(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 […]
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 […]
On Becoming a School Leader – Steven Web
(Originally posted on ASCD EDge) By Steven Weber School leadership has changed over the past twenty years. The role of a building principal is similar to the combined roles of a chef, architect, tightrope walker, public speaker, supervisor, investment broker, and pilot. As a chef, the school leader stirs the right ingredients and takes risks, […]
Leadership Tip: When to be a Cheerleader...
(Originally posted on @DrMattParker) By Matt Parker Any leader of an organization or school will tell you-cheering on your team is a huge priority. Being the cheerleader for your group is not just an overall morale booster for your team, but it also shows pride in your group, and it can be positive press for […]
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 […]
Redefining Time – Prioritize for Effecti
(Originally posted on Habits of Reflective School Leadership.) By Dan Fowler As school leaders, we constantly find ourselves trying to work more efficiently by multi-tasking the many responsibilities that consume the time in our day. We conduct classroom walk-throughs, manage discipline, respond to email, police the lunchroom, and the list of “to dos” goes on. […]
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 […]
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. […]
Smarter & Harder – Amy Heavin
(Originally posted on Leading Inspired.) During a workshop a few years ago, it was shared that we, as educators, need to work smarter, not harder. I took this phrase to heart, because I always felt I was working so hard, spinning my wheels, and it was time for me to get smarter about the work […]
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 […]
Successful Leadership is Shared – Dan Fo
(Originally posted on Habits of Reflective School Leadership.) By Dan Fowler Over the past 2 weeks, our school leadership team has been fortunate enough to work alongside our teachers, both at the district level and school-based level, in developing their curriculum through the “Backward Design” process (A process created and perfected by Jay McTighe and the late Grant […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Rethinking Professional Development: 5 “
(Originally posted on On Principal.) By John Falino Establishing a strong system for teacher learning and professional growth is now a “basic” responsibility for all school leaders at all levels. Given the radical changes and new innovations that continue to come our way, the need for strong instructional leaders who are creative, model best practice, […]