School Specialty Honors Top Educators with 12th Annual Crystal Apple Awards
GREENVILLE, Wis., April 21, 2026 — School Specialty, a leading provider of learning environments and supplies to the pre-K-12 education ... Read more
leadership
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…
Data intelligence in education: Building the right foundation for better decisions
Data has become one of the most important strategic assets in education. Yet across institutions, publishers, and edtech companies, it often remains fragmented, inconsistently governed, and difficult to…
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…
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…
Celebrating Teachers: Nominate Outstanding Educators for Crystal Apple Awards
School Specialty, a leading provider of learning environments, instructional solutions, and supplies for preK-12 education, is proud to celebrate outstanding educators with its 12th annual Crystal Apple Awards.
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…
Being a principal just got harder–and here’s why
There is a squeaky old merry-go-round in my neighborhood that my own children play on from time to time. Years of kids riding on it have loosened its…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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
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…
Why student engagement starts with teacher clarity
In Alpine School District, we serve a wide range of students, from Title I to highly affluent communities. While our population has traditionally been predominantly white and middle…
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…
5 cybersecurity green flags: A practical guide for sourcing edtech
Although educators are excited to innovate, school leaders must weigh every new app or online platform against cybersecurity risks and the responsibility of protecting student data.
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.
Rethinking K-12 cyber strategies amid federal budget cuts
The recent suspension of the K-12 Cybersecurity Government Coordinating Council marks a pivotal shift in how the nation’s public school systems manage cybersecurity.
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).
North Carolina District Wins ISTE 2025 Distinguished Award for AI Leadership and Parent Engagement Innovation
Kimberley Thompson-Hairston, Director of Instructional Technology and Media for Stokes County Schools and Chad Stevens, Head of K-12 Engagement for ... Read more
Showfloor News: Gale and ConnectEDD Publishing focus on PD
Gale, part of Cengage Group and ConnectEDD Publishing have partnered to bring the professional development (PD) resources of best-selling author, leadership ... Read more
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.
89% of Parents Want Schools to Lead on Phone-Free Policies
Yondr, the pioneer of phone-free spaces, today released a groundbreaking new report capturing the sentiment of over 1,000 parents nationwide ... Read more
8 tips for school leaders seeking to innovate
When school and district leaders read about innovation--defined as improvements for students and teachers that result in real progress, not anything that’s simply “new or different”--the changes can…
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…