3 strategies to boost student reading fluency this school year
With the new school year now rolling, teachers and school leaders are likely being hit with a hard truth: Many students are not proficient in reading.
Month: October 2025
How districts can avoid 4 hidden costs of outdated facilities systems
School leaders are under constant pressure to stretch every dollar further, yet many districts are losing money in ways they may not even realize. The culprit? Outdated facilities processes…
Making career readiness meaningful in today’s classrooms
How can we make classroom learning more meaningful for our students? In today’s rapidly evolving world, preparing learners for the future isn’t about gathering academic knowledge.
Why busy educators need AI with guardrails
In the growing conversation around AI in education, speed and efficiency often take center stage, but that focus can tempt busy educators to use what’s fast rather than…
They love me, they love me not: Smart strategies to help students find the perfect college
You’ll often hear two words come up in advising sessions as students look ahead to college: match and fit. They sound interchangeable, but they’re not.
Funding technology initiatives in uncertain times
Recent policy shifts have caused significant uncertainty in K-12 education funding, especially for technology initiatives. It’s no longer business as usual. Schools can’t rely on the same federal…
Effective tools to foster student engagement
In my classroom, students increasingly ask for relevant content. Students want to know how what they are learning in school relates to the world beyond the classroom. They…
How Windows 11 is powering the next generation of K-12 innovation
As school districts navigate a rapidly evolving digital landscape, IT and academic leaders face a growing list of challenges--from hybrid learning demands and complex device ecosystems to rising…
Do screens help or hurt K-8 learning? Lessons from the UK’s OPAL program
When our leadership team at Firthmoor Primary met with an OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) representative, one message came through clearly: “Play isn’t a break from learning, it…
Rethink the classroom: How interactive tech simplifies IT and supercharges learning
Today’s school IT teams juggle endless demands--secure systems, manageable devices, and tight budgets--all while supporting teachers who need tech that just works.
5 essential AI tech tools for back-to-school success
By now, the 2025-2026 school year is well underway. The glow of new beginnings has faded, and the process of learning has begun in earnest. No doubt there…
Future-proof your district’s network: Smarter, faster, and more secure classroom connectivity
As digital learning continues to evolve, K-12 districts are under pressure to deliver connectivity that’s as fast, secure, and flexible as the learning it supports.
Why education leaders must highlight their people
When I asked my executive assistant to proof my first superintendent’s report for the public board packet, she came back and said that she was surprised that I…
Plenty of schools have no-zeroes policies. And most teachers hate it, a new survey finds
About one in four teachers say their schools don’t give students zeroes. And nearly all of them hate it.
The superintendent survival kit: Transparency and truth in communications
As superintendents come under more political fire and frequent negative news stories about their school districts circulate, it is easy to see where the instinct to not comment…
Why mentorship networks are essential in the college admissions process
As the vice president of academic affairs and a member of the admissions committee at SSP International (SSPI), a nonprofit organization offering immersive scientific experiences, I review hundreds…
Teaching isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up–here’s how to do that
When I walked into my first classroom almost a decade ago, I had no idea how many “first days” I would experience--and how each one would teach me…
Next gen learning spaces: UDL in action
By embracing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in purchasing decisions, school leaders can create learning spaces that not only accommodate students with disabilities but enhance the educational…
K-12 districts are fighting ransomware, but IT teams pay the price
The education sector is making measurable progress in defending against ransomware, with fewer ransom payments, dramatically reduced costs, and faster recovery rates.
How teachers and administrators can overcome resistance to NGSS
Although the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were released more than a decade ago, adoption of them varies widely in California. I have been to districts that have…
AI, CTE are key to preparing students for future careers
Educators are embracing AI and career and technical education (CTE) as keys to preparing students for their future after high school, according to the 2025 Savvas Educator Index…
Tools and ideas to engage students in career-connected learning
For nearly two decades, I’ve worked to improve teaching and learning with technology. And while the continuously evolving nature of technology has changed the trajectory of my career…
Rethinking substitute teacher preparation
Many of us remember the days when having a substitute teacher meant movie day--a wheeled video cart appeared, and the substitute teacher’s main goal was making sure students…
The paradox of Hispanic Heritage Month: Celebrating heritage means honoring students’ languages
Every year, Hispanic Heritage Month offers the United States a chance to honor the profound and varied contributions of Latino communities. We celebrate scientists like Ellen Ochoa, the…
Why critical data literacy belongs in every K–12 classroom
An unexpected group of presenters--11th graders from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago--made a splash at this year’s ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (FAccT).
Strengthening middle school literacy: What educators need to know
Literacy has always been the foundation of learning, but for middle school students, the stakes are especially high. These years mark the critical shift from learning to read…