“Make Schools More Human” by Jal Mehta appeared in the NYTimes Sunday Review section on December 27, 2020. It cites Casco Bay High School in Maine, a school where students had the idea of writing a song that would celebrate community and social isolation. Well, look at what these students came up with for a virtual…
Recently in a book club, I was introduced to Emmanuel Acho (former NFL player and now a Fox Sports analyst) and his book Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man. After rapidly reading the book — it is so good — I then discovered his series of YouTube videos with the same title. He is an…
“Reflections: Online Learning, Distance Teaching, and Life in the Midst of COVID-19” is an article I wrote for the National Association of Independent School’s (NAIS) Fall 2020 Independent Teacher publication. Along with my reflections, you will find many links to stories I read to children and shared with them during the initial online learning/teaching as a result…
Welcome to the holiday gift guide for principals! Principals don’t expect gifts for the holidays. So put your money away if you are one of my teachers, school families, or students. However, if your own families want to gift you the things that make their lives easier then…BRING IT!!! *Disclaimer – These are NOT affiliate…
We’re closing out the first of a couple of breaks we have this season. How do you turn off all that goes through your leadership brain, when you’re supposed to be “not” thinking about work? I think when you lead the way that we all lead, it’s almost impossible to separate your everyday thoughts…
What if you could customize your planner/planning system? What if you could take all the planning things that work for you and put them in one place? That’s what digital planning is all about! However, it sounds like we need a digital planner for principals! Sounds like a magical unicorn, doesn’t it? This is what…
The book group I am a part of read Reading With Patrick by Michelle Kuo, and we could not believe the devotion and dedication the author demonstrated throughout the book. How she and Patrick endured the crass racism and inhumanity is difficult to believe. To give you a quick overview on the setting of the story and…
In a recent National Association of Independent Schools NAIS Bulletin (Oct. 14), an often overlooked essential practice was highlighted; it is especially important during times of stress and crisis in our schools. No matter what school you are leading—public, independent, charter, special education, virtual, daycare—do check out this graphic to see what actions can be taken…
Getting positive feedback is one of the most complex parts of a principal’s job. Although, giving feedback and getting feedback can be a challenge, we need feedback. However, do we want feedback? I personally prefer only positive feedback. Hey, I am being honest. Who really wants to know what they don’t do very well? The…
This blog has always been a place of reflection and a sharing of my professional growth and struggles. It started as a tool within my 4th-grade classroom, became a place that exploded with my tech integrationist days, and then where I shared all I learned as a campus leader. Adding another change to the pile…
