Throughout the world, schools are managing the challenges of school closures in response to news of the spreading corona virus or COVID-19. As a school leader, you are expected to manage difficulties, but sometimes you are managing in uncharted territo…
Connected Principals Posts
Check out the full podcast discussing these ideas on Spotify, Soundcloud, or iTunes. As I have shared these questions from “Innovate Inside the Box” often in finding the strengths, passions, and abilities of…
Read More 5 Questions You Should Ask Your Staff (and Students) #Podcast
I was lucky enough to record a conversation (coming out soon) with Christina Tondevold, and she had discussed her children. Paraphrasing as best as I can from memory, she had…
Read More If students could graduate from school early, would they?
What stories have shaped your own leadership journey? I recently finished reading, Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. If you’re unfamiliar with the book, Tara Westover grew up in a rural Idaho with parents who embraced radical ideologies, including n…
Check out the full podcast discussing these ideas on Spotify, Soundcloud, or iTunes. The following excerpt is from “Innovate Inside the Box“: There is never harm in positively and authentically…
Check out the full podcast discussing these ideas on Spotify, Soundcloud, or iTunes. The following excerpt is from “Innovate Inside the Box“: There is never harm in positively and authentically acknowledging the contributions the adults in our schools make. Don’t wait for someone to leave your building to appreciate them! Say good things about them … [Read more…]
Years ago I was doing a presentation to high school educators and things didn’t go as planned: I started my presentation and within 30 seconds the power went out. I picked up my laptop and said to the 100+ audience members, “Ok, everybody gather around here.” ? I started a conversation about ‘What tech tool […]
Read More Adopting tools in a transformative rather than additive way
Why is hiring such an important part of your responsibility as a principal? First and foremost, because the students, teachers, and community members deserve high quality education experiences. And secondly, because the people in your school often refl…
Read More PMPEncore151: Hiring High Quality Educators, Part 2
If you do not follow Deidre Roemer, you should. Deidre has a must-read blog for educators. She is an incredible leader and learner that is creating some fantastic opportunities with…
Read More 3 Reasons Students Should Be a Part of Your Professional Learning Day
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The best advantage is the ability to combine your human abilities with the best tools available.
In the world of chess, the best players in the world can no longer beat the best machines in the world.
However, a combination …
In August of 2016, I wrote the post, “10 Easy Ways To Create an Amazing #ClassroomCulture This Year, to provide some “investment” strategies on making school better for not only…
Read More 10 Easy Ways To Create an Amazing #ClassroomCulture #Podcast
In August of 2016, I wrote the post, “10 Easy Ways To Create an Amazing #ClassroomCulture This Year, to provide some “investment” strategies on making school better for not only our students but ourselves. I remember seeing this tweet by Heather Thompson Day, and it shook me: Many of our students come to school because … [Read more…]
Read More 10 Easy Ways To Create an Amazing #ClassroomCulture #Podcast
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No one does their best work out of compliance or out of obligation.
No one does their best work expecting a reward.
We do our best work when we see it as a privilege, a contribution, and an enjoyable experienc…
One of my favorite spots in our halls is right in the front entryway. Our building is laid out so that every wing of classrooms branches out off of a long main hall, so to get to where you want to be, you’ll walk right by our “Quote of the …
Read More When little things send a big message… #QuoteOfTheDay
One day the teachers at Indian Run Elementary, in Dublin, Ohio, organized a “Flash TACO bar” – a spontaneous buffet meal where they shared great food and fun together. As principal of the school, Jen Schwanke reflected on the joy and creativity of her …
Read More PMPEncore150: Hiring High Quality Educators, Part 1
You might have seen the below picture below by Anna Vital on “Why People Give Up”: Any single one of those reasons are things that can set us back. They have set…