I’m going to be honest here, because leaders deserve honesty, too. Being a school leader today is no joke. You’re juggling expectations from the district, the community, your staff, and your own desire to make a difference. It’s a high-stakes balancing act, and the pressure is real. But in the pursuit of doing more and being everything to everyone, many … Read More
What A 70.3 Mile Ironman Triathlon Taught Me About Education
This is a long one…but I promise I have a point. As I jumped off a boat into the water, I felt prepared and ready for anything…until I didn’t. Wearing my neoprene wetsuit, swim cap, and goggles (yes, I looked as cool as you are imaging) I surfaced to one of the most traumatic and chaotic 10 minutes of my … Read More
Supporting Balance For Teachers Through Effective Professional Development
Managing time effectively is one of the biggest challenges educators face. From lesson planning and grading to meetings and extracurricular duties, it’s easy to feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Over the last 5+ years, that has just gotten worse, as it seems like we’re continually coming up with more things to throw on their plates. But … Read More
The Assistant Principal: The Ultimate Middle Manager
In my few years as an administrator, I have come to understand that the role of an assistant principal is one of constant balance, flexibility, and leadership. Serving as the bridge between teachers and district leadership, students and school policies, and daily operations and long-term goals, the assistant principal is the ultimate middle manager. It is a role that requires … Read More
3 Ways to Know if Your PD is Working
Professional Development (PD) is everywhere. Workshops. Webinars. Book studies. PLCs. You’ve probably been through it all. But here’s the question that nobody seems to ask out loud: “Is any of this actually working?” Schools spend hours (and let’s be honest, a lot of money) on PD every year. But if it’s not leading to better outcomes for teachers or students…what’s … Read More