School leaders, regardless of the position held, take on a number of tasks at the same time, so many in fact that the ‘To Do’ list never ends. Leaders are…
Read More We must make time for clarifying questions and responses
School leaders, regardless of the position held, take on a number of tasks at the same time, so many in fact that the ‘To Do’ list never ends. Leaders are…
Read More We must make time for clarifying questions and responses
I had the pleasure of presenting at the Texas ASCD conference this week with a principal here in the Wylie ISD. We were a part of an iPad roll out last year and wanted to speak to our experience. It was a lively group and we were able to get into some …
Read More #TXASCD Groundshaking moves for Integration Success
There is overwhelming evidence in support of developing professional learning communities (PLCs) in schools to improve teacher collaboration that has a positive impact on student learning. Yet, for a number…
Read More 5 necessities to successfully begin building professional learning communities in schools
Schools will change their structures from time to time. Reporting lines may change, or a new position can be added, which is intended to support the school’s overall improvement. When…
Read More The ‘too many cooks’ and ‘many hands’ dilemma for our schools
There are some traits that I believe stand out above all in great educators and school leaders. These traits typify the ideal of having educators that are lifelong learners striving…
Many important conversations in our schools are avoided at the expense of preserving what we may think are harmonious relationships. It is quite amazing how both teachers and leaders will…
Read More Being nice will not necessarily address the elephant in the schoolhouse
With schools being complex organisations, it can feel like school leaders are trying to herd cats at times. As leaders, we seek to exert a degree of control in our…
Read More What things should we keep loose or tight in our schools?
In another post, I presented a case why teachers should seek feedback from their students. In deciding to seek feedback from students, it is important that it is worthwhile for…
Read More 4 pieces of feedback that teachers should collect from their students
Teachers are given a great deal of trust in giving feedback to students. Feedback is crucial to supporting students grow and develop in becoming lifelong learners able to take on…
Read More Why teachers should seek feedback from their students
Working productively in teaching teams can be so rewarding yet so frustrating. When we all get on the same page, we can begin to really enjoy what we do and…
Like it or not, school do need policies and guidelines, whether it be for how we go about assessment, giving homework, dealing with academic dishonesty, or matters pertaining to the…
Read More Struggling with school policy implementation? Some scenarios may help
Much is said in the media about schools being stressful places and, perhaps, education is nearing crisis point in terms of what is being asked of teachers. Workload is an…
Read More How school leaders can address teacher workload issues
It happens. Frustration regarding a particular issue in a school or between colleagues spills over into open criticism in an online environment. This can lead to significant distress to members…
Read More Teachers criticizing colleagues in online environments – how should we respond?
I refer back to the article, Improving Relationships in the Schoolhouse, quite often when considering the work we need to do as school leaders. The article, by Roland Barth, serves…
One of the things I encourage teachers to do when they consider the impact of their actions on student learning is to look at themselves through the eyes of the…
Here’s an interesting question. As an educational leader, if you were to be away from your school for one day, a few days, a week, a month, or longer, how…
You have heard the saying before: “There is no ‘I’ in team but there is ‘M’ and ‘E’.” I often observe interactions between leaders in schools and teachers. I watch…
Read More Does our use of possessive adjectives in schools make us less collaborative?
Tackling issues and problems in schools is an endless task, so much so that if leaders are not careful, it can completely drain you of your energy. A lot of…
Read More A fire-fighting approach to solving problems in schools
One of the most frustrating aspects of being a leader in a school is seeing so many improvements that can be made. When I first embarked on my education leadership…
Read More Want to lead successful school improvement? Let go and pick the right battles
Hindsight is a great thing. How many times have we said, as school leaders, I wish I knew that beforehand or I wish I was prepared or trained for that?…
Read More Five important things to know for new and aspirational school leaders