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.
Education
Opinion
Is Dialogue Making a Triumphant Return to Social Media?
Social media has been accused of becoming an echo chamber. While we are all practicing social distancing and spending time at home, there has been a noticeable increase in dialogue among educators on social media.
Education
Opinion
Coronavirus Boot Camp: 4 Distance-Learning Leadership Lessons
With the COVID-19 pandemic, schools suddenly found themselves in crisis. They need to go virtual, and go virtual today! Here's what one principal learned in the process.
Education
Opinion
Too Much, Too Quick? The New Educational World of COVID-19
During this time of COVID-19, many educators are offering parents a plethora of resources. But would everyone be better off if educators offered fewer resources?
Education
Opinion
How to Find Resilience During This Difficult Time
The coronavirus has created a time of great stress. In this guest blog, Nancy Willard describes some ways to build resilience and get through this crisis in a more positive way.
Education
Opinion
12 Critical Issues in Education Due to the Coronavirus
The past few weeks have been some of the most difficult most of us have experienced in a very long time. The coronavirus has highlighted some critical issues in education, and we are all trying to find solutions.
Education
Opinion
School Closures and COVID-19. Perhaps It's Time to Cancel High-Stakes Testing, Too?
Schools are cancelling, rates of COVID-19 are increasing right now, and it's time for schools to focus on online learning and calming the social-emotional issues of students. So, why do we still have to worry about high-stakes testing?
Education
Opinion
Isn't It Time We Redefine Honor Roll?
When it comes to honor roll, we need to move beyond the traits that contribute to students' professional or career success to consider what will help them become persons of honor, dignity, and integrity.
Education
Opinion
Does Instructional Leadership Keep You Up at Night?
Building leaders find themselves in a position they never accounted for when they took the job, and that is the role of instructional leadership. What does it look like?
Education
Opinion
Are 'Kids These Days' Really Allowed to Make Mistakes?
Kids these days are experiencing more trauma and anxiety than most generations before them. What do we do about it? Jon Harper says we start by listening.
Education
Opinion
What Should Leadership Development Look Like?
Research shows demands put on school principals are increasing when it comes to instructional leadership. Greater demands bring out increasing gaps, and a need for better leadership development.
Education
Opinion
7 Ways to Improve the Way Leadership Teams Function
Leadership teams do not always function as well as they could. By building collective leader efficacy among a group, leadership teams can have a more profound impact on student learning.
Education
Opinion
A Mystery Donation, An Unknown Name, And A Connection to School Climate
Principal Ken Lein received a mysterious card with a donation in the name of Sam McCaffrey. On a mission to find out who he was, Ken was surprised to find what his school climate had to do with the donation.
Education
Opinion
6 Obstacles Facing Instructional Coaches
Instructional coaching can be an impactful position, but there are six critical issues that often get in the way of coaches being able to do their job. They can be overcome.
Education
Opinion
Why Is Fidelity Always Seen as the New Four-Letter Word?
Fidelity is often seen as a bad word in school, but it doesn't have to be that way. In this guest blog by George Toman, the concept of fidelity is explained and defended.