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
Becoming an Instructional Leader
TL;DR: Instructional leaders don’t have all the answers, especially at the beginning. It is important to tap into tools and resources to be an effective instructional leader. How does an educator become an instructional leader? “An instructional leadership mindset includes an intense moral purpose focused on promoting deep student learning, professional inquiry, trusting relationships and seeking evidence in action” (Timperley, … Read More