Attendance is the scoreboard–connection is the game
If I had been asked a few years ago, I would have told you that chronic absenteeism was a school system's problem to fix. With better data systems,…
leaders
Public schools at the starting line: Beginning a new pathway with scholarship granting organizations
For the first time, a federal tax credit is opening a clear path for public school students to access expanded learning opportunities through Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs).
Schools are building AI rules before they know the destination
America’s schools are moving quickly to respond to the rise of artificial intelligence, with parents, teachers, administrators, and lawmakers working to wrap their arms around what this means…
Does school design help or hinder adolescent learning?
Adolescence is one of the most consequential periods of human development, yet the environments designed to support it often fail to reflect its complexity. Spanning ages 10 to…
Lead with purpose: 3 ways courageous K-12 leadership builds real impact
As the Director of Maintenance and Operations for 42 campuses across our district, my work is never small. From managing facilities and construction to navigating procurement and public…
Most districts still struggle to fill specialist roles
As school districts prepare for the 2026–27 academic year, new national data from BlazerWorks reveals a growing staffing crisis across K–12 education, with more than 90% of district leaders reporting increased…
Science achievement is not a one-year event
District leaders are under increasing pressure to improve science achievement while balancing competing priorities, staffing challenges, instructional demands, and accountability expectations.
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…
Data alone doesn’t determine school success–leaders who know how to use it do
Educators often see recommendations, dashboards, and strategic plans labeled as “data-backed,” as if the numbers themselves drive outcomes. The truth is that data alone cannot make decisions or…
How districts can build a shared AI structure
In the second week of January, a senior mathematics teacher with 22 years in the classroom raised a hand at the end of a staff meeting and asked…
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.
What it takes to build teacher confidence in math: 4 lessons for district leaders
After 20 years teaching high school math, I thought I understood why students struggled. Then I sat in my first professional learning session focused on early math and…
From innovation to impact: Three ways school districts can build a sustainable AI framework
AI is here, and it’s moving fast. For schools, that speed is both an opportunity and a risk: The right tools can transform learning, but the wrong ones…
District leaders must adapt to meet changing student mental health and behavioral needs
District leaders across the country are grappling with a deepening crisis: Student mental and behavioral health needs are growing more complex. In a recent national survey, 58 percent…
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…
The next wave of K-12 innovation: How educators are shaping the future of edtech
Every school year brings an influx of IT solutions designed to reinvent K-12 education. Schools are primed to jump on the latest technologies to address the issues most…
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…
A superintendent’s view: Engagement, not enforcement, is the answer to absenteeism
Chronic student absenteeism has reached troubling new heights in the post-pandemic K-12 landscape, with one in four students in many systems now missing significant class time.
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…
Strengthening the PK-12 leadership pipeline during a succession crisis
Across the country, districts are confronting a growing PK-12 leadership pipeline crisis. Veteran principals, assistant principals, and district administrators are retiring at increasing rates, yet there is not…
How location precision enhances safety and reduces response times in emergencies
In emergencies, time is the most valuable resource--and it’s often the one in shortest supply. Whether a medical crisis, fire, or security threat, the difference between a quick…
Why Teachers Stay (and Why They Leave)
Teacher turnover is nearing 22% nationwide — and even higher in urban districts. In this EdWeek panel, K-12 HR leaders ... Read more
Connected campuses: Modernizing education communications for safety and simplicity
Schools, colleges, and universities face growing challenges in keeping their communities informed, connected, and engaged.
The rise of remote psychoeducational testing: What school leaders need to know
Special education is at a breaking point. Across the country, more children than ever are being referred for evaluations to determine whether they qualify for special education services.
What K-20 leaders should know about building resilient campuses
When a school building fails, everything it supports comes to a halt. Learning stops. Families scramble. Community stability is shaken. And while fire drills and lockdown procedures prepare…
From momentum to endurance: Scaling structured literacy with implementation science
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…
10 reasons to upgrade to Windows 11 ASAP
K-12 IT leaders are under pressure from all sides--rising cyberattacks, the end of Windows 10 support, and the need for powerful new learning tools.
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…
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…
Four education innovators honored with the 2025 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education
Four leaders charting bold new paths in education will be celebrated as the 2025 recipients of the Harold W. McGraw, ... Read more
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…
Rethink the ordinary: 10 benefits of interactive solutions for education
In this era where technology influences nearly every aspect of life, education has an essential technology leadership role to ... Read more
2025 AI in Education – A Microsoft Special Report
To better understand the state of AI in education, Microsoft Education has conducted numerous studies and surveys and collaborated with ... Read more
How to strengthen student workforce readiness with classroom and career connections
Today’s workforce requires adaptable, skilled individuals with the confidence to creatively apply background knowledge to complex, real-world opportunities.
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.
5 AI tools that offer more than hype
The term "AI-powered" is today's most popular buzzword--particularly in education. A growing number of edtech tools now claim to leverage AI, promising smarter, faster, and more personalized learning…
Educators: Lack of infrastructure and vision limit AI’s potential
AI tools to support and personalize student learning will have the most significant impact on students in the next few years, according to PowerSchool's 2025 National Educator Survey.