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. Leadership is about action, not position or ideas that just get pushed around.

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Leadership Tradition High School Library 405

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. Teaching both face-to-face and remote learners at the time is not easy, but I recently developed a pedagogical framework using a station rotation model that can help. Some set aside a half-day.

Pedagogy 543

Pedagogy Cultures Tradition Leadership 543

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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Artifacts Pedagogy Leadership Cultures 477

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. Others are seeing their administrators offer their time and that of other non-teaching staff members. Empathetic leadership is critical to helping staff get through challenging times.

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Leadership Pedagogy Professional Development Tradition 530

A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 17, 2024

This allows you to tailor professional learning opportunities that address specific skill gaps, teaching styles, and career goals (Guskey, 2000). Embrace Choice and Variety Move away from the traditional "sit-and-get" PD model. Empower Teacher Leadership Teachers are a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Professional Development 469

Professional Development Leadership Cultures Educational Technology 469

A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 18, 2020

The Mount Olive Township School District in NJ, under the leadership of superintendent Dr. Robert Zywicki, has been way ahead of the curve. Asynchronous options such as flipped lessons and self-paced assignments have the added bonus of teaching kids how to manage their time and develop a greater sense of responsibility.

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Leadership Digital Resources Elementary School Middle School 544

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. Over the years they have been given more ownership over all aspects of their education experience and have taken advantage of it by helping us to redefine teaching and learning for a new age.

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Leadership K-12 High School Cultures 419

A Principal's Reflections

FEBRUARY 2, 2020

They have utilized me as a keynoter, coach (leadership and teaching), and workshop presenter. To be honest, these groups are not in my traditional wheelhouse, but I saw it as a learning opportunity to branch out and expand my level of knowledge. Below you will see the specific tools I provided during each session.

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EdTech K-12 Pedagogy Professional Development 540

A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Early on, I used more traditional strategies since this was a new arena for me. The above ideas are more teaching-facing. In Digital Leadership , I outline how a multi-faceted approach that meets stakeholders where they are is the most effective way. Assign less work while going deeper into concepts.

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A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 30, 2019

When it is all said and done, the best experiences are ongoing and job-embedded so that the needed support, application into practice, feedback, and accountability for growth lead to actual changes to teaching, learning, and leadership. These elements also go a long way to scaling both practices and initiatives.

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Leadership Archiving Professional Development Tradition 410

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 409

A Principal's Reflections

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

This is the second post as part of an adapted article I co-authored, Real-World Ready: Leveraging Digital Tools A few weeks back I shared ways that digital tools can improve teaching and learning. It goes without saying that the most important aspect of digital leadership is enhancing student learning while increasing achievement.

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Pedagogy Leadership Tradition Teaching 387

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 22, 2014

Leadership is not about position, but rather the actions that we take in our respective roles. The world is full of opinions, but lacking in the definitive actions that are needed to transform teaching, learning, and leadership. Change educational leadership Leadership'

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Leadership Tradition Cultures High School 361

ED Surge

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

as though living authentically meant I’d have to hide my queerness to succeed in teaching. While I envisioned teaching that challenged students to question and connect their learning to larger social issues, the expectations placed on me as an educator were quite different. She asked, “But what about your career?”

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A Principal's Reflections

DECEMBER 31, 2023

From exploring the nuances of a post-COVID world to offering fresh perspectives on traditional teaching methodologies, each post has been a testament to my commitment to advancing educational discourse.

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Leadership Tradition Teaching Education 390

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. The question then becomes what message or lesson are we really teaching students by giving zeros? Educational Leadership, 69(3), 40-44. Educational Leadership, 65(5), 85–87.

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Leadership Lesson Plan Cultures Tradition 419

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 learning space that was once in the traditional library has now been taken over by the students.

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Library Leadership Cultures Tradition 408

A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 21, 2019

For all of us who have taught or have been in a leadership position that supports teachers, I think we all agree that the point of any lesson is to help students learn. I know when I went through my coursework and teaching certification process this was emphasized in any lesson plan.

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Lesson Plan Pedagogy Leadership Tradition 415

A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 26, 2015

However, even as they talk about the need for a shift in teaching and learning, educational conferences often model a very familiar learning experience—what Daggett refers to as “Quadrant A” (or what many teachers call less kindly: “sit n’ git”). P.S. I will be there as well leading sessions on digital leadership and learning.

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Leadership Library Elementary School Tradition 331

A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 15, 2015

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. Image credit: [link] The whole premise of my book Uncommon Learning is it to provide relevancy, meaning, and authenticity in the teaching and learning process.

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Artifacts Leadership Cultures Tradition 376

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 7, 2020

Venola Mason , my friend and colleague at the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE) shared this vital perspective with me. If you teach Black kids, it is your responsibility to spark conversations with them (and your colleagues) about race. Individually we all have to do more, myself included.

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Leadership Tradition Cultures Teaching 436

Dangerously Irrelevant

JULY 24, 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 4.

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Leadership Classroom Management Elementary School Tradition 121

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. Image credit: [link] Even as we are seeing more schools and educators transform the way they teach and learn with technology, many more are not.

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Education Professional Development Educational Technology Pedagogy 383

ED Surge

DECEMBER 18, 2024

Back then, remember your why felt like a genuine invitation to reconnect with the passion that first brought me to teaching; this made it easy to hold on to purpose and to find meaning in the day-to-day connections and small victories. Together, their legacies have shaped my teaching practice.

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Education Heritage Leadership Tradition 117

Dangerously Irrelevant

JULY 22, 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 2.

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Leadership Tradition Teaching High School 116

Dangerously Irrelevant

JULY 26, 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 6.

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Leadership Tradition High School Teaching 121

A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 7, 2014

It was at this point that I began to take more risks to create a better teaching and learning culture at NMHS. Up until this point in my career I would say that I followed the traditional playbook for school leaders. My greatest leadership asset was born from a space that I swore I would never venture into.

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Leadership High School Cultures Tradition 291

A Principal's Reflections

DECEMBER 4, 2016

As the world changes, education and leadership must change as well. It really doesn’t matter if the adults keep beating the drum that teaching and learning are changing. It also restricts the thinking of the collective in order to implement innovative ideas that can transform teaching, learning, and leadership.

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Leadership Tradition Cultures Teaching 253

Digital Promise

APRIL 29, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic may have disrupted traditional classroom instruction, but it has not stopped schools from fostering meaningful connections and engaging in robust, student-centered teaching and learning.

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Leadership Charter School Public School Tradition 169

Dangerously Irrelevant

JULY 25, 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 5.

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Leadership Tutoring Tradition Social Studies 110

A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 11, 2011

With this being said, quality leadership becomes even more essential in order to cultivate a school culture whose primary focus is on the learning and achievement of each and every student. Here are some of my leadership strategies for making change during challenging times.

Pedagogy 240

Pedagogy Leadership Professional Development Cultures 240

Dangerously Irrelevant

JULY 21, 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 1.

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Leadership Tradition Teaching Research 110

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 ? If you order it, let me know what you think! Excerpt 07.

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Leadership Professional Development Tradition Cultures 110

A Principal's Reflections

MAY 8, 2016

This is where the concept of digital leadership really comes into play. The following are some specific paradigm shifts in relation to the Pillars of Digital Leadership : Student Engagement, Learning, and Achievement We can ill afford to teach and lead in the same ways we were taught and led.

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Leadership Tradition Professional Development History 259

ED Surge

MARCH 26, 2025

This includes recognizing talents in areas such as creativity, leadership and problem-solving as well as traditional academic measures. Providing professional development opportunities that focus on culturally responsive teaching practices and the unique needs of gifted Black boys is essential.

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Education Advocacy Middle School Cultures 99

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.

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Leadership High School Tradition Cultures 113

A Principal's Reflections

JULY 26, 2012

As a leader this is the type of teaching and learning culture that I want to foster and cultivate, one where creativity flourishes, students find relevancy and meaning in their learning, and teachers are given the support to be innovative. A teaching and learning culture powered by intrinsic motivation will achieve this.

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