Spring in a beach town is beautiful and a bit of a nightmare for school attendance. At Keansburg High School in Keansburg, NJ, where chronic absenteeism peaked at 40% post-pandemic, the warming weather often signals a drop in engagement. With its beach, boardwalk, and amusement park, our town is known as the gateway to the […]
Category: School Culture & Climate
Combating Spring Absenteeism
Your 2025 UNITED Agenda: Staff Well-Being
Support Your People, Sustain Your School When educators thrive, schools succeed. These sessions will help you invest in your staff through recognition, retention, and relationship-centered leadership.
One High School’s Varied Celebration of Black History Month
February is Black History Month, and schools around the country are in the middle of celebrating the numerous contributions of African Americans to our history and culture. One of those schools is Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, CT, where Assistant Principal LaShante James, students, and staff are marking the month with a variety of […]
A Community’s Resilience Seven Years After the Parkland Tragedy
Seven years after the tragedy that forever changed Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD) in Parkland, FL, the community continues to demonstrate resilience, strength, and determination. Last summer marked a pivotal moment in that journey—the long-awaited demolition of the building where the shooting on February 14, 2018, took place. For many, its removal represents more […]
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: A Call to Action
Because I am a Latino principal, Hispanic Heritage Month has always held special significance for me. It serves as an essential reminder to celebrate the richness and diversity of Hispanic cultures and to honor the many contributions of individuals and events that have shaped our history. While we take time to reflect on our past […]
BelongingSchool Leaders of Color Network
Three Ways to Build Connection, Culture, and Community This School Year
For principals, experiencing challenging years is inevitable. Putting our best foot forward right out of the starting gate is essential to setting us on a positive path to building a strong, connected school community. Conflicts with student schedules, staff morale issues, and parental concerns about academic pressure and mental health status are among the few […]
BelonginginclusionMental healthmental health/wellnessschool climateschool cultureSchool Leadership
Uniting Through NASSP to Bring Joy to Education
In an inspiring display of collaboration and innovation, three school leaders who met as strangers in the NASSP Ambassador program joined forces to address a critical need in education: bringing joy back to schools. Meeting in person for the first time minutes before their session at UNITED: The National Conference on School Leadership, they led […]
Belongingeducation technology and innovationinclusionmental health/wellnessschool cultureUNITED
Six Ways to Embrace Juneteenth Education
As an urban school leader, I know the importance of fostering culturally responsive environments. That’s why I’ve written this post in honor of this Wednesday’s observance of Juneteenth, the newest federal holiday.
BelongingUrban School Leaders Network
This Pride Month Holding Space for Us All
Walking the dirt street to reach my house, I hear a homophobic slur emanate from the car driving past me. A meek 12-year-old, I rush on in fear—fear of what they would do if they knew how right they were. “How do they know?” I ask myself. “Am I too masculine? Too feminine?” My identity […]
BelongingLGBTQ+LGBTQ+ School Leaders Networkmental health/wellnessStudent leadershipstudent voice
Celebrating Leadership and an Authentic Life This Pride Month
I have fallen in love with comic books. With the ability of creators to tell complete stories using text and art, color and space. And, of course, with the superhero. The character that is always brave or strong, selfless and courageous, adaptable, driven, inquisitive. The appeal of the superhero is understandable. The motivations, the skill […]