Leadership 360
Leadership experts in the K-12 field Jill Berkowicz and Ann Myers wrote about challenges and possibilities for administrators in the 21st century. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: school leadership and district leadership.
Education
Opinion
Leaders Can Change the Mood and Raise Morale
Holding the balance between the things that need to be done and the attitude with which they are accomplished is our work. Leaders are the models. And while we cannot control the things that come at us, we do have control over how we feel and react.
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
Globally Minded vs. Globally Competitive Schools
We live in such a competitive society and we replicate this competition in our schools. Is the purpose of education to create winners and losers?
Classroom Technology
Opinion
Throwback Thursday: Plagiarism vs. Integrity
Educating about what is "yours" and what is "mine" begins in Kindergarten and so should the education about copyright laws.
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
Five Years of Race to the Top: Where Are We?
The heavy lift is in the hands of the districts and that, ironically is the good news. Each district, with its own community, its own culture, its own strengths and challenges, still has some local control. How RTTT is implemented locally depends upon local leadership.
School & District Management
Opinion
Entering Next Year Prepared to Ignite the Hearts and Minds of Our Teachers
As much as we must attend to the standards and assessments, it is important to attend to the human beings. We need a balance, and as the next school year approaches, it is a good time to think freshly about igniting the minds and hearts of teachers again so they can do the same for their students.
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
Throwback Thursday: Raising Standards Requires Transition Leadership
Perhaps, it is not the decision that is the problem per se; perhaps, it is the strategy for implementation. If leaders reach out to those who are impacted, they can explain rationales, allow preparation time and help people through the necessary transitions.
Education
Opinion
The Leader Must Lead
How do we develop the capacity to envision, inspire, create, become trusted and have integrity in our work? These are personal qualities that we alone can develop within ourselves.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
iPads in the Classroom at Clay Hill Elementary School
The results of this initiative are far-reaching and measurable. Discipline problems ceased in 6th grade and declined in the other two grades.
Science
Opinion
Throwback Thursday: Change the Structure of Schools
When we take a mandate and push it into our existing structure, we follow, but do not create a structural shift as we accept new practices. We need a new structure within which these changes can flourish.
Education
Opinion
Leadership, Learning, and Compassion: The Indispensables of Education
Schools with compassionate leaders increase their students' potential for academic success. Compassionate learning environments lower a student's cortisol levels (decreasing stress levels), which increases his or her ability to learn.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
Rethinking Summer School
What if we rethought how we expend that energy and reduced or eliminated the need for summer school and repurposed that expense to include enrichment for all students? Most agree students who attend summer school are able students who failed to meet expectations during the school year
Education
Opinion
Throwback Thursday: The Achievement Gap
On this #tbt, let's focus on this mission: discovering and providing the best possible ways to support students, to prepare them, and to offer them new experiences that narrow the gap
Professional Development
Opinion
Can We Lead Change Without Changing How We Lead?
Too many leaders view change as an act of replacing one thing for another or an act to incorporate something new in an existing system. It takes courage to look in the mirror and ask if we can see and understand what needs to change and if we know how to lead others through the process.
Early Childhood
Opinion
Close the Reading Gap: Partner With a Pediatrician
A door is opening for us. The pediatricians are ready to help. 62,000 of them belong to this organization that has decided to encourage reading to young children. This is an incredible opportunity not to be missed; increasingly, children need their health care providers and educators to be working together.