School of Thought Blog

Making the Most of Professional Learning Communities

Guest post by Allison Staffin

A professional learning community (PLC) is more than just a time to prepare lessons, grade papers, and create learning materials—it is an opportunity to impact student learning. Based on the DuFour model for PLCs, it is essential to consider the differences between teaching and learning. PLCs lose credibility unless the educators who are part of them keep the fundamental concepts of Professional Learning Communities at the forefront of their thinking when it comes to educational reform. (more…)

June 28, 2016

Using Learning Targets as a GPS to Student Learning

Guest post by Drake Shelton

When I drive, my GPS helps me navigate to where I am going. It shows me multiple routes, an estimated arrival time, and the distance to my destination. My GPS has saved me countless hours of frustration by alerting me to traffic and helping me get back on track when I get lost.

But as Connie M. Moss, Susan M. Brookhart, and Beverly A. Long state, “a GPS can’t do any of that without a precise description of where you want to go.” (more…)

June 21, 2016

Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessments Leading Learning Results-Orientation

ESSA Funding Recommendations Ignored as Senate Committee Passes LHHS-ED Appropriations Bill

After months of speculation, the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) appropriations bill moved through subcommittee and full committee last week with bipartisan support for the first time in seven years. The LHHS-ED subcommittee had $161.9 billion to work with for FY17, which was $270 million less than the FY16 enacted levels. The funding level was outlined in the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA), which was a two-year bipartisan budget deal that prevented a government shutdown at the end of 2015 and partially restored sequestration cuts to non-defense programs. (more…)

June 16, 2016

Education Policy federal funding Other

The Orlando Shootings: A Parent’s Guide for Talking to Children

Children and teenagers are better able to cope with upsetting news when they understand more about the event. They need information just as adults do. In the wake of the recent tragic shooting in Orlando, FL, here are some things you can share with your students’ parents to help them when discussing the event with their children.

Where to Begin

Start by asking your child or teenager what they already understand about the shooting. (more…)

June 15, 2016

Building Culture resources Wellness

On-Campus Behavior Programs: Providing Education, Consequences, and Success

Guest post by Rhonda Calvo

As educators, we are dedicated to the education of every student, but how do you educate every student when some require discipline consequences that are out of school? According to the U.S. Department of Education, “of the 49 million students enrolled in public schools in 2011–2012, 3.5 million students were suspended in-school; 3.45 million students were suspended out-of-school; and 130,000 students were expelled.”

I believe most people would say that out-of-school suspensions are not effective. (more…)

June 14, 2016

Collaborative Leadership Leading Learning

Advocacy Update

Inside the Beltway

What’s going on in Washington?

Last Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services met to mark up their FY 2017 appropriations bill. The full Appropriations Committee marked up the bill on Thursday. NASSP’s David Chodak was present for both markups and has been following appropriations closely, meeting with staff from the committee’s membership over the past month. (more…)

June 13, 2016

Education Policy Other

Reflections: Who Made You Proud Today?

Put aside the standardized test scores, budget spreadsheets, and graduation rate analysis for your school for just a moment—and join me in some time for reflection.

Think about the students who made a difference in your school or community in a truly significant way. After all, these are the moments that remind us of our impact as educational leaders.

As this year’s record number of applicants for the National Honor Society (NHS) Scholarship clearly proves, there is an abundance of students (more…)

June 9, 2016

Building Culture Leading Learning Reflection & Growth

Building Effective Mentoring Programs for Students

Guest post by Kendrick Myers

Have you heard the story of Telemachus? Or maybe the story of Odysseus? Either way, if you research mentoring, you will find that many authors make references to Greek mythology that paint the picture of a mentor as a wise teacher, advisor, counselor, advocate, and defender.

Yet some educators and scholars would argue differently, referencing Bandura’s social learning theory as the framework for mentoring; a theory that suggests that individuals learn through observing the actions and behaviors of influential role models. (more…)

June 7, 2016

Building Culture Collaborative Leadership Leading Learning

Where the Candidates Stand on Education

NASSP is keeping its finger on the pulse of presidential politics and where the candidates stand on education. Recently, the Committee for Education Funding (CEF) hosted its 2016 Presidential Forum to shed light on the candidates’ positions on education policy issues.

CEF invited each candidate, who was encouraged to send a high-level representative to speak if he or she was unable to attend. Senior Policy Advisor Ann O’Leary represented the Clinton campaign, while Policy Analyst Donni Turner represented the Sanders campaign. Several attempts were made to have representation from the Donald Trump campaign; however, no one was able to attend. (more…)

June 3, 2016

Education Policy federal funding Other

One School’s Approach to Developing Engaging, Healthy Student-Teacher Relationships

Guest post by Tim Carver

Increases in our socioeconomic diversity and bullying data caused us to rethink how we do business at Urbandale High School (UHS) in Urbandale, IA. We decided to develop a new approach centered around three key areas that define our culture: advisory through connections, student management through relationships and responsibility, and a focus on learning through quality and continual improvement. (more…)

May 31, 2016

Collaborative Leadership Leading Learning Other

Redesigning the Ninth-Grade Experience: The Middle School to High School Transition

Guest post by Lesley Corner

The transition from middle school to high school is a momentous occasion in a student’s life. Research shows the single most predictive indicator of high school performance is a student’s academic standing during the ninth grade, so it is my professional goal to help each student be successful from the start.

Like most high schools, our data showed a need for intensive ninth-grade support. In conjunction with a team of teacher leaders and community members, I redesigned our ninth-grade experience. (more…)

May 24, 2016

Other

Revamping School Safety: Are You Prepared?

Guest post by Clint Ross

It’s something you can’t imagine happening at your school. But being properly prepared for a crisis situation—both during the emergency and afterward—is critical in this day and age.

In nearly every state, mandates involving school safety reforms have been attached to school funding. The current state of society makes this a very worthy endeavor, but this undertaking comes with some serious consternation for school districts of all shapes and sizes. Since the 1990s, school safety programs have included canned platforms that were slightly adapted to particular communities, districts, and buildings—at best. (more…)

May 17, 2016

Other School Safety

Advocacy Update: Tracking ESSA

NASSP Board of Directors Considers Statement on Transgender Students

The NASSP Board of Directors has stated its intent to adopt a position statement on transgender students. It will be open for a public comment period until Friday, June 10, and the Board will give final approval at its next meeting in July. Please send feedback to NASSP Director of Advocacy Amanda Karhuse at [email protected].

In the position statement, NASSP called on the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to issue guidance to schools on transgender students. (more…)

May 16, 2016

Education Policy Other

Character Education: The Building Block of Success

Guest post by Kendrick Myers

For years, character education has played a large role in schools. In 39 states, character education is mandated or encouraged. It is mentioned in the legislation of every state except for one, and in Alabama it has been a mandated part of the curriculum since 1995. However, character education is more than a mandate or legislative injunction. According to the National Forum on Character Education, it helps solve behavioral problems and improve academic achievement. (more…)

May 10, 2016

Other

Advocacy Update: Tracking ESSA

Inside the Beltway

What is going on in Washington?

This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week, and Washington celebrated with a special event at the White House featuring the National Teacher of the Year and the award finalists. NASSP Principal of the Year Alan Tenreiro and NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti were in attendance alongside inspiring educators and school leaders from across the country. (more…)

May 9, 2016

Education Policy Other

Family Holidays—A Reminder to Support Grieving Students

Mother’s Day offers a rich array of choices for classroom educators. Run an Internet search on “Mother’s Day classroom activities” and literally hundreds of ideas appear—quizzes, art projects, research, math, and that longtime standby, making cards for mom.

These can be fun endeavors for students and teachers alike. But a classroom activity focusing on mothers can be challenging for a student whose mother has died. It can also be difficult for students who don’t live with their mothers. Lesson plans posted on the Internet rarely take note of this. (more…)

May 4, 2016

Building Culture Curriculum Leading Learning Wellness

Legal Scenarios in Schools: Fine Tune Your Decision Making

Guest post by Heberto Hinojosa

From small rural to large urban schools across the country, school administrators make hundreds of daily decisions that impact their school communities. We know that these decisions must be led by the overarching question of what is best for our students. However, an equally important component of decision making is the consideration of the legal implications of our actions.

Being an active principal as well as teaching school law to over 100 aspiring principals in the last few years has given me a broad (more…)

May 3, 2016

Collaborative Leadership Leading Learning

Advocacy Update: Tracking ESSA

SOAR Passes the House

This week, instead of tackling bills concerned with child nutrition or career and technical education—both of which are overdue for reauthorization—the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Reauthorization Act. SOAR is a private school voucher program for District of Columbia students. NASSP opposes voucher programs, and as a member of the National Coalition for Public Education, NASSP sent a letter to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform expressing the harm that would be done to public schools and public school students in D.C. by the voucher program. (more…)

May 2, 2016

Education Policy Other

3 Reasons to Attend the NASSP Advocacy Conference This Summer

Together, NASSP and school leaders nationwide play a vital role in crafting federal, state, and district policies that support the achievement and success of each student. The NASSP Advocacy Conference, held in Arlington, VA, at the Key Bridge Marriott from June 20 to June 22, is a great opportunity for school leaders to expand their advocacy skillset by participating in training and activities.

If you’re wondering whether this is the conference for you, here are three reasons why this is a can’t-miss experience for any principal interested in becoming a better advocate for their students, staff, and school: (more…)

April 29, 2016

Education Policy Other

Edcamp Leadership: A One-of-a-kind Professional Learning Experience

If you’re like most school leaders, you have sat through countless hours of presentations and videos—some compulsory, some of your own choosing—that bear the broad label professional development. Typically, you’re talked at, given a few minutes to discuss, then talked at some more. This still-pervasive model reinforces a few damaging assumptions about professional learning. The first is the assumption that your professional learning is a passive activity—something that happens to you, not something you control and direct. The second is that professional learning is an information dump—the transfer of knowledge from an illuminated sage to, well, the rest of us. (more…)

April 28, 2016

Other Principal/Teacher Preparation