A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 16, 2023

Education is still reeling from the impacts of COVID-19. The rapid shift to virtual learning was a necessity and, like always, educators rose to the occasion like they always do even though training in this area didn’t really exist at scale. Below are some resources I created to help educators with effective implementation.

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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. We are beginning to see some schools across the country take the lead in merging sound pedagogy with the effective integration of technology. Cross-posted at teach.com.

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A Principal's Reflections

DECEMBER 27, 2020

From a blogging perspective, I kicked it off with a post on what could be as a means to pump up educators as they continued to move towards embracing innovative strategies and ideas. It is always an honor to share the incredible work of educators in the field. The year began like any other. This happened on March 12, 2020.

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A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 7, 2022

Thus, educators need not only a vision for how to personalize learning effectively but also essential supports that will help to ensure success. Personalized pedagogy sets the stage for the purposeful use of technology to better assist in meeting students' learning needs while providing educators with timely data.

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A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 24, 2021

Long gone are the days that a one-size-fits-all education program could even be considered an effective option to meet the needs of every student. Students who find themselves receiving many detentions, suspensions, expulsions, or even incarcerations still deserve a quality education. So why at-promise?

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A Principal's Reflections

MAY 17, 2020

The COVID19 pandemic has radically disrupted both society and education as we know it. Obviously, education is at the top of my mind since it is the profession both my wife and I are a part of, and my kids currently attend public schools in Texas. Such a blended pedagogy has become an integral component of remote learning plans.

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A Principal's Reflections

JULY 26, 2020

How will educators get the professional learning support they so desperately need? The result has been unprecedented stress on anyone associated directly, or indirectly, with education. Every day it seems a curveball is being thrown at educators. What comes next remains a mystery for some.

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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. Education and digital have become inherently intertwined.

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A Principal's Reflections

DECEMBER 20, 2020

Marine I love working with educators. The other day I was working with Davis Schools in Utah on a hybrid learning model where educators would be teaching face-to-face and remote learners at the same time. It is essential to recognize the fact that a hybrid model was never intended for K-12 education.

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A Principal's Reflections

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

It goes without saying that the most important aspect of digital leadership is enhancing student learning while increasing achievement. A good rule to follow is pedagogy first, technology second when appropriate. Educators provide the backbone of the student’s learning experience.

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A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 25, 2020

The pandemic has really put a strain on educators, yet they continue to rise to the occasion on behalf of kids. The majority of educators fall into the latter. An emphasis on priority standards can significantly reduce teachers' burden while streamlining other pedagogy aspects, such as assessment. Something has to give.

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A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

Throughout the pandemic, educators have embraced new opportunities that have materialized and taken advantage of a clean slate. Support Teachers and administrators need professional learning that aligns with the challenges they currently face and the demands of education in a COVID-19 world. However, this is not all doom and gloom.

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A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 19, 2020

In the end, flexibility will lead to success and is a hallmark of empathetic leadership. By embracing digital leadership, you can connect with others near and far to find out what has been successful in other districts or schools and also veer away from roadblocks that others have encountered.

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A Principal's Reflections

FEBRUARY 16, 2020

I often tell audiences during keynotes and workshops that my role isn’t to tell anyone what to do, but instead to get educators to think critically about what they do. The fact for many in education is that we teach the way we were taught and lead the way we were led. One, in particular, is the Corinth School District in Mississippi.

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A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 9, 2019

Then there is the most dangerous view in education that the way we have always done it is the best way. 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. For one, comfort tends to be the enemy of growth.

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A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 26, 2014

When it comes to educational technology I often get the feeling that the learning is often secondary. Our motto is pedagogy first, technology second if appropriate when integrating mobile learning devices. NJED Bill Ferriter Digital Leadership educational technology Mike Marotta New Milford High School'

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A Principal's Reflections

FEBRUARY 2, 2020

My role, like in many other similar districts across the country, has been to assist the teachers and administrators with digital pedagogy leading to purposeful use and efficacy using the framework below. They have utilized me as a keynoter, coach (leadership and teaching), and workshop presenter.

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A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

No matter what education circle you are in, AI is likely a topic of conversation. Some see it as the holy grail of education, and this has manifested in countless books and presentations, especially at technology conferences. However, clarity is needed regarding what AI can and cannot do in education. Prompt all you want.

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A Principal's Reflections

JULY 19, 2015

Students, teachers, and leaders who effectively integrate technology with purpose aligned to learning and leadership outcomes will. We found great success at my school during our digital conversion by focusing on a pedagogy first, technology second if appropriate mindset. In the end this will mitigate many issues before they arise.

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A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 22, 2020

Educators now shoulder the burden to create lessons and activities that will enable students to learn at home. First and foremost, we must always keep sound pedagogy in mind, something that I discuss at length in Digital Leadership. In a previous post, I shared some broader ideas to help navigate these uncharted waters.

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A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 4, 2020

I have seen incredible lessons and activities that have both engaged and empowered learners through the purposeful use of technology, sound pedagogy, and personalized strategies. For more information on various hybrid models, check out this detailed piece from Education Week. I did this for my teachers as a principal.

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A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 21, 2020

We don’t know for sure what education will look like in the future, but one thing is for sure, and that is the need to adapt and evolve. At this point, they are just thoughts, but each can be a powerful catalyst to initiating and sustaining a transformation of education at scale. My hope is that schools take it. Canady, R.

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A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 21, 2022

At the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE), we developed a relationships model in partnership with Dr. Stephanie Jones at the Harvard EASEL Lab that we utilize with administrators and teachers to create vibrant learning cultures. Students want purpose in their learning.

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A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 8, 2015

Schools and educators would be wise to take cues from the real world and make concerted efforts to integrate technology with the purpose to increase student engagement. Stronger student engagement or improved student engagement are common instructional objectives expressed by educators." What are the learning objectives/outcomes?

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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. However, the conversation never stopped, and I eventually decided to take a leap of faith to pursue a newfound passion in education.

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Leadership Pedagogy Cultures High School 362

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 25, 2015

Technology still gets a bad rap in many education circles. Educators and administrators are quick to point to technology as the main culprit for an array of issues. Over the summer I was working with a couple hundred school leaders on digital leadership. Now I know as educators you never did this, but I think you get my point.

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A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 25, 2019

With all of the disruption we see as a result of the 4th Industrial Revolution, changes to how we educate kids have to be considered. The result has been districts, schools, and educators making a great deal of investment in an array of ideas, strategies, and solutions with the goal of improving learning for all kids.

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A Principal's Reflections

MAY 6, 2018

Throughout the school year, I have been assisting them with digital pedagogy as it relates to blended learning and the use of flex spaces. Herein lies the key to the practical use of flex spaces in education. My visits to this school have been inspiring as I have seen the future of education in the present.

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A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 19, 2018

It is really about helping kids develop many of the qualities and characteristics in life that cannot be measured with an actual number such as leadership, commitment, perseverance, motivation, self-discipline, teamwork, resilience, enthusiasm, and reliability. Coaching is so much more than the result of a game, match, or competition.

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A Principal's Reflections

JULY 16, 2023

As I shared in Digital Leadership , evolving technology enables and empowers leaders to seize the moment and look for ways to fundamentally improve teaching, learning, and leadership. Peer-reviewed research Educators want a compelling why that imparts value when it comes to change.

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A Principal's Reflections

FEBRUARY 18, 2024

We live in exciting times as unprecedented access to knowledge, research, and effective strategies at our fingertips can assist educators in creating meaningful experiences for students that align with both needs and strengths. It starts at the top with leadership. One thing is for certain: learning is not linear.

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A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 23, 2018

“ More blood means more energy and oxygen, which makes our brain perform better.” – Justin Rhodes Spending time in schools as a leadership and learning coach has been some of the most gratifying work I have done. Science and research compel all educators to integrate more movement into the school day. If not, no sweat.

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A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 11, 2011

This process has become more difficult as mounting challenges such as budget cuts and what seems like a relentless attack on the profession of education have taken their toll on staff moral. Here are some of my leadership strategies for making change during challenging times.

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A Principal's Reflections

MAY 5, 2019

On the contrary, I have seen this firsthand from some fantastic educators whose schools I have been blessed to work with on a long-term basis in the role of job-embedded coach. We should all want to do better in this area as the field of education needs more practical strategies that are weaved into the rhetoric. More on this later.

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A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Additionally, my views on education regarding teaching, learning, and leadership were beginning to evolve in ways that would eventually help my school experience innovative success while also pushing my professional practice into a whole new dimension. When it comes to education, I now view it through two distinct lenses.

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A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 8, 2017

I was recently working on my slide deck for a three-day workshop that will take participants on an immersive experience into digital leadership and learning. My primary objective for all multiday workshops is to illustrate the vital role that technology can play in improving teaching, learning, and leadership.

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A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 9, 2022

An email was also sent informing all educators to plan for an asynchronous day of learning on Thursday and synchronous on Friday. Undoubtedly, this is a very stressful time for educators, but their resilience and flexibility have, and continue to, shine through to make things work.

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