(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 […]
Guiding Principles of a Learning Communi...
(Originally posted on Inquiry to Results.) By Chris Hubbuch Effective leadership on any level requires reflection about core values. Through this process your principles are identified and tested. Actual core values consist of what you live out, as opposed to your idealized principles. The challenge for any leader is achieving consistency between expressed values and […]
School Transformation and Trust – Larry
(Originally posted at Larry Walsh, High School Principal.) By Larry Walsh In schools, trust is like love in a marriage: it bonds people together and makes them strong and effective. Trust in relationships increases security, reduces inhibitions and defensiveness, and frees people to share feelings and dreams. Trust empowers you to put your deepest fears […]
Steps to Make Successful Change Happen –
(Originally posted on @DrMattParker) By Matt Parker Here are a few tips for leaders to help make change successful using a real-life example from the school year. 1. Discuss your proposal early and often to gather input from others. 2. Stay focused on the basic idea/goal and don’t get caught up adding a bunch of […]
The Challenge of Consensus – Michael Wir
(Originally posted on Our Work, Their Education.) By Michael Wirtz I find myself in a lot meetings, many of which I organize and lead. In the best moments, meetings are worth everyone’s time because they create the opportunity to test out the ideas of the group related to a worthy agenda issue, and they can […]
Everybody Has a Story – Dan Butler
(Originally posted on Once a Bobcat, Always a Bobcat.) By Dan Butler I was walking down the hallway of one of my schools the other day and passed three students who all smiled from ear to ear and waved when they saw me. There is nothing like being the principal of an elementary school; there […]
Are You Rocking the Boat? – Joey Sagel
(Originally posted on Principal Joey.) By Joey Sagel What is a great educator? As a culture, we’ve bought into the notion (aided by just about any movie you can think of about a teacher) that being a great educator means rising above a corrupt and crumbling oppressive system and being a lone beacon of light […]
We are Always 2 Questions Away… – Derek
(Originally posted on McCoyDerek) By Derek McCoy Earlier this week, we got a call to one of our teacher’s classrooms to get some help in dealing with a ‘disruptive’ student. When I arrived, the teacher greeted me at the door with a very perplexed and slightly frustrated look on her face. She pointed out the student […]
Leading with your Tail Lights – John Win
(Originally posted on Lead Learning with John Wink) By John Wink Leaders go ahead to show the way, but they need a way to alert followers if there is danger. Leaders guide others down a path toward success, but they need a way to let the organization know when it is time to turn. When […]
Why Behavior Trumps Attitude – Justin Ba
(Originally posted on EduLeadership.org) By Justin Baeder We’ve always known the importance of “getting the right people on the bus,” to borrow a phrase from Jim Collins. As leaders, we each have in mind a picture of the “right” kind of person for our school—the right attitude, the right work ethic, the right interest in […]
Habits of Instructional Leaders – Steven
(Originally posted on ASCD EDge) by Steven Weber Instructional leadership is essential in K-12 schools. What is an instructional leader? A second grade teacher can serve as an instructional leader. Principals and assistant principals should also be viewed as instructional leaders. A central office staff member may have the title of Chief Academic Officer or […]
Prehistoric PD – Brad Gustafson
Image Credit: eden-saga.com (Originally Posted at Adjusting Course.) By Brad Gustafson Professional Development (PD) is one of the most important undertakings a school leader can invest in. The learning experiences we offer our staff should exemplify current-best-practice. However, the predominant approach to PD remains systemically prehistoric; a pedagogical relic that is frozen in time. Can we […]
Transparent Leadership: Letting Your Lig...
(Originally posted on Communicate, Coach, Care: The Central Purpose) By Bethany Hill Transparency is a new buzz word in the leadership world. Some people are naturally “open books”, sharing anything and everything with the world. Others find it more challenging to reveal parts of themselves. One fact remains about transparency: when we see through or […]
8 Tips for Leading Change – David Stewar
(Originally posted on One Administrator’s View.) By David Steward If there is one thing I have learned throughout my career in education, it is that change is both inevitable and difficult. During my 12 years as a building principal, I have had the opportunity to lead my school through a couple of significant changes. One […]