Peter DeWitt is the founder and CEO of the Instructional Leadership Collective. A former public school teacher and principal, he now facilitates professional learning in the United States and abroad based on the content of many of his best-selling educational books. Former superintendent Michael Nelson is a frequent contributor to this opinion blog. He is the co-leader of ILC and a former superintendent who has been an educator for more than 40 years.
Teaching
Opinion
Why Asking the Teacher Isn’t Always the Best Course of Action
During COVID-19, our conversations focus on the learning loss of students. We should be asking why the adults always control the learning.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Are We Compassionate Enough in Schools?
Compassion is often seen as a weakness, but schools should offer as much compassion as possible, and not just to students.
School & District Management
Opinion
4 Questions Every Leadership Team Must Ask
School leadership teams vary in size & structure, but there is one area that they should all focus on, and that is their instructional core.
Education
Opinion
Why Leaders Need to Develop Their Own Growth Mindset
Harvard's Richard Elmore has pointed out the "catastrophe" that is educational leadership preparation. We can all look to practice communities like Peloton to develop our skills, practice, and mindsets to help remedy that.
Federal
Opinion
The New Education Secretary Should Partner with Schools on These 15 Critical Issues
The presidential election brings great hope and an assurance that a new education secretary will be chosen. It's important that we have one that actually has teaching and leadership experience.
Early Childhood
Opinion
How Two Child-Care Centers Put Competition Aside and Created a Partnership During COVID-19
Due to COVID-19, two early-childhood centers put their competition aside to work together to support families during the pandemic.
School & District Management
Opinion
School Leaders Were Asked About Their Stress Levels. Here's What They Told Us
Educators are under an enormous amount of stress, but school leaders do not always feel like they can talk about theirs.
Education
Opinion
There's a Better Way: Trust-Based Observations
Teacher observations have long been seen as a waste of time because they provide little effective feedback. Trust-based observations take the challenges of observations into consideration and improve them.
Education
Opinion
4 Powerful Ways to Engage Students This School Year
The opening of the 2020 school year has been stressful for so many teachers, students, and families. Here are four rules of student engagement that will help us connect better with our students.
Education
Opinion
How Team Walk-Throughs Can Engage Educators in Remote Learning
We are all worried about learning loss during COVID, but one of the ways we can develop a better understanding of combating that is through team walk-throughs.
Education
Opinion
Educators, Get Prepared for a W-Shaped Recovery ... Emotional Not Economic
Most recovery efforts work as a V-shape, but the recovery for COVID-19 is going to work as a W-shape. This post explains why and what we can do about it.
Education
Opinion
Why Do So Many Public Schools Constantly Have to Fight for Funding?
In March, when COVID-19 first hit, there were many funny memes from parents and celebrities alike saying teachers should be paid millions because home schooling is hard. Six months later, teachers are getting pink slips instead.
Education
Opinion
What Is Truly the Meaning Behind Words Like 'Disadvantaged' and 'Disengaged'?
Are words like "disadvantaged" and "disengaged" code for something else? Are we willing to explore why we use those words?
Education
Opinion
Educators, Don't Forget About Your Own Mental Health.
COVID-19 has been one of the worst challenges many of us have faced in life. Let's use it as a reason to combat our own mental-health concerns.