School of Thought Blog
Changing Advisers Without Skipping a Beat
Note: This post first appeared May 20, 2022 on the Adviser Online Community blog.
Each year we say goodbye to amazing Honor Society and NatStuCo advisers who are handing over the reins to their chapters and councils at the close of school. A little bit of planning for those departures will go a long way to help new advisers transition more smoothly into their roles and keep the groups’ momentum going. If possible before the school year ends, schedule a time to meet with the incoming adviser. If the new adviser is not yet confirmed, have a transition meeting with the principal or other assigned administrator.
(more…)Celebrating International Youth Day
In honor of International Youth Day, we’re re-upping this post by NHS alum, Esha Singhai. This school year, Esha begins her first year at the University of Maryand. Her words reflect how student leaders continually make a difference in their communities and in the world at large.
(more…)Why the SAT Remains Important in a Test-Optional World
All students deserve the opportunity to succeed. When I’m asked why students should take the SAT®, that’s my answer. Because in today’s test-optional admissions landscape, the SAT allows every student—regardless of where they attend high school—to be seen and to access opportunities that will shape their lives and careers.
(more…)Keeping Students at the Center of Your Device Rollout
A year ago, the American Rescue Plan provided billions of dollars in federal relief for K–12 education. Many districts used these funds to purchase devices for every student. However, these devices can’t just be given to students without a plan; they must be distributed intentionally so that students understand how to use them responsibly.
(more…)An Eye-Opening Trip to the Nation’s Capital
When I came to Washington, DC, in March for the NASSP Advocacy Conference, I walked by the National Museum of the American Indian. I thought about what a great experience it would be for our Native students back in Lincoln County, OR, to have the opportunity to visit the museum as a way to wrap up their high school education. I just needed to figure out a way we could logistically make it happen.
(more…)Prepare Future-Ready High School Graduates with Social Emotional Learning
As educators, we are responsible for preparing students with the knowledge, skills, and social emotional competencies necessary to succeed in their future. However, the future is rapidly changing, and the educational gaps exposed by the pandemic mean that many high school students are not prepared for life after graduation.
(more…)NASSP Welcomes New Board Members
Five school leaders have joined the NASSP Board of Directors.
(more…)Managing Effective Meetings
Note: This post first appeared October 25, 2019 on the Adviser Online Community blog.
For advisers, time is a valuable resource, so it is essential that your group meetings are conducted efficiently and effectively. When you and your students begin the new school year, you assess how your meetings are conducted and see if you’re making the best use of your time.
(more…)Embracing the Values of NHS by Sharing My Story
When I was five years old, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It is the most common type of childhood cancer and curable in 90% of children with standard treatments; however, that was not the case for me. My childhood was halted by my diagnosis and transformed into a whirlwind of appointments, blood draws, and extended stays in cramped hospital rooms.
(more…)Federal Funds Provide a Boost for Summer Enrichment
When you look at the budget for our entire school, $10,000 isn’t a lot of money. But at Reagan High School where I am principal, that money will allow us to help 80 students receive math and reading enrichment this summer so they’re more prepared academically when the new school year begins.
(more…)A Summer Syllabus for School Leaders
For school leaders, summer is the time to relax, recharge, and read. Here, we share our top five picks from the “Syllabus” section of Principal Leadership. Items include books about timely topics in education as well as podcasts that are worth a listen. Be sure to check out new “Syllabus” selections in the September issue of Principal Leadership. In the meantime, happy reading, listening, and learning!
(more…)Best Practices for Implementing a K–12 Math Intervention Program
Set your district up for success with these practical tips
Your school or district has decided to invest in a math intervention solution—or maybe you’re narrowing down your options. Regardless of where you are in your math intervention program journey, a key consideration is implementation. While often overlooked, a robust implementation plan enables the success of any program.
(more…)Social Media Is Essential for Communicating with Students
I have always thought of social media as a place for schools to post school information and archive great memories of student achievement and activities. Like many districts, in recent years, my district has received online threats, and inaccurate information has spread on social media about things allegedly happening in our buildings. Sadly, I have also seen unfounded rumors and falsehoods posted online. On social media, are we guilty until proven innocent? I have spent countless hours responding to posts that have distracted me from the work of supporting the instructional programs in schools. In order to change the narrative on social media for my buildings, I must rethink how we can use social media in our schools positively—as it was intended.
(more…)Why Juneteenth Deserves a More Prominent Place in History Classrooms
On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday—the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted in 1983. As we mark the second year of the Juneteenth holiday (short for June 19th), the history behind the day still isn’t widely known. Juneteenth commemorates the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, TX, to take control of the state and ensure all enslaved people were freed—two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. The news was spread by General George Granger, who read General Order Number 3 on June 19th, 1865.
(more…)An Exceptional Trio of Sisters—and Student Leaders
When triplets Aleena, Alyssa, and Aniyah Butler learned they all were accepted into their high school’s chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS), they breathed a collective sigh of relief.
(more…)A Community Pushes for School Upgrades, Together
Paul Robeson High School for Human Services is a small school in West Philadelphia that, like many others in cities across the country, is housed in a building with inadequate air conditioning that makes it almost impossible to teach and learn because of excess heat in the warmer months. By next school year, however, Robeson will see a number of infrastructure improvements, including adequate air conditioning throughout the school. In this post, teacher leader Dr. Elana M. Evans and student Morgan Eason talk about how a major effort by teachers, parents, and students—including the school’s National Honor Society (NHS) chapter—convinced the school district’s central office to act.
(more…)Celebrating Pride Month Starts with Student Voice
During one school’s election for student body president this year, a candidate was openly gay. He was preparing to give a speech over the intercom during homeroom period. A few minutes before he presented, the school’s principal briefly met with him to discuss the contents of his speech.
(more…)STATEMENT FROM NATIONAL EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION PACKAGE IN SENATE
June 8, 2022 – The 17 organizations below representing the full breadth of the national K-12 education community, including school superintendents, administrators, educators, school mental health providers, school staff and parents, call on Congress to swiftly pass legislation that will address the senseless epidemic of gun violence in this country.
(more…)What’s a PLC Meeting, Anyway?
What Is a PLC?
As I work with schools across the nation and beyond, I often hear statements like these: “Our PLCs are meeting on Tuesday.” “We will be ‘PLCing’ on Wednesday afternoon.” “PLCs happen here every other week.”
(more…)NJHS Chapter in Egypt Shows Universal Appeal of Community Service
As the co-adviser of a National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) chapter at the American International School in Egypt, I’m constantly amazed at the students I work with. They come from all over the world, but the majority are Egyptian or Egyptians with dual nationalities. I work with a fantastic co-adviser, Nina Picard.
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