TL;DR: Being in a new teaching or leadership position can feel stressful. New positions offer opportunities to meet new people and have a bigger impact. When starting new, remember to listen, reflect, get involved, learn about others, and have clear boundaries. Whether you are a first-year teacher or a veteran of twenty years, many of us find ourselves as the … Read More
How I Got Started Podcasting
TL;DR: During the pandemic, I decided to make my own podcast a reality. I listened to podcasts and discussed with others what I would need to get mine started. Out of the Trenches was born. It features teachers telling their stories about getting out of the trenches. Over the past two years, the podcast has been successful and continues to … Read More
Making Your Mark: Becoming a Teacher-Leader
TL;DR: Leaders all have different strengths and weaknesses. Reflect on what your personal strengths are. Enroll in the Teach Better Academy course to dive deeper into being a teacher-leader. What does it mean to be a leader? For most of us, our understanding of leadership is based heavily on our understanding of evolution. We think there are prestigious leaders or … Read More
What Does It Take To Lead?
TL;DR: To inspire the next generation of leaders, there are a number of skills that we must foster in the classroom. Have convictions, live with integrity, work on your communication skills, be self-aware, make adjustments when needed, encourage innovation, and be civic-minded. What makes a leader a good leader? It’s easy to point out an ineffective leader, along with exactly … Read More
What’s the Focus?
TL;DR: Every school is different and has its own goals. We should be following research, but how do we sift through it to find what will help us meet our goals? Identify your values, focus on your strengths, and determine what will motivate the change. Different Schools, Different Goals I have an amazing job. I get the opportunity to travel … Read More