TL;DR: Instructional leaders must avoid common landmines in their role, such as prioritizing everything as important, lacking clarity in implementation plans, avoiding conflict, focusing solely on data instead of individuals, and dealing with curriculum clutter. To overcome these challenges, instructional leaders should provide clarity and prioritize effectively, embrace healthy conflict for curriculum improvement, balance data-driven decision-making with a focus on … Read More
Reflecting on the Year That’s Passed
TL;DR: Reflect on your professional goals and evaluate your impact on students and staff. Express gratitude to those who have positively influenced you. Identify areas for improvement, celebrate your wins, and continue learning and reflecting on your purpose in education. As you read this, you may have recently finished your school year or will soon finish. In retrospect, you may … Read More
Mental Health Awareness: 3 Key Ways to Be There for Students
TL;DR: Students need to feel visible and cared for. Say “hi” to each student, by name, every day. Educators who do this will create a small, but tangible and meaningful reminder for students that they are visible and cared for. Cheer students on. As educators, we have a wonderful opportunity to show up, demonstrate our interest in them as people, … Read More
SEL for Educators: Teachers are People, Too!
TL;DR: Prioritizing social-emotional health in the classroom is crucial for teachers and students, with a focus on health over grades. Teachers should take care of their own well-being to effectively support their students, as they cannot give what they haven’t mastered themselves. Poor social-emotional health among teachers negatively affects student outcomes, emphasizing the need for schools to prioritize teacher well-being, … Read More
Lessons from a Convenience Store
TL;DR: Despite its average appearance, the convenience store chain Wawa in Southeastern PA has a unique ability to leave customers feeling happier after their visit. Intentional acts of kindness, such as holding the door for someone, have a positive impact on both the giver and the recipient, triggering the release of dopamine in the brain. Wawa intentionally keeps its doors … Read More