Don’t wait for September: Reach students now, when it matters most
Here is a lesson for you: If you wait until the first day of school to address attendance, you've already lost the battle.
educational leadership
Maybe we have too much teacher training
“Maybe we have too much teacher training.” That headline is a sentence I never thought I’d write, given that I run a company built around supporting teachers’ professional…
Leading in the in-between: A multi-track approach to leadership growth
There is a period in the school leadership journey that we do not talk about enough: the time between earning an administrative license and actually becoming a school…
Engaging K-12 families over the summer
It’s easy to connect with the families who show up in September already invested: responding to messages, attending events, kids showing up on time. In most cases, building…
We need to start giving agency to educators instead of edtech vendors
American schools spent roughly $30 billion on educational technology in 2024--a figure that's projected to nearly double by 2033. Superintendents are constantly bombarded with emails, brochures, and demos…
How comprehensive school safety planning protected our teachers and students
When people outside of education talk about comprehensive school safety planning, it can sometimes sound theoretical: a checklist of protocols or a compliance exercise.
We can’t punish our way out of the attendance crisis
In the Ithaca City School District, we have long understood that relationships are not peripheral to the work; they are the work. A culture of love is not…
Protecting teachers from workplace violence as student behavior challenges rise
Schools have seen rising problems with student behavior since the pandemic. For too many K-12 districts, these student behavior challenges are leading to violence against teachers.
Sustainable change starts with educator voice
School leaders everywhere are working to implement change--new initiatives, new instructional frameworks, new technologies, new approaches to student support.
Don’t mistake staff voice for a problem
As children, we play hide-and-seek. There is a kind of logic to it: If you cannot see me, then I cannot see you. As adults, and sometimes as…
5 secrets to stronger high school connections
I’ve been a principal for 14 years, during which time I served as the leader of an alternative school, an early college, and a large middle school. Through…
How to navigate historically high absenteeism
Chronic absenteeism has stabilized at historically high levels, signaling a long-term engagement challenge rather than a short-term pandemic disruption, according to a new national white paper released by…
Key tips to help district leaders use data to improve attendance
Chronic absenteeism has become one of the most pressing challenges facing K-12 education today. According to the American Enterprise Institute, chronic absenteeism rates are leveling out at 23.5…
When it comes to student attendance, are districts measuring the wrong thing?
Across the country, schools are raising alarms about chronic absenteeism. News stories highlight rising numbers of missed days, legislators are demanding answers from districts, and educators are feeling…
A new PLC model that builds collective efficacy and fights teacher burnout
In schools across the country, teacher turnover and burnout have reached crisis levels. Educators are stretched thin, often working in isolation, and many professional learning communities (PLCs) fail…
When seconds matter: Why in-building coverage is a lifeline for school safety
During a school emergency, every minute that passes is crucial, but in those moments, a reliable connection can mean the difference between confusion and coordinated response.
Cutting costs without cutting corners
With the end of federal COVID-19 emergency funding and the inherent volatility of state income tax revenues, California school districts are in an era of financial uncertainty.
4 ways AI can make your PD more effective
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…
Rethinking icebreakers in 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…
From silos to systems: The digital advantage in schools
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…
Truth vs. risk management: How to move forward
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…
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…
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…
Phones, devices, and the limits of control: Rethinking school device policies
A growing body of research and an even louder chorus of educators point to the same conclusion: students are distracted, they’re disengaged, and their learning is suffering. What’s…
Beyond AI: Human connection still drives school attendance
At ISTE this summer, I lost count of how many times I heard "AI" as the answer to every educational challenge imaginable. Student engagement? AI-powered personalization!
Preventing harm by connecting the dots in school safety
Swatting--false reports of school violence intended to trigger a police response--continues to increase across the country. During the 2022–2023 school year, nearly 64 percent of reported violent incidents…
We’re losing STEM teachers–here are 5 ways to keep them and grow the ones we need
The critical shortage of qualified STEM teachers continues to challenge schools and districts across the country. This is especially true in high-need schools where early-career or uncertified teachers…
How the FY25 funding freeze impacts students across America
Communities across the nation began the budget process for the 2025-2026 school year after Congress passed the FY25 Continuing Resolution on March 14, 2025.
Navigating back-to-school anxiety: A K-12 success guide
As the 2025-2026 academic year approaches, experiencing anxiety about returning to the classroom is a natural response to change that affects everyone differently.
Using AI to reimagine teacher preparation for scale, equity, and reflective practice
With growing teacher shortages nationwide, particularly in high-need subject areas and underserved communities, educator preparation programs (EPPs) have a big task at hand.
5 resources to build stronger classrooms through PLCs
s the new school year approaches, one of the most powerful tools for continuous improvement is the professional learning community (PLC).
Family engagement is critical to COVID academic recovery
Family engagement is an essential part of continued COVID recovery, but is often misunderstood when education policy is formed, leading to a lack of involvement from families, caregivers,…
Bridging the digital divide to empower the youngest learners
In Greater Houston, where nearly half of children start kindergarten unprepared, Collaborative for Children is taking bold steps to close the digital divide, beginning with our youngest learners.
The U.S. had the blueprint for a high-class education–but abandoned it
In the 1970s, educators and policymakers from across the globe (including from Finland) viewed the United States as a model of forward-thinking education--American schools were well-regarded for their…
Unpacking COVID’s lasting academic effects on 5th graders
As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, it forced the closure of schools and a rapid shift to online learning. This unforeseen disruption in traditional education left…
The cure for the school attendance crisis? Family support and a sense of belonging
Empty seats have become a common sight in our nation’s classrooms. Students are missing school at record-high rates--not because they don’t want to be there, but because significant…
The business (and busy-ness) of education
We often hear we should run our schools more like a business. It is intended to mean that we become more efficient and that we streamline our efforts…
The pros and cons of DEI in education
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become integral to educational institutions across the United States. DEI aims to foster environments where all students can thrive regardless of…
The dangers of attempting to ‘Instant Pot’ educational progress
States aren’t happy with how their students are doing--not well, by all objective measures--but instead of focusing in on long-term solutions, they’re lowering expectations and sweeping those academic…
The math anxiety equation: How to solve for confidence in math class
One of my first vivid memories of math is of timed tests. I still remember how visceral my panic felt--sweaty palms, heart pounding--as I scrambled to recall facts…