than ever, and the needs of kids, both academically and in the other spaces of their lives, are growing in intensity and complexity, while […]