The Power of “We”
All of us have referred to the government, our bosses, or the evening news as “they” (i.e., what “they did” or what “they said”). As an administrator, you can be …
The Power of “We”
All of us have referred to the government, our bosses, or the evening news as “they” (i.e., what “they did” or what “they said”). As...
Read More
Five Tips for Coaching Teachers Well
Coaching is the discipline that harnesses the power of teachers. While we may find ourselves coaching teachers about non-work issues, the core of being a...
Read More
Seven Ways to Motivate Your Staff
Occasionally, we all face periods when people seem to drift and drag as they carry out assignments and complete their work. As leaders, we want...
Read More
Volunteer Multiplier Mindset
There are few activities with greater multiplier benefits than the concerted, dedicated efforts of volunteers. At the same time, using volunteers in school environments...
Read More
Navigating Career Transitions with Grace
An elementary principal, taken by surprise when transferred to a new elementary school, continues to stay in touch with her old school. She visits after...
Read More
No Second Chance to Make a First Impression
There is an old saying: “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” It could never be truer than when you...
Read More
The Power of “We”
All of us have referred to the government, our bosses, or the evening news as “they” (i.e., what “they did” or what “they said”). As...
Read More
Five Tips for Coaching Teachers Well
Coaching is the discipline that harnesses the power of teachers. While we may find ourselves coaching teachers about non-work issues, the core of being a...
Read More
Rethinking a Common Practice: Lesson Objectives on the Board
Over the past several years, many principals have established the expectation that teachers place the daily objective on the board before beginning the lesson. The...
Read More
Close Opportunity Gaps by Getting to Know Your Students
As schools focus increased attention on student achievement, they often look at aggregate numbers. What percentages of students are reading at the appropriate grade level?...
Read More
A Tale of Two Schools
By Donald Hammond, Ph.D., and Jennifer Hammond, Ph.D. There are two schools located a mere 20 miles from one another. One is a middle class...
Read More
Taking the Pulse on Teacher Engagement
How can we assess the level of teacher engagement in our building? Depending on your school’s size, teacher engagement levels can be measured in several...
Read More
Mid-Year Freshmen Are Still Freshmen!
High school freshmen will view their first year of high school as either a stumbling block or a stepping stone. When the school year began,...
Read More
Improve Teacher’s Performances in Basic Ways
Improve Teachers’ Performances in Basic Ways I was once struck by an activity my basketball coach undertook before every practice. In the locker room, he...
Read More
Five Tips for Coaching Teachers Well
Coaching is the discipline that harnesses the power of teachers. While we may find ourselves coaching teachers about non-work issues, the core of being a good leader is to coach …
Seven Ways to Motivate Your Staff
Occasionally, we all face periods when people seem to drift and drag as they carry out assignments and complete their work. As leaders, we want to lift their spirits and …
What is Really Important?
Are you a compulsive list maker, one who gains immeasurable enjoyment in the act of checking off a completed task? Perhaps you are a casual list maker, driven to what …
How to Become a Compelling Force of Influence
Successful principals influence dozens of people a day. These influencers don’t merely persuade teachers to teach better or students to learn more. Nor do they engage in methods that …
Volunteer Multiplier Mindset
There are few activities with greater multiplier benefits than the concerted, dedicated efforts of volunteers. At the same time, using volunteers in school environments takes a whole new level …
Growing Teacher Strengths
Every principal works with educators who dreamed of teaching since they were children. As well, there is always at least one teacher on staff who unabashedly admits he or she …
Becoming a Better Leader
Leadership expert John Maxwell advises that leaders are not born; they develop. Further, leadership is something we develop over time. We may notice it in a single incident or in …
Seven Guiding Principles to Restore Employee Confidence
Great principals strive to restore employee confidence which may be low for any number of reasons. Use these seven principles to lift institutional confidence:
Is Your School Great By Choice?
I recently had the pleasure of listening to author and speaker Jim Collins. Collins is well known for his bestselling book on business management Good to Great and the sequel …