Room to grow: Creating a classroom built for success
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.
Reliable and relatable resources build confident students: The triple Rs of scholastic esports
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.…
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.
How districts can avoid 4 hidden costs of outdated facilities systems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 Outdated facilities processes…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…
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…
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…
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).
I asked students why they go to school–this answer changed how I design campuses
In February of 2023, I was leading a visioning workshop with a group of middle schoolers in Southern California. Their energy was vibrant, their curiosity sharp. We began…
Rethinking the role of guest teachers
When I think about the importance of consistent classroom coverage, I always come back to the idea that students deserve to feel like their classroom is their home…
NAEP scores for class of 2024 show major declines, with fewer students college ready
Students from the class of 2024 had historically low scores on a major national test administered just months before they graduated.
Digital dementia: Are we outsourcing our thinking to AI?
I’ll admit that I use AI. I’ve asked it to help me figure out challenging Excel formulas that otherwise would have taken me 45 minutes and a few…
Back-to-school success for all: Building vital classroom skills
As students and teachers prepare for a new school year, it’s important to remember that success in the classroom isn’t just about academics; it’s about supporting the whole child.
Building a literacy framework that works: A district leader’s journey in Peoria
When I stepped into the role of curriculum coordinator for Peoria Public Schools District 150 in 2021, I entered a landscape still reeling from the disruption of COVID-19.…
Districts eye proactive cyber threat protection as risks increase
Cybersecurity threats to K-12 schools are growing in frequency, sophistication, and cost, yet many school districts remain under-resourced and underprepared, according to the CoSN 2025 State of EdTech District…
The advantages of supplementing curriculum
Classroom teachers are handed a curriculum they must use when teaching. That specific curriculum is designed to bring uniformity, equity, and accountability into classrooms.
Strengthening family engagement to support the science of reading
While most teachers are eager to implement the science of reading, many lack the time and tools to connect these practices to home-based support, according to a new…
4 tips to help older K-12 readers
Teachers are noticing that older readers need ongoing support to read materials used in their classrooms. In a study commissioned by the Advanced Education Research and Development Fund…
Why AI’s true power in education isn’t about saving time
As a former teacher, educator coach and principal, I've witnessed countless edtech promises come and go. The latest refrain echoes through conference halls and staff meetings: "AI saves…
Turning superintendent transitions into strength–not division
When a long-serving superintendent departs, districts inherit more than a vacancy. They inherit emotion, legacy, and the uncertainty that comes with change.
Supporting neurodiverse learners requires more than accommodation: It demands systemic change
Approximately 1 in 5 children in the United States are estimated to be neurodivergent, representing a spectrum of learning and thinking differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and…
New research highlights the importance and challenges of K-12 student engagement
While there is wide agreement that student engagement plays a vital role in learning, educators continue to face uncertainty about what engagement looks like, how best to measure…
The untaught lesson: Prioritizing behavior as essential learning
In classrooms across the country, students are mastering their ABCs, solving equations, and diving into science. But one essential life skill--behavior--is not in the lesson plan.
5 keys to AI success: A roadmap for K–12 administrators
Like many educators, I have strong feelings about the abundance of artificial intelligence now used in schools. Some teachers choose to take a Gandalf approach to AI and…
Choice-ready: Exploring a new standard for preparing students for the future of work
As AI, automation, and global connectivity continue to reshape every industry, today’s students are stepping into a world where lifelong careers in a single field are increasingly rare.