Latest Articles
Wizards, Witches and Dorothy
by Dr. Patrick E. Crawford, Director of Professional Development According to the Library of Congress, the 1939 American musical film “The Wizard of Oz” is the most-watched film ever made. Despite winning two Academy Awards, the original film was a box office failure. It took subsequent re-releases of the film for MGM to recoup...
by Dr. Patrick E. Crawford, Director of Professional Development According to the Library of Congress, the 1939 American musical film “The Wizard of Oz” is the most-watched film ever made. Despite winning two Academy Awards, the original film was a box office failure. It took subsequent re-releases of the film for MGM to recoup...
The Changing Mission of Schools
By Suzette Lovely Globalization has revolutionized the way we work, communicate, and live. But has it changed the way we teach? During most of the 20th century, teaching was rooted in the notion that intelligence was an innate skill, not something to be developed. Schools prepared...
By Suzette Lovely Globalization has revolutionized the way we work, communicate, and live. But has it changed the way we teach? During most of the 20th century, teaching was rooted in the notion that intelligence was an innate skill, not something to be developed. Schools prepared...
Coaching Principals: Confronting Teacher Performance Problems
By Jim Rickabaugh, Ph.D.One of the reasons principals give for not confronting unacceptable teacher performance and behaviors is that they aren't sure how to start the conversation. Obviously, the problem will not be solved unless the conversation is begun. However, starting the process inappropriately or incorrectly can make...
By Jim Rickabaugh, Ph.D.One of the reasons principals give for not confronting unacceptable teacher performance and behaviors is that they aren't sure how to start the conversation. Obviously, the problem will not be solved unless the conversation is begun. However, starting the process inappropriately or incorrectly can make...
Books – Books – Books
by Patrick E. Crawford Ed.D., Executive Director PLDC Instead of completing one book before going on to the next I grown accustom to having multi-books in various stages of completion. When I reflect on this practice, I think I do it because 1) there are so many good books to read, 2) because when I get to boring...
by Patrick E. Crawford Ed.D., Executive Director PLDC Instead of completing one book before going on to the next I grown accustom to having multi-books in various stages of completion. When I reflect on this practice, I think I do it because 1) there are so many good books to read, 2) because when I get to boring...
Five Ingredients to Engage and Retain New Teachers
By Suzette Lovely Each year teachers enter, leave, and move within our K-12 system. Not only do attrition and mobility affect the dynamics of a faculty, they can also impact the stability of the entire teacher workforce. As older teachers retire, younger teachers replace them. Yet, the...
By Suzette Lovely Each year teachers enter, leave, and move within our K-12 system. Not only do attrition and mobility affect the dynamics of a faculty, they can also impact the stability of the entire teacher workforce. As older teachers retire, younger teachers replace them. Yet, the...
Four Key Questions to Answer When Facing Tough Trade-off Decisions
By Brian L. Benzel, Ph.D.Some decisions have clear a purpose and are relatively easy to make, but many important action choices are often far less clearly defined and usually require that the Superintendent evaluate two or more sound ways to make that choice. When equally sound interests compete for limited time, resources,...
By Brian L. Benzel, Ph.D.Some decisions have clear a purpose and are relatively easy to make, but many important action choices are often far less clearly defined and usually require that the Superintendent evaluate two or more sound ways to make that choice. When equally sound interests compete for limited time, resources,...
Balancing Conflicting Truths
By Tweed W. Ross, Ed.D.There are two truths about effective administration to constantly keep in mind:
By Tweed W. Ross, Ed.D.There are two truths about effective administration to constantly keep in mind:
- Truth #1: You must be responsible for the 100% for the students 100% of the time.
Truth #2: You must support your faculty in a very difficult job.
Finding Success and Satisfaction at Work
By James R. Rickabaugh, Ph.D. Writing in a recent Harvard Business Review, psychiatrist and author Edward Hallowell outlined five factors that contribute to high performance at work. He notes that most people do not want to be unhappy in their work, constantly complain, or risk being...
By James R. Rickabaugh, Ph.D. Writing in a recent Harvard Business Review, psychiatrist and author Edward Hallowell outlined five factors that contribute to high performance at work. He notes that most people do not want to be unhappy in their work, constantly complain, or risk being...
Seeing the Present—Creating the Future
By Nancy Blade Leading a school is a tricky business. Principals face an array of seemingly paradoxical practices as they seek to maintain programs and also build improvements within the culture of a school. Both experienced and first year principals bring something unique...
By Nancy Blade Leading a school is a tricky business. Principals face an array of seemingly paradoxical practices as they seek to maintain programs and also build improvements within the culture of a school. Both experienced and first year principals bring something unique...
Taking the Mega View
By Suzette LovelySometimes the closest we get to being creative is when we’re trying NOT to leave our comfort zone. In fact, most people find change uncomfortable—for a couple of reasons. First, we worry that what we know or do may become irrelevant. Second, we’re afraid that any “new work” will be subject to scrutiny...
By Suzette LovelySometimes the closest we get to being creative is when we’re trying NOT to leave our comfort zone. In fact, most people find change uncomfortable—for a couple of reasons. First, we worry that what we know or do may become irrelevant. Second, we’re afraid that any “new work” will be subject to scrutiny...