Laura Stewart, 95 Percent Group, Author at eSchool News

Solving the staffing crisis is key to the Science of Reading movement

December 5, 2025 by Laura Stewart, 95 Percent Group

Every time a new leader or teacher steps in, the hard-won progress on a literacy initiative can be jeopardized--staffing is critical.

As someone who’s dedicated my career to advancing the Science of Reading movement, I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to help every child become a strong, fluent reader.

Teacher Professional Development

4 ways AI can make your PD more effective

December 4, 2025 by Andy Szeto, Ed.D, Professor and District Administrator

AI can help PD facilitators design activities that meet everyone’s needs while keeping the group moving forward together.

If you lead professional learning, whether as a school leader or PD facilitator, your goal is to make each session relevant, engaging, and lasting. AI can help you…

District Management

From fragmented to family-first: Our district’s communication reboot

December 3, 2025 by Johnathan Graves, Debbie Leonard, & Anna Haynes, Greenwood 50 School District

The shift from siloed to shared communication helped a district reach new levels of accessibility and engagement.

In Greenwood 50, our story began with a challenge shared by many districts: too many tools, not enough connection. With more than 8,000 students across 15 schools, our…

District Management

How one school reimagined learning spaces–and what others can learn

December 2, 2025 by Beth Stone, Collegedale Academy

Schools can build learning spaces and environments where students feel they belong--and where teachers are empowered to do their best work.

When Collegedale Academy, a PreK–8 school outside Chattanooga, Tennessee, needed a new elementary building, we faced a choice that many school leaders eventually confront: repair an aging facility…

Literacy

From momentum to endurance: Scaling structured literacy with implementation science

December 1, 2025 by Kimberly Stockton, Ed.D.

When it comes to structured literacy, implementation science is a roadmap for translating the science of reading into instructional routines.

When districts adopt evidence-based practices like Structured Literacy, it’s often with a surge of excitement and momentum. Yet the real challenge lies not in the initial adoption, but…

Teacher Professional Development

Rethinking icebreakers in professional learning

November 28, 2025 by Andy Szeto, Ed.D, Professor and District Administrator

Too often, icebreakers are poorly designed fillers, disconnected from learning goals--they should respect professional learning.

I was once asked during an icebreaker in a professional learning session to share a story about my last name. What I thought would be a light moment…

Durable Skills

Students must intentionally develop durable skills to thrive in an AI-dominated world

November 27, 2025 by ESchool Media Contributors

Durable skills are even more essential in the age of AI.

As AI increasingly automates technical tasks across industries, students’ long-term career success will rely less on technical skills alone and more on durable skills or professional skills, often referred…

Digital Learning Tools

3 reasons to switch to virtual set design

November 26, 2025 by Jared Cole, Churchill High School, Livonia Public Schools

Virtual set design offers more than just impressive shows--it provides a cost-effective, flexible, and innovative approach to storytelling.

If you’ve attended a professional show or musical recently, chances are you’ve seen virtual set design in action. This approach to stage production has gained so much traction…

K-12 Cybersecurity

Resilient learning begins with Zero Trust and cyber preparedness

November 25, 2025 by Gary Barlet, Illumio

Even in districts with limited staff and funding, schools can take important steps toward stronger security with Zero Trust and cybersecurity

The U.K.’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) recently warned of a surge in cyberattacks from “insider threats”--student hackers motivated by dares and challenges--leading to breaches across schools.

College and Career Readiness

The end of one-direction career pathways: Why empowering students sets the best course for future success

November 24, 2025 by Nick Gross, Find Your Grind

Schools have the opportunity to help students identify their desired lifestyle, existing strengths, and possible career pathways.

When middle school students make the leap to high school, they are expected to have a career path in mind so their classes and goals align with their…

College and Career Readiness

Powering college readiness through community partnerships

November 21, 2025 by Jeffrey A. Elliott, UWorld

Too many Texas high school students graduate unprepared for college. We need collective action to close the college readiness gap.

Texas faces a widening gap between high school completion and college readiness. Educators are already doing important and demanding work, but closing this gap will require systemic solutions,…

District Management

From silos to systems: The digital advantage in schools

November 20, 2025 by Sara Douglas, Campbell County Schools

Going digital for critical student services helps education leaders centralize data and ensure seamless support across campuses.

When I first stepped into my role overseeing student data for the Campbell County School District, it was clear we were working against a system that no longer…

STEM & STEAM Trends

Why early STEAM education unlocks the future for all learners

November 19, 2025 by Dr. Melanie Johnson, Collaborative for Children

Delaying STEAM education and learning until later grades means we risk leaving behind countless children and narrowing the talent pipeline.

When we imagine the future of America’s workforce, we often picture engineers, coders, scientists, and innovators tackling the challenges of tomorrow.

AI in Education

AI in the classroom: Preparing for a new era of teaching and learning

November 18, 2025 by Ian McDougall, Yuma Union High School District

AI is not going away in teaching or learning--whether we’re ready or not, it’s going to shape how our students live and work.

When I first started experimenting with AI in my classroom, I saw the same thing repeatedly from students. They treated it like Google. Ask a question, get an…

STEM & STEAM Trends

Teaching math the way the brain learns changes everything

November 17, 2025 by Nigel Nisbet, Mind Education

$Using visual and meaningful context aligned to how the brain learns can make math more understandable and engaging for all students.$

Far too many students enter math class expecting to fail. For them, math isn’t just a subject--it’s a source of anxiety that chips away at their confidence and…

AI in Education

Preserving critical thinking amid AI adoption

November 17, 2025November 14, 2025 by Dipesh Jain, MagicEdTech

Small but intentional practices keep humans at the center of the critical thinking process and turn AI into a gym for the mind.

AI is now at the center of almost every conversation in education technology. It is reshaping how we create content, build assessments, and support learners. The opportunities are…

School Management

Truth vs. risk management: How to move forward

November 17, 2025November 13, 2025 by Dr. Yuvraj Verma, Bessemer City Middle School and William Howard Taft University

Explaining the “why” behind a decision can build staff trust, morale, and intelligence when it comes to truth and risk management.

In the world of K-12 education, teachers are constantly making decisions that affect their students and families. In contrast, administrators are tasked with something even bigger: making decisions…

College and Career Readiness

How CTE inspires long and fulfilling careers

November 12, 2025 by Dr. Richard McPherson, Ed.D.

CTE offers something few other learning pathways can match: a direct skills-based progression from classroom learning to readiness in careers

One of the most transformative aspects of Career and Technical Education is how it connects learning to real life. When students understand that what they’re learning is preparing…

Personalized Learning

From explaining to empowering: How tutors can support student thinking

November 11, 2025 by Dr. Halley Bowman, Saga Education

Building cognitive lift doesn’t require a complete overhaul--it comes from small shifts tutors can make in every tutoring session.

Consider the work of a personal trainer. They can explain and model a workout perfectly, but if the athlete isn’t the one doing the lifting, their muscles won’t…

K-12 Cybersecurity

How school IT teams lock down QR-based SSO without hurting usability

November 10, 2025 by Charlie Sander, ManagedMethods

Phishing via QR codes, a tactic now known as “quishing,” involves attackers embedding malicious QR codes in emails or posters.

Schools can keep QR logins safe and seamless by blending clear visual cues, ongoing user education, and risk-based checks behind the scenes

Teacher Well-Being

The economic squeeze: Understanding how inflation affects teacher well-being and career decisions

November 7, 2025 by Dr. Jason Richardson, Garden City Elementary School & the International University of the Caribbean

Due to inflation, teacher well-being and self-efficacy are impacted by a struggle to maintain their standard of living.

In recent years, the teaching profession has faced unprecedented challenges, with inflation emerging as a significant factor affecting educators' professional lives and career choices.

Digital Learning Tools

More parents are homeschooling–and turning to podcasts for syllabus support

November 6, 2025 by Jed Baker, Starglow Media

Homeschooling is increasing, and with it is the need for flexible, affordable, and trustworthy educational content--often found in podcasts.

A revolution quietly underway in American education: the rise of homeschooling. In the past decade, there’s been a 61 percent increase in homeschool students across the United States,…

Classroom Management

Room to grow: Creating a classroom built for success

November 5, 2025 by Dr. Sue Ann Highland, School Specialty

Classroom design can directly benefit student outcomes and success, and can also contribute to teacher well-being.

For decades, curriculum, pedagogy, and technology have evolved to meet the changing needs of students. But in many schools, the classroom environment itself hasn’t kept pace.

Academic Esports

Reliable and relatable resources build confident students: The triple Rs of scholastic esports

November 4, 2025 by Julius Edwards, Palm Beach Lakes Esports & Sunshine State Esports League

Scholastic esports is about giving students in under-resourced communities the confidence to dream bigger and the tools to make those dreams real

I know what it feels like to stand in front of a classroom that does not have enough. Not enough computers. Not enough up-to-date software and technical tools.…

Literacy

3 strategies to boost student reading fluency this school year

October 31, 2025 by Dr. Carolyn Brown, Foundations in Learning

All students can become strong, proficient readers when they are given the right tools, instruction, and support in reading fluency.

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.

District Management

How districts can avoid 4 hidden costs of outdated facilities systems

November 7, 2025October 30, 2025 by Shane Foster, Follett Software

Facilities teams are already stretched thin, and antiquated facilities systems prevent them from managing day-to-day operations.

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…

College and Career Readiness

Making career readiness meaningful in today’s classrooms

October 29, 2025 by Jessica Stanford, RN, Baldwin Preparatory Academy

Career readiness programs help students see the relevance of their learning and give them the confidence to pursue their goals.

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.

AI in Education

Why busy educators need AI with guardrails

October 28, 2025 by Nick Koprowicz, Prometric

Trust in AI begins with thoughtful design, expert oversight, and acknowledgement of the work educators do every day

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…

College and Career Readiness

They love me, they love me not: Smart strategies to help students find the perfect college

October 27, 2025 by Donald Kamentz, Contigo Ed

All students can find a college or university that aligns with their goals and abilities, but the college search is an art and a science.

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.

Education Policy & Funding

Funding technology initiatives in uncertain times

October 24, 2025 by Gillian Rhodes, Avantis Education

Be intentional about where to look for technology funding, how to frame proposals, and how to measure and share impact

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…

Virtual Field Trips

Effective tools to foster student engagement

October 23, 2025 by Leia J. DePalo, Northport-East Northport Union Free School District

Engaging learning opportunities, like virtual field trips, show students how classrooms learnings directly connect to their real lives.

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…

Edtech Trends

Do screens help or hurt K-8 learning? Lessons from the UK’s OPAL program

January 14, 2026October 22, 2025 by Nesreen El-Baz, ESL Educator

In education, we don’t have to choose between tech and tradition--the real challenge is finding balance in learning.

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…

AI in Education

5 essential AI tech tools for back-to-school success

October 21, 2025 by Jamie MacPherson, Van Andel Institute for Education

Integrating effective AI tools into the classroom can help students build inquiry and critical thinking

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…

Teaching Trends

Plenty of schools have no-zeroes policies. And most teachers hate it, a new survey finds

October 17, 2025 by Kalyn Belsha, Chalkbeat

Many schools are rethinking what students should have to do to get a high school diploma, and how well no-zero policies work.

About one in four teachers say their schools don’t give students zeroes. And nearly all of them hate it.

District Management

The superintendent survival kit: Transparency and truth in communications

November 7, 2025October 16, 2025 by Greg Turchetta, Apptegy

When it comes to superintendents and transparency, true leadership means standing up, accepting interviews, and answering tough questions.

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…

College and Career Readiness

Why mentorship networks are essential in the college admissions process

October 15, 2025 by Dr. Mike Manzella, SSP International

Supportive college mentorship networks can alleviate the school counselor shortage and help high school students navigate the 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 Trends

Teaching isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up–here’s how to do that

October 14, 2025 by Gelisa Patin, Plaquemine High School

At its heart, teaching and education are about reflecting, leaning on others, and always opening doors for all students.

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…

Universal Design for Learning

Next gen learning spaces: UDL in action

October 13, 2025 by Leslie Stebbins, Research4Ed

Learning spaces and UDL changes can significantly influence student engagement, well-being, and academic achievement.

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 Cybersecurity

K-12 districts are fighting ransomware, but IT teams pay the price

October 10, 2025 by ESchool Media Contributors

Recovery times are improving, and ransomware payments are falling, but K-12 IT staff burnout and stress are on the rise.

The education sector is making measurable progress in defending against ransomware, with fewer ransom payments, dramatically reduced costs, and faster recovery rates.

Curriculum & Assessment

How teachers and administrators can overcome resistance to NGSS

October 9, 2025 by Nancy Nasr, Ed.D., Santa Paula Unified School District

A helpful first step is to approach the NGSS not as a set of standards, but rather a set of performance expectations.

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…

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