Retreat to greatness: these tips for planning retreats will optimize the potential of your top leadership team John Jay Bonstingl The next time you plan a retreat for your top leadership team, your chances for success are greatly enhanced if you remember these seven key elements. 1. Choose a conducive environment. Select an attractive environment […]
Category: Leadership
Expanding learning potential for all students: students must be taught the five skills vital to expanding learning potential as they move through the grades John Jay Bonstingl “Here I am again,” Charlie Brown mutters to himself with a sigh as he drags himself toward the pitcher’s mound. “The start of another season, and everybody knows […]
Leadership forecasting: the development and selection of school leaders starts with the end in mind by considering future vacancies, both known and unknown Suzette Lovely “We just are not inundated with great applicants out there. The typical school district isn’t going to be able to pull in some wonderful savior.”–From the Voice of a Superintendent, […]
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Finding the words to lead the way
Finding the words to lead the way Sonny Da Marto Dear Colleague: It was E.B. White who said, “To me, poetry is what is memorable, and a poet is a fellow or girl who lets drop a line that gets remembered in the morning” (Poems & Sketches of E.B. White, 1981, Harper & Row). School […]
How high poverty districts improve: a national study uncovers the policies and practices of high-poverty districts that have improved achievement across multiple schools Wendy Togneri Leaders in the Aldine Independent School District were alarmed when scores on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills were released in 1995. Test results revealed that Aldine’s students were achieving […]
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Meeting the needs of each child
Meeting the needs of each child – To Our Readers Larry Aceves Dear Colleague: Students begin the school year feeling that they are making a fresh start. They may arrive on the first day of school with new backpacks and clothes, perhaps even new notebooks and a few sharpened pencils. They are either eager to […]
Measuring up: this district support team closed its achievement gap by moving all schools toward synchronized, standards-based reform – Chino Valley Unified School District Jeanie Cash How many times have we heard the statement, “All children can learn?” We have either become immune to this phrase, or when we hear it, we think, “You don’t […]
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Shaping our accountability system
Shaping our accountability system – To Our Readers Larry Aceves Dear Colleague: Standards offer consistency and fairness–“the same expectations for all students,” one side of the argument goes. While high expectations for all students area laudable goal, a sensible approach requires “provisions for individual differences,” the other side says. And there is the crux of […]
Communicating the role and value of school leaders: ‘Leadership Matters’ expands the discussion of issues, celebrates the profession and increases leadership development opportunities throughout the state Bob Lee Leaders can be found just about anywhere. Most have titles, others don’t. But leaders are growing in the early grades among our eager-to-please young souls. They are […]
confronting institutional racism – education system Terry Keleher Institutional racism can be difficult to overcome. But if you are committed to change, there is plenty you can do. Here are six strategies for addressing racial inequalities in our schools. Do the best schools and classes have the fewest black and brown students? Observation seems to […]