In this week’s episode, Dr. Amy Mathews-Perez shares how, as a Principal, she felt successful but unfulfilled. Join us as we talk about being authentic in our desires and mission, while not conforming to other people’s assumptions and expectations. In this episode, we discuss: Supporting special education as a leader Teaching those we serve how to collaborate And her upcoming … Read More
The Reluctant Leader: First Things First
TL;DR: Being a leader, even a reluctant one, provides you with opportunities to make a difference. You can achieve great things when you have a true partnership with your administration. If you are passionate about something and know it is best for the students, go for it. The Reluctant Leader: First Things First When I first joined Plano High School, … Read More
Education: An Infinite Game
TL;DR: Learn the difference between finite games and infinite games (Sinek, 2019). The goal of school should be an infinite game where students get to keep playing. See a list of skills developed in K-12 schools. Career Readiness involves three major skill areas: (1) core academic skills (2) employability skills (3) technical, job-specific skills. The moral imperative for our nation … Read More
Beyond Curriculum Design: 5 Questions School Teams Should Ask
TL;DR: Educators must reflect on what an empowered learner looks like and how to design learning experiences. 5 questions school teams should ask include: What are the priorities for this course? What is the ratio of compliance/contribution in my school or classroom? Do we have a culturally responsive curriculum? What is the hidden curriculum? How will we measure student understanding? … Read More
Learnability: The Most Important Skill for School Leaders
TL;DR: School leaders face constant change which impacts their daily decisions. So they need a new skill set: learnability. Learnability can happen in three ways: (1) lead by asking better questions (2) cognitive flexibility to navigate change and adapt (3) unlearning and relearning allows leaders to be responsive to new problems. Review reflective questions for school leaders. Change is constant … Read More