A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 19, 2014

Almost every chapter of Digital Leadership: Changing Paradigms for Changing Times opens up with a vignette that illustrates specific characteristics, behaviors, skills, and mindsets in action. The Pillars of Digital Leadership Here is a breakdown: Forward – Some wisdom from the great Yong Zhao. Preface – What is digital leadership?

Leadership 363

Leadership High School Cultures Tradition 363

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!

Leadership 533

Leadership Educational Technology Tradition Cultures 533

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.

Pedagogy 540

Pedagogy Tradition Cultures Leadership 540

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 346

Leadership Archiving Lesson Plan High School 346

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.

Cultures 234

Cultures Tradition Professional Development Teaching 234

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.

Tradition 391

Tradition Critical Thinking Cultures Leadership 391

Dangerously Irrelevant

JULY 27, 2021

[To celebrate our upcoming book, Leadership for Deeper Learning , I am publishing an excerpt each day for a week before its release. Our goal was to try and parse out What do leaders at innovative schools do that is different from their counterparts in more traditional schools ? A culture of “Yes, try that!” Excerpt 07.

Leadership 110

Leadership Professional Development Tradition Cultures 110

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.

EdTech 507

EdTech Cultures Leadership Tradition 507

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.

Cultures 191

Cultures Leadership Tradition Education 191

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 528

Leadership Archiving Lesson Plan Tradition 528

Dangerously Irrelevant

JULY 23, 2021

[To celebrate our upcoming book, Leadership for Deeper Learning , I am publishing an excerpt each day for a week before its release. Our goal was to try and parse out What do leaders at innovative schools do that is different from their counterparts in more traditional schools ? Leadership for Deeper Learning , Chapter 3.

Leadership 113

Leadership High School Tradition Cultures 113

ED Surge

JUNE 23, 2023

What sports didn’t offer us was the opportunity to develop awareness and appreciation for our cultural identity. When I was nine years old, my mother enrolled my brother and me in folklorico — a traditional cultural dance that emphasizes Mexican folk culture — at our local recreation center. At first, I was annoyed.

Community Engagement 100

Community Engagement Cultures Social Justice Leadership 100

TeachThought

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

It outlines strategies and principles for fostering a culture of mutual respect, trust, and shared vision, highlighting teachers and principals’ critical roles in student success. A collaborative culture where teachers and principals work closely is crucial for overcoming these challenges.

Professional Development 220

Professional Development Cultures Leadership Tradition 220

Dr. Shannon Doak

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

I have been thinking recently about leadership at schools, specifically in the area of educational technology. It is this mutual trust that enables a school culture to change. Nobody felt enabled to do anything and the culture of the school suffered. Relationships are the most important aspect to the success of any endeavor.

Educational Technology 58

Educational Technology Leadership Cultures Education 58

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.

Pedagogy 513

Pedagogy Leadership Tradition Cultures 513

Digital Promise

AUGUST 11, 2021

Establishing a strong culture of coaching, however, requires structures to be in place in a school or district such as designated time for coaching, and ongoing professional development for coaches and administrators. Popular micro-credentials included: Visionary Leadership for Technology. Creating Digital Citizens.

Cultures 120

Cultures Professional Development Leadership Tradition 120

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.

Junior High 472

Junior High Cultures Leadership Tradition 472

Cult of Pedagogy

OCTOBER 14, 2024

Jenn David-Lang Kim Marshall Jenn David-Lang, meanwhile, has been doing a similar project since 2007, when she began publishing The Main Idea , a single, detailed monthly summary of an important education book to help education leaders connect to the most important ideas on leadership, teaching, and learning. It’s on the spot, right there.

Pedagogy 271

Pedagogy Cultures Library Lesson Plan 271

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.

Leadership 492

Leadership Tradition Cultures 492

Digital Promise

FEBRUARY 12, 2021

Members of our Teachers of Color advisory council shared their expertise and presented co-designed solutions to address equitable hiring practices, professional advancement opportunities, mental health supports, sustaining anti-racist school cultures, and more. What do you hope convening participants took away with them?

Leadership 119

Leadership Tradition Cultures Research 119

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.

Pedagogy 542

Pedagogy Cultures Tradition Leadership 542

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.

Leadership 529

Leadership Pedagogy Professional Development Tradition 529

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.

Leadership 394

Leadership Professional Development Tradition Cultures 394

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.

Leadership 545

Leadership Tradition Cultures High School 545

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.

Artifacts 476

Artifacts Pedagogy Leadership Cultures 476

Digital Promise

JUNE 9, 2021

Based on our experience with nearly 60 districts participating in VILS, we have found that our most successful schools have these six key elements in place to establish and sustain a culture of powerful learning with technology: A strong district and school leadership team. A clear, inclusive, and easily accessible transformation plan.

Cultures 83

Cultures K-12 Professional Development Leadership 83

The Hechinger Report

OCTOBER 31, 2018

The vast majority of Saridis’s students are Latino, and at the Margarita Muñiz Academy in Boston, a dual-language high school in Boston Public Schools, connecting the curriculum to their culture is a top priority. schools, as teachers attempt to make a traditional, Eurocentric curriculum personally interesting to a diverse student body.

Cultures 109

Cultures American History Tradition History 109

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.

Leadership 544

Leadership Digital Resources Elementary School Middle School 544

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.

Leadership 419

Leadership Lesson Plan Cultures Tradition 419

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.

Leadership 415

Leadership Cultures Tradition High School 415

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.

Leadership 364

Leadership Tradition Cultures Teaching 364

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.

Leadership 352

Leadership Professional Development Tradition Cultures 352

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.

Leadership 330

Leadership Tradition Cultures Education 330

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.

Leadership 415

Leadership Artifacts Tradition Cultures 415

A Principal's Reflections

DECEMBER 4, 2016

As the world changes, education and leadership must change as well. Their answers alone can best predict the learning culture of a school and whether or not it is meeting their needs. It also restricts the thinking of the collective in order to implement innovative ideas that can transform teaching, learning, and leadership.

Leadership 251

Leadership Tradition Cultures Teaching 251

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.

Leadership 403

Leadership Tradition High School Library 403

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 14, 2020

Digital leadership calls for a multifaceted approach using both traditional and new-age strategies to ensure that the right message reaches stakeholders in a timely fashion. Leaders have the power to shape the culture of our schools. We can't assume communication staples such as snail mail (i.e.,

Leadership 404

Leadership Tradition Cultures 404