A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 17, 2022

Good leadership is, quite frankly, good leadership. Employing well-known and research-based strategies within a current context is a hallmark of influential leaders. A pedagogical focus grounded in research and evidence is critical to improving outcomes for kids both with and without technology. Pay it forward.

Leadership 419

Leadership Cultures Tradition Research 419

A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 10, 2019

Leadership is leadership. What has changed are the tools, research, and societal shifts that impact the work. Leadership is both an art and a science with the goal of moving the masses towards achieving a common goal. However, by not admitting or owning up to this fact, a culture of trust is hard to come by.

Leadership 377

Leadership Tutoring Cultures Humanities 377

A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 28, 2019

Back in 2009, I began calling for an evolved construct of leadership that would better serve schools in meeting the diverse needs of learners and stakeholders alike. Digital leadership is all about people and how their collective actions aligned with new thinking, ideas, and tools can help to build cultures primed for success.

Leadership 419

Leadership Digital Resources Pedagogy Cultures 419

A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 18, 2024

The ability to prioritize is paramount for effective leadership. Educators develop a sense of direction and purpose when priorities align with the overall mission and vision, something I elaborate on in Digital Leadership. Shifting from a focus on management to pedagogical leadership requires a reprioritization of time.

Leadership 373

Leadership Pedagogy Cultures Research 373

A Principal's Reflections

MAY 14, 2017

Building people up is at the heart of empathetic leadership.” - @E_Sheninger No significant relationship can exist without trust. As I continue to research and reflect on strategies to build powerful relationships with others, the topic of empathy has a consistent presence. So how does this connect to leadership?

Leadership 366

Leadership Cultures Research Education 366

A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 28, 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the role of leadership is pivotal. The notion of educational leadership extends beyond administrative responsibilities; it embodies the vision, direction, and ethos of a learner-centric environment. Understanding the Role Leadership is about action.

Leadership 389

Leadership Cultures Education Policy Humanities 389

A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 19, 2022

A culture of acceptance and respect can reap the rewards for all stakeholders. As I shared in Digital Leadership , if you have to “sell” people on doing things differently or accepting a mandate, chances are your staff will never see the benefit of the change. Everyone wants to feel that they belong where they work.

Cultures 446

Cultures Professional Development Leadership Research 446

A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

Instructional leadership was a routine part of the job along with the budget, master schedule, curriculum development, meetings, email, phone calls, and many other duties. With the evolution of social media yet another responsibility was added to my plate in the form of digital leadership.

Leadership 358

Leadership Archiving Lesson Plan High School 358

A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 7, 2019

Success lies in a shared ownership approach to design relevant cultures of learning. Herein lies the vital role leaders play in designing relevant cultures of learning. Creating relevant cultures of learning is the responsibility of all who serve kids, not just teachers in the classroom.

Cultures 419

Cultures Elementary School Middle School High School 419

A Principal's Reflections

MAY 20, 2018

“ Leadership has less to do with position than it does disposition.” – John Maxwell I am currently working on a new edition of Digital Leadership for Corwin and I am very excited, as it will be in color. A great deal has changed since Digital Leadership was published in 2014. What should be removed?

Leadership 298

Leadership Cultures Professional Development Tradition 298

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 13, 2024

This vision should be communicated effectively through a multi-faceted approach, something I emphasize in Digital Leadership. Present research and evidence These play a crucial role in justifying change by providing a solid foundation for decision-making. Ensuring everyone understands the "why" behind the change is vital.

Leadership 262

Leadership Cultures Research Education 262

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 28, 2018

Leadership is far from a science. Since effective leadership means different things to different people, I wanted to dive a little deeper into this debate to glean a better understanding as to what great leaders do. Image credit Whether you are more on the side of art or leadership is beside the point.

Leadership 319

Leadership Psychology Cultures Humanities 319

A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 16, 2018

Anyone who reads my blog knows that I am a huge proponent of research-influenced practice, evidence, accountability, and efficacy. This is what instructional leadership is all about. Below are some strategies that I utilized to help create a culture where there was accountability for growth.

Cultures 363

Cultures Artifacts Leadership Research 363

A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 28, 2022

Culture is everything. Establishing and maintaining relationships is paramount, which Is why I detailed research-based ways to improve morale in a previous post and in Digital Leadership. Windows and mirrors can be incredible metaphors when it comes to effective leadership. Do I lift others up? Am I open to feedback?

Leadership 527

Leadership Psychology Cultures Research 527

A Principal's Reflections

FEBRUARY 20, 2022

How would one define great leadership? I am sure that each of you reading this post can develop a quick list of critical characteristics or behaviors that one must utilize to help move people to where they need to be to improve culture and performance. Leadership is a lot like a Swiss Army Knife. It's meant to be opened.

Leadership 543

Leadership Cultures Research 543

A Principal's Reflections

JULY 16, 2017

In many cultures the status quo is so entrenched that shifting mindsets and behaviors can be daunting. The research that Tom Murray and I share in Learning Transformed can help guide anyone, regardless of his or her position, to move change efforts forward that sustain over time no matter what issue might arise.

Leadership 254

Leadership Humanities Cultures Research 254

A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021

These focused on topics such as school law, instructional leadership, change management, school finance, and curriculum development, among many others. Leadership is hard. Making decisions in a time of crisis is also a topic that is regularly explored in leadership courses. Initiating and sustaining change is even harder.

Leadership 540

Leadership Cultures Research Education 540

A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 14, 2022

Thriving cultures that produce results make every effort to keep this on the positive side. Below are some simple strategies that you can use immediately and long-term, many of which are research-based. Pile on the positive feedback Sometimes there is never enough of a good thing when it comes to building up culture. 117-120.

Leadership 479

Leadership Cultures Psychology Research 479

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 25, 2023

Leadership embodies consistent qualities and characteristics that remain unchanged while the tools, research, and societal shifts influencing the work have evolved. Leadership combines artistic and scientific elements, aiming to mobilize people toward a shared objective. Leadership is a collaborative endeavor.

Leadership 465

Leadership Cultures Humanities Research 465

A Principal's Reflections

FEBRUARY 27, 2022

When it comes to leadership, there is no one right way or quick fix. From a learning standpoint, this requires a focus on pedagogical leadership , something I learned over time when I was a principal, which required taking a critical lens to my practice if I was going to help my staff do the same.

Leadership 529

Leadership Archiving Lesson Plan Tradition 529

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 2, 2014

Leaders who have deeper and more lasting impact provide more comprehensive leadership than focusing just on higher standards. Public schools are attended by students from various cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic backgrounds, having different assessed levels of cognitive and academic ability. Michael Fullan, 2002, p.

Leadership 272

Leadership K-12 Advocacy Public School 272

A Principal's Reflections

MAY 1, 2022

Having a foundation and a compelling reason to change is where research plays a pivotal role. It provides a baseline as to what has been found to really work when it comes to student learning and improving culture. Thriving cultures focus on empowerment, support, feedback, and autonomy to take risks to build self-efficacy.

Artifacts 530

Artifacts Cultures Leadership Research 530

A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 2, 2023

The advent of social media introduced yet another responsibility into my already packed schedule: digital leadership. As a school administrator, one must be proficient in many different areas, but it's essential to maintain sight of the most crucial aspect of the role: pedagogical leadership.

Leadership 542

Leadership K-12 Artifacts Lesson Plan 542

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 9, 2019

As such, teaching, learning, and leadership must change if growth and improvement are the goals. Here is where the Pillars of Digital Leadership come into play. Each of the seven outlined below are either embedded components of school culture or an element of professional practice that leaders already focus on (or should be).

Leadership 404

Leadership Cultures Pedagogy Research 404

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 19, 2022

While there are many challenging aspects when it comes to leadership, one that typically rises to the top is dealing with difficult personalities. Whatever that might be, discovering the root cause is essential to proactively address the situation so that it doesn’t further impact the culture of your school or district.

Cultures 543

Cultures Leadership Humanities Research 543

A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 7, 2024

It intertwines innovative teaching practices, cutting-edge technologies, and a culture of inclusivity into the very fabric of districts and schools. All services and offerings that we provide support longitudinal and evidence-based change to improve learner outcomes backed by research.

K-12 445

K-12 Education Leadership Classroom Management 445

A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 5, 2018

As a result, the learning culture does not evolve or becomes stagnant for both learners and educators. My point is that the focus should be on taking a critical lens to traditional practices and determine if the way in which they are being implemented is actually in the best interests of a vibrant and prosperous learning culture.

Cultures 244

Cultures Tradition Professional Development Teaching 244

A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 22, 2023

Up until this point, my thinking was relatively traditional and as such, so was the culture of my school. It was now time to become a true leader and that required being honest about where not only I was but also the culture of my school. Abiding by the status quo doesn’t cut it, no matter where performance indicators reside.

EdTech 511

EdTech Cultures Leadership Tradition 511

A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 17, 2024

In a world of standardized tests and rigid curricula, fostering a culture of continuous, personalized growth for teachers allows them to stay abreast of current trends and effective strategies, maximize time, and become the best iteration of themselves for the learners they serve. Educational Researcher, 38(8), 649-664. Desimone, L.

Professional Development 469

Professional Development Leadership Cultures Educational Technology 469

A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 24, 2019

In the case of education, the choice is to either adapt or evolve in ways that lead to improved outcomes aligned to teaching, learning, and leadership. The desire or imperative to change depends on a combination of perspective, culture, and achievement. Herein lies both the challenge and the opportunity inherent in the process.

Leadership 429

Leadership Cultures Teaching Research 429

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 28, 2020

The concept of leadership hasn’t changed, although the conditions under which leaders work and learn sure have. In the end, though, scalable change resulting in a transformation of teaching, learning, and leadership was more of an exception as opposed to the rule. In times of uncertainty, strong leadership is needed more than ever.

Social Justice 419

Social Justice Leadership Cultures Teaching 419

A Principal's Reflections

JULY 12, 2020

Leadership must and will be different. Most of all, the learning culture will most certainly be different, and it will be a travesty if it is not. Check out the International Center for Educational Leadership's ( ICLE ) vast services and Digital Practice Assessment (DPA) process to fill this gap.

Pedagogy 533

Pedagogy Professional Development Leadership Cultures 533

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 29, 2017

Note: This post is directly related to my work at the International Center for Leadership in Education Efficacy has been on my mind a great deal as of late, and as a result, it has been reflected in my writing. During this reflective process, it is expected that school leadership teams collect and document aligned evidence for each item.

Archiving 357

Archiving Artifacts Leadership Cultures 357

A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

AI, while a powerful tool, can only partially replace the role of human leadership in schools. 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

AUGUST 26, 2018

It was this shift that got me thinking about how tools could be used to amplify the fantastic work of my teachers, administrators, and students to showcase efficacy in improving school culture. The digital world allows all educators to become the storyteller-in-chief, something that I first discussed in detail in Digital Leadership years ago.

Artifacts 397

Artifacts Leadership Cultures Community Engagement 397

A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 24, 2022

For starters, it represented my first major publication that veered away from a leadership focus. ConnectEDD Publishing was the perfect partner for this project as Jimmy Casas and Jeff Zoul have immense experience in the realm of school culture.

Leadership 527

Leadership Cultures Research Education 527

A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

That's the power of transparent leadership. Leading with clarity is not just about providing direction—it's about creating a culture where trust thrives, decisions are transparent, and every voice is empowered to contribute to the bigger vision. Leadership: Current theories, research, and future directions. Avolio, B.

Leadership 306

Leadership Psychology Cultures Research 306