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?

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A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 10, 2022

Moving away from traditional approaches is not easy. While the transition to personalization can occur using high agency strategies as detailed in Disruptive Thinking in Our Classrooms , it is critical that the right culture is in place. Culture matters. Here is where leadership is pivotal.

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Pedagogy Tradition Cultures Leadership 539

A Principal's Reflections

DECEMBER 18, 2022

Unlike the days when there was no Internet, anyone can provide deeper context or supporting examples to supplement and piece of traditional written work. There is a nice mix of concepts including personalization, educational technology, leadership, and school culture. Below are my top posts from 2022. Here’s to an amazing 2023!

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Leadership Educational Technology Tradition Cultures 531

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.

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Leadership Archiving Lesson Plan Tradition 525

A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 2, 2014

Watching the video above is a painful reminder of my lack of leadership at one point. During the early years as a high school principal I worked terribly hard to sustain practices that had been ingrained into the school learning culture. The resulting culture focused squarely on the metrics that my stakeholders held dear.

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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. Offer teachers a diverse menu of learning opportunities.

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Professional Development Leadership Cultures Educational Technology 454

A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 5, 2018

However, there is another significant impediment to change that doesn’t get as much focus as it should and that is tradition. Tradition, combined with the comfort of the status quo, forms a plausible excuse for not changing. As a result, the learning culture does not evolve or becomes stagnant for both learners and educators.

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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. It represented a true turning point in how I thought about change in education.

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A Principal's Reflections

DECEMBER 27, 2020

Other pieces included topics that I traditionally cover but with new angles such as pedagogy, change leadership, and school culture. From March on, my blog posts focused on practical strategies in the areas of remote learning, hybrid models, and leadership in uncertain times. We are in their debt.

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A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

Below I will address six specific areas that can help to create an empathetic teaching and learning culture. Remote teachers also need time, which is why having them follow a traditional school day schedule doesn't make much sense, especially when asynchronous tasks can be employed, freeing up much needed minutes or even hours.

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Pedagogy Cultures Tradition Leadership 541

A Principal's Reflections

FEBRUARY 22, 2015

We need to realize that this, along with other traditional elements associated with education, no longer prevail. This makes a great sound bite, but the reality is that many individuals in a leadership position are not actually working directly with students. Leadership is about action, not position.

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A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 25, 2015

Schools and districts need digital leadership. Digital leadership takes into account recent changes such as ubiquitous connectivity, open-source technology, mobile devices, and personalization. We need to realize that many traditional elements associated with education no longer prevail. The bottom line is that they are bored.

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A Principal's Reflections

JULY 9, 2014

Image credit: [link] Almost ten years ago, I was presented with an opportunity to begin my educational leadership career at NMHS. Each and every one of them has played a huge role in transforming the learning culture at NMHS. Thank goodness my wife made me apply for this job.) Then there is my administrative team at the high school.

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A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 3, 2021

When it comes to leadership, the importance of effective communication skills to engage and empower families moved to the forefront. A focus on solely traditional methods will not cut it, unfortunately. For more strategies, consider getting your hands on both Digital Leadership and BrandED.

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A Principal's Reflections

DECEMBER 27, 2015

This framework, based on traditional elements of education yet encouraging movement from acquisition of knowledge to application of knowledge, charts learning along the two dimensions of higher standards and student achievement. Pedagogy first, technology second when appropriate.

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A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 8, 2014

For many years New Milford High School was just like virtually every other public school in this country defined solely by traditional indicators of success such as standardized test scores, graduation rates, and acceptances to four year colleges. If we can overcome these challenges and experience success others can as well.

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Leadership Tradition High School Library 401

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 25, 2020

Now is not the time to revert back to traditional observation and evaluation protocols because, quite frankly, they will not result in improved outcomes. In Digital Leadership , I lay out the importance of using a multifaceted approach to meet stakeholders where they are while reinforcing the vital message at hand.

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Leadership Pedagogy Professional Development Tradition 527

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 19, 2014

It is uncommon to leave PD sessions with applicable ideas and strategies that we can implement immediately to positively change school culture. I experienced firsthand the value of these learning activities, as sustainable change and cultural transformation took hold at my school.

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A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 18, 2020

Social distancing has quickly become the thing to do and will soon be the cultural norm. The Mount Olive Township School District in NJ, under the leadership of superintendent Dr. Robert Zywicki, has been way ahead of the curve. Think about what tools your community regularly uses, including students, and blend with traditional means.

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Leadership Digital Resources Elementary School Middle School 544

A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 29, 2020

It is nearly impossible to create a culture of learning if there are elements of boredom, inactivity, and lack of relevance. Early on, I used more traditional strategies since this was a new arena for me. In Digital Leadership , I outline how a multi-faceted approach that meets stakeholders where they are is the most effective way.

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Leadership Tradition Cultures High School 545

A Principal's Reflections

MAY 3, 2015

As of late I have been working with a greater number of teachers across the country on digital leadership and learning. Leadership is comprised of a dynamic mix of behaviors, mindset, and skills, which are used to move people where a leader wants them to be for the betterment of the organization. Now here’s why.

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A Principal's Reflections

MAY 10, 2015

Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to have an article published in the digital version of ASCD's Educational Leadership. Digital leadership calls for a multifaceted approach using both traditional and new age strategies to ensure that the right message is reaching stakeholders in a timely fashion.

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Leadership Tradition Cultures Education 329

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 9, 2024

Here is the synopsis: Not Just One Way Are you an educator stuck in the traditional teaching or leadership mold, yearning for a spark to reignite your passion? Where the rigid structures of traditional education give way to flexible, student-centered learning environments.

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Tradition Critical Thinking Cultures Leadership 393

A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 17, 2019

However, a convergence of styles separates generalists from specialists when it comes to leadership. Moving from Specialist to Generalist Below are some common styles prevalent in leadership today. Managerial Whether we like it or not, management plays a pivotal role in leadership.

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A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 12, 2017

What makes a great and successful learning culture? Achievement is often viewed as the single most important outcome of a thriving learning culture that is preparing students for the demands of their next stage in life, whether it is grade level promotion or moving onward to college or a career. Quite frankly, it’s not about us.

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Cultures Leadership Tradition Education 189

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 2, 2019

Just because something has been done in the past, or is a traditional component of school culture, does not mean it is an effective practice. Educational Leadership, 69(3), 40-44. Educational Leadership, 65(5), 85–87. Portland, OR: Educational Testing Service. O’Connor, K., & & Wormeli, R. Reeves, D. Reeves, D.

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Leadership Lesson Plan Cultures Tradition 419

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 22, 2014

Real, meaningful, and sustainable change capable of transforming school culture and professional change comes from taking action. Leadership is not about position, but rather the actions that we take in our respective roles. Change educational leadership Leadership'

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Leadership Tradition Cultures High School 356

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 18, 2015

Over the past couple of weeks I have been either keynoting conferences or facilitating workshops focusing on digital leadership and learning. I relish the fact of being able to talk about creating schools that work for kids and leadership in the digital age. It is an honor and privilege to be in a leadership position.

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Leadership Tradition Cultures Education 368

A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

Upon leaving New Milford High School a few weeks ago, I was like a proud father who watched his children grow up, mature, and experience undeniable successes that forever changed the teaching and learning culture there. The hiring process can make or break a school culture. She then got out of the way of the students.

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Library Leadership Cultures Tradition 405

A Principal's Reflections

JULY 10, 2016

Other elements embedded in school culture cloud our vision as to what is both needed and possible. Issues such as the status quo, traditions, mindset , fear, apathy, funding, infrastructure, and time seem to consistently rear their ugly heads. It’s not just advancements in technology that have to be addressed in our schools.

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A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 14, 2014

This is also where it is sustained to the point that it becomes an embedded component of school and/or district culture. It does not rely on someone being in a leadership position in a traditional sense, but more so on a desire to want to change professional practice. Change educational leadership Leadership Opinion'

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K-12 Leadership Professional Development Cultures 345

A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 5, 2023

Sometimes that means looking beyond traditional metrics of success to find other areas where the needle can be moved. Authentic leadership is being honest and vulnerable about where you are to help others get to where they need and want to be to succeed. Our entire school culture is based on always reaching for better.

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A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 15, 2015

This is also where it is sustained to the point that it becomes an embedded component of school or district culture. It does not rely on someone being in a leadership position in a traditional sense but more so on a desire to want to change professional practice.

Artifacts 367

Artifacts Leadership Cultures Tradition 367

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 21, 2015

On the surface I always thought a brand in a traditional sense was a term specific to the corporate world and revolved around selling. BrandED is about a genuine personality that can impact school culture, achievement and resources." No more Ivory Towers. In the field of education, schools are considered a brand.

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A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 30, 2012

Education is currently at a crossroads as traditional methods and tools are changing as a result of advances in technology and learning theory. To truly create an innovative culture of learning we must not fear failure either. 21st Century Education Change educational leadership educational technology Opinion'

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Education Professional Development Educational Technology Pedagogy 378

A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 19, 2017

Thus, schools and education in general need to create a learning culture that not only inspires students, but also prepares them for success in their future. The challenge for education is to begin to embrace new modes of thinking and innovative practices that are disruptive in nature and difficult to assess using traditional metrics.

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A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 7, 2020

Will the lessons learned during the pandemic be applied to create a better learning culture for kids? Venola Mason , my friend and colleague at the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE) shared this vital perspective with me. How will social distancing work? What will the schedule look like?

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