TL;DR: Melinda Arnost is an educator, author/illustrator, and inclusion specialist. She was recently a guest on the Good News, Brad News Podcast. Her advocacy for inclusion started in high school inviting other students to join their Breakfast Club. As a teacher, Melinda trusted her gut and started teaching outside of the box in order to meet the needs of students. … Read More
Common Leadership Pitfalls for Beginning Administrators
TL;DR Districts should have an onboarding process that includes coaching and support for beginning administrators. Develop a plan and don’t let email become a distraction to your role as a district administrator. Use time blocking to become more disciplined and focus on the district’s priorities. Onboarding Needed When educators begin working in the district office, there are several common pitfalls … Read More
Being Human Is Not Unprofessional
TL;DR: The #RelationshipsFirst movement: Students are more likely to learn when they have a positive relationship with you and get to know you too. We connect better with others who we know, value, and respect. Share stories about life experiences and show humanity to students every day. Their experiences may be similar so by sharing, you have become someone else … Read More
Outward Focused Leadership
TL;DR: It is common for educators in newly appointed leadership roles to share more about them than learn about the people they serve. They typically have an “Inward Focus.” As classroom teachers, the beginning of the school year tends to focus on students. They typically have an “Outward Focus.” Educators transitioning from teaching to administration should apply the same leadership … Read More
More Than a Teacher: Getting Involved in Your School
TL;DR: As a teacher, there are a number of paths you can take towards getting involved in your school. Start small when you’re ready to get more involved outside of your classroom duties. Figure out what brings you joy and what you have the most time to dedicate your talents to. Getting Involved in Your School PBIS Tier 1 coach? … Read More