Common Reflection Questions As many educators wrap up their school year, they are reflecting on the ups and downs. I can imagine new teachers and their mentors are considering their year by asking themselves, “Where has the year even gone?” Another common question floating about amongst
We are in a crisis. High quality teachers and leaders are leaving the profession in droves, resulting in a lack of aspiring leaders who are seeking to assume the role of school principal. So, what can we do? An increase in pay and compensation for
By Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Cathy Lassiter In their new research review on developing effective principals, Darling-Hammond and colleagues (2022) note that, among other things, leaders build positive school climates for students and teachers. Their review synthesized published, peer-reviewed research from 2000 to 2021
It’s Possible Les Brown has a whole host of potential issues stacked against him – poverty, special needs, adoption, yet, he served in the Ohio legislature and emerged as one of the greatest motivational speakers to ever grace a stage. Les’s story is about learning how to
The idea of leading teams with intention surfaced for me in an unexpected moment, while I was standing in a long line at the airport security. That morning, I intentionally chose slip-on shoes so no one would be waiting for me to untie my sneakers.
The last two years in school have been chaotic and unpredictable. Leaders and teachers are leaving in record numbers due to the constant upheaval and uncertainty. Engaging those who stayed and enticing a new generation of teachers requires educators to rethink how we do business.
Marianne, a classroom teacher, asked me if she should try digital portfolios for her students’ writing or stay with print only. We were meeting for our fall teacher evaluation conference. As her principal, I am obligated to sign off on faculty member’s goals and plans. The
“In my 20-plus years working in this district, no one has ever held space for my own SEL skill development like this. I’m so grateful for this work.” A principal in one of the nation’s largest school districts shared this with us and her colleagues near
“Know thy impact.” This maxim by Dr. John Hattie has stayed with me since I read his seminal resource Visible Learning for Teachers: Maximizing Impact on Learning (Routledge, 2012). It continues to surface as, too often, the teacher-to-student influence is not clear. This lack of clarity
Pre-pandemic, one in six teachers said they may leave their jobs by the end of the school year. During the pandemic, that number increased to nearly one in four, according to the 2021 State of the U.S. Teacher Survey. Certainly the stresses of the pandemic can