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…
leadership
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…
Finding the Middle Ground
Nancy Frey and Doug Fisher know their way around an education acronym. Both professors at San Diego State University and ... Read more
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…
InstructureCon 2025: Ryan Lufkin, Vice President of Global Academic Strategy, Brings the Skinny
When the developers of Canvas, the world’s leading web-based learning management system (LMS) software, invite you to a party—July 22-24 ... Read more
Kenneth C. Griffin Donates $2 Million to Nonprofit Achieve Miami’s Teacher Accelerator Program to Strengthen South Florida’s Teacher Pipeline
Miami – Achieve Miami, a nonprofit dedicated to equalizing educational opportunities for students throughout Miami-Dade County, has received $2.4 million ... Read more
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…
Edtech gone rogue? Tackling “Dirty Stream” attacks amidst uncontrolled app overloads
In May 2024, Microsoft identified a critical vulnerability pattern targeting Android applications, ominously called “Dirty Stream.” This vulnerability allows malicious apps to overwrite files, potentially leading to arbitrary…
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…
Frontline Education Announces Chris Collins as New Chief Customer Officer
Wayne, Pa. (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Frontline Education, a leading provider of administration software purpose-built for educators in K-12, today announced that ... Read more
Leadership is key to protecting student data privacy in 2025
In the year 2025, no one should have to be convinced that protecting data privacy matters. For education institutions, it’s really that simple of a priority--and that complicated.
Ethical PD: Doing right by the teachers who do right by the world
Teachers are superheroes. Every day, they rise to the challenge, pouring their hearts into shaping the future. They stay late to grade papers and show up early to…