A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 20, 2022

One that sticks out to me as the most critical is how resilience got us through one of the most disruptive events we have ever experienced. The pandemic leveled down an array of lessons that should pave the way for future success. While the path was fraught with obstacles, we learned to overcome them together through innovative means.

Project-Based Learning 527

Project-Based Learning Humanities Cultures Teaching 527

A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 17, 2022

These events served as catalysts for challenging the status quo and working to usher in more innovative practices that were more aligned with preparing our learners for current and future success. For growth to be the standard, ongoing and job-embedded professional learning is needed as opposed to drive-by events and one-off PD days.

Leadership 419

Leadership Cultures Tradition Research 419

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 25, 2023

Co-create a vision A shared and co-created vision has the potential to transform an organization's culture. Extrinsic rewards are problematic as they create an expectation and seldom result in lasting cultural changes. It is a calling and responsibility to propel a culture forward for improved outcomes in ways that are scalable.

Leadership 465

Leadership Cultures Humanities Research 465

A Principal's Reflections

MAY 24, 2020

During my years as a teacher and principal, I would spend countless hours planning, researching, and attending professional learning events to hone my craft in order to become a better educator. However, this was not always my strength. In all honesty, though, I was just doing what I was taught, and thought were the best ways to grow.

Geography 545

Geography Humanities Cultures Professional Development 545

Passion for Social Studies

DECEMBER 15, 2024

Projects push students beyond memorization by enabling them to analyze historical events, people, and issues. They can investigate primary sources, create timelines, produce presentations, or even re-enact historical events. They also promote activity learning. On top of this, projects help make history relevant.

History 130

History Primary Sources Critical Thinking Social Studies 130

A Principal's Reflections

MAY 22, 2022

Co-plan lessons, meetings, and professional learning De-emphasize non-essential tasks that don’t impact student learning Eliminate distractions such as social media and web browsing Prioritize passions and interests related to your position or responsibilities Seek collegial support as these people know you and your culture best.

Cultures 516

Cultures Education 516

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 22, 2023

In schools, feedback should not be merely a one-time event; it is an ongoing process that fosters continuous learning and development. One key aspect of utilizing feedback for professional learning is creating a culture that encourages open and honest communication. Feedback is a powerful tool for driving professional learning.

Psychology 429

Psychology Professional Development Cultures Leadership 429

A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 3, 2021

Facebook Live) Notifications (SIS, email, Remind, LMS) Virtual events Games Flyers Infomercials and public service announcements Yard signs Town Halls Testimonials In Digital Leadership , I wrote about the fundamental need to meet stakeholders where they are and engage them where they are using a multi-faceted approach.

Leadership 495

Leadership Tradition Cultures 495

A Principal's Reflections

MAY 16, 2021

There are hundreds of other similar stories about companies that went bankrupt because they couldn’t and wouldn’t create a culture that challenged the status quo. The “ clean slate” moment, as I have called it, saw resilient educators rise to the occasion in response to the most challenging event ever to impact the profession.

Cultures 408

Cultures Leadership Teaching Research 408

A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 16, 2022

While you might not be able to control the actions of others fully, you can work to ensure that you are fully present during conversations, meetings, and professional learning events. Curious leaders inspire while also breaking down traditional barriers when it comes to transforming culture. An engaged leader is one who empowers.

Leadership 498

Leadership Tradition Humanities Cultures 498

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 19, 2014

I attended many of these events just to meet the required hours of professional development. It is uncommon to leave PD sessions with applicable ideas and strategies that we can implement immediately to positively change school culture. Our overall goal is to provide the best support for leaders and aspiring leaders in schools today.

Leadership 356

Leadership Professional Development Tradition Cultures 356

A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

Even events that are not focused on digital have sessions dedicated to the topic. While AI can provide data-driven insights and automate certain tasks, it needs a nuanced understanding of human relationships, cultural contexts, and complex decision-making processes essential for effective leadership.

Leadership 400

Leadership Pedagogy Humanities Library 400

A Principal's Reflections

JULY 10, 2016

Other elements embedded in school culture cloud our vision as to what is both needed and possible. The ability to initiate, manage, and sustain change relies on a leader’s ability to think of it as a process as opposed to an event. It’s not just advancements in technology that have to be addressed in our schools.

Global Connections 420

Global Connections Leadership Cultures Tradition 420

Digital Promise

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

The event attracted educators from across the country and around the world. Educators need to engage with content like this because the fast pace of school culture often distracts us from what truly matters: empowering student learning. This accessibility made the event not only informative but also practical for busy educators.

Education 144

Education EdTech Humanities Critical Thinking 144

Anthropology.net

DECEMBER 27, 2024

In Greece and Armenia, steppe ancestry coincided with pivotal cultural developments. Similarly, in Armenia, steppe ancestry paralleled the decline of the Kura-Araxes culture and the rise of the Trialeti culture. Strontium data further emphasize the Mediterranean as a dynamic cultural and genetic crossroads.

Ancestry 111

Ancestry Cultures History Research 111

A Principal's Reflections

FEBRUARY 27, 2022

Just like with learning, it's a process, not an event. While it is understood that management is a necessity associated with the position, it should not be something that comes at the expense of improving the learning culture. When it comes to leadership, there is no one right way or quick fix.

Leadership 529

Leadership Archiving Lesson Plan Tradition 529

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 30, 2016

With this choice comes a great deal of responsibility to initiate and sustain change that will lead to a transformed school culture. Image credit: Harold Jarche Leadership is a choice and not one that should be made lightly. Learning has been, and always will be, a pivotal component of this process. Please share your thoughts below.

Leadership 391

Leadership Humanities Cultures Education 391

A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 10, 2019

Create a strong vision A vision can undoubtedly change the culture of any organization if it is shared and co-created, but the real work and testament to great leadership is moving from the visioning process by developing a strategic plan to turn vision into reality. Be prepared for a long journey Leadership is not a race or event.

Leadership 377

Leadership Tutoring Cultures Humanities 377

Anthropology for Beginners

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

archaeologists study past humans and societies primarily through their material remains – the buildings, tools, and other artifacts that constitute what is known as the material culture left over from former societies. Application of Archaeology Archaeology is the study of human past through material remains. How were those pots used?

Archaeology 130

Archaeology Cultures Anthropology Heritage 130

A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 23, 2015

It was an incredible opportunity to get back to Hawaii for a professional event as opposed to a vacation. This was the fourteenth time the school had put on the event and it was awesome to see and meet so many passionate educators on a Saturday. This is not fair to say the least. The hash tad we will be using is #leaderedHI.

Leadership 284

Leadership Professional Development Cultures High School 284

A Principal's Reflections

JULY 1, 2018

Planning aside, there is another inhibitory element lurking in every organizational culture including education, and that is excuses. It is through this line of thinking that we start viewing these external situations or events as excuses for why we can’t do what we want to do.

Humanities 403

Humanities Cultures Education Leadership 403

Sapiens

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

I (Mariam) grew up in a Pakistani diaspora family, where I observed roti-making as an organizing tradition of my home culture, but one that remained a gender-exclusive space for girls, mothers, and aunties. Their cultural commentary on social media often rejects patriarchal expectations about making the perfect round, flaky roti.

Cultures 130

Cultures History Archiving Tradition 130

Anthropology.net

NOVEMBER 8, 2024

Their findings underscore the importance of Central Asia not only as a geographical way point but as a cultural and technological nexus where different human populations may have encountered each other over millennia. Artifacts suggest that the Zeravshan Valley was not only a migration route but potentially a place of cultural exchange.

Humanities 96

Humanities Archaeology Artifacts Heritage 96

A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 24, 2014

Administrators and teachers alike will work to establish a shared vision and subsequent plan of action for meaningful change that will hopefully lead to cultural transformation. Administrators will conduct countless observations and walk-throughs while spearheading larger change initiatives to improve achievement and school culture.

Artifacts 391

Artifacts Cultures Tradition High School 391

A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 8, 2018

Sara Briggs sums it up nicely: "Research shows that relevant learning means effective learning and that alone should be enough to get us rethinking our lesson plans (and school culture for that matter). The old drill-and-kill method is neurologically useless, as it turns out.

Pedagogy 388

Pedagogy Lesson Plan Cultures Teaching 388

A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 21, 2013

This conference is one of my must attend events of the year and I use it as an opportunity to develop new presentations based on my leadership experiences at New Milford High School. This past weekend I was fortunate enough to present at the 2013 Annual ASCD Conference in Chicago.

Leadership 309

Leadership High School Cultures Teaching 309

A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 18, 2018

These were then followed by back to school nights and athletic events. Throw in constant emails, texts, paperwork, parent issues, and calendar notifications, and the reality of educational leadership manifested itself in the form of management, which often came at the expense of instruction and school culture.

Leadership 328

Leadership Cultures Teaching Education 328

Anthropology.net

MARCH 26, 2025

Using Bayesian chronological modeling and data from over 150 archaeological sites, the study examines how two major climatic events—the Antarctic Cold Reversal (ACR) and the Younger Dryas (YD)—influenced early human dispersal across the continent. This event, however, appears to have played a different role in human settlement.

Humanities 79

Humanities Archaeology Cultures Tradition 79

TCI

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Put more emphasis on writing, argumentation, problem analysis, and making connections between core content and current events. It has enabled states to expand access to culturally relevant content, address equity concerns, and enhance students’ digital skills and civic readiness. million to $23 million as grants available to states.

Civics 98

Civics Teaching Civic Engagement Social Studies 98

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 24, 2018

Backchannel Chat has some good answers to both of these questions below: A backchannel is a conversation that takes place alongside an activity or event. So why and how should one incorporate backchanneling during workshops, presentations, faculty meetings, after hours, or in classrooms?

Tradition 374

Tradition Cultures Research Pedagogy 374

A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 25, 2021

In this book, my hope was to make a compelling case that the best way to do this is to create a disruptive thinking culture in the classroom and beyond. Learning is a process, not an event. Regardless of the forces at hand, educators play a pivotal role in preparing students for success now and in the future.

Artifacts 417

Artifacts Humanities Cultures Teaching 417

A Principal's Reflections

MAY 20, 2018

Makerspaces have moved from fringe initiatives to vibrant components of school culture. People craving more than a drive-by event, traditional school professional development day, or mandated training have an authentic outlet that caters to their interests. Leadership is leadership ladies and gentlemen.

Leadership 298

Leadership Cultures Professional Development Tradition 298

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 18, 2015

The primary audience at each event has been teachers, which by no means is a bad thing. With this power comes a greater responsibility to act accordingly to not only challenge the status quo, but also in many cases make bold decisions to transform traditional school cultures. Image credit: [link] Here in lies the issue though.

Leadership 375

Leadership Tradition Cultures Education 375

A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 20, 2023

For various reasons, educators are enamored by the keynoting circuit, facilitating presentations at both national and international events, and coaching in school systems. I often get asked both through social media and in person how to become a consultant. Over time I will flesh out concrete practice areas.

Leadership 362

Leadership Pedagogy Cultures High School 362

A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 8, 2020

It was at this time that I began to shift away from PD and instead embrace a culture of professional learning. In the event that you are not satisfied with what is provided to you through your organization, district, or school, then there is a myriad of options that you can pursue. I was both enlightened and empowered.

Professional Development 358

Professional Development Leadership Humanities Cultures 358

ED Surge

JANUARY 22, 2025

The arts also help students of different backgrounds and cultures to be celebrated by their peers and teachers. A Vision for the Future The arts can transform education, especially for multilingual learners navigating the challenges of language and cultural integration. For the first time in the U.S.,

K-12 115

K-12 Middle School Cultures Teaching 115

Sapiens

JANUARY 14, 2025

In a political rally organized for the event, he proudly told a crowd in Bomboiza how they were already exporting the fruit to the United States, Canada, China, and Russia. Kunki wanted the world to know what they are doing in Bomboiza, so I, as a videographer, recorded the event and much of the work that has followed.

Economics 114

Economics Tradition Anthropology Government 114