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
Teachers, Do We Appreciate One Another?
It's "Teacher Appreciation Week," but do teachers really appreciate each other?
Education
Opinion
Are We Accurately Confronting Inequity?
Inequity is confronting and needs to be confronted. It is injurious when you experience it and it is jarring when you witness it. But not enough educators are doing anything about it.
Education
Opinion
Does Your Coach Have Credibility?
Some leaders only focus on what to fix outward and never spend enough time looking inward to see what needs fixing first. Coaching can help that. A coach can help that, but in order for it to happen, the coach needs credibility.
Education
Opinion
5 Strategies Leaders Can Use to Stay Out of the Weeds
Too often leaders find themselves in the weeds, which prevents them from making good decisions. There are 5 ways to prevent that from happening.
Education
Opinion
Students Don't Always Trust Us, and That's a School Climate Issue
As a society we seem to be more polarized than ever, and as an institution students do not seem to trust us very much. It's time to get the trust back and it begins with our school climate.
Special Education
Opinion
Why Differentiation Misses the Mark for Gifted Students
Can gifted students' needs be met through differentiated instruction in a "regular" classroom?
Education
Opinion
How to Engage College Students With Learning Differences
Statistics have shown that more students with learning differences (LD) are entering college campuses, according to the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Fayetteville State University is prepared to meet their needs.
Education
Opinion
Why Won't Our Principal Collaborate With Us?
So often we think teachers are the ones who don't want to collaborate, when the principal may be the one who believes that they should dictate the need for collaboration but not be a part of it.
Education
Opinion
Accountability Partners: Finding Your Professional Soulmates
We hear a lot about accountability in the public education realm and there are negative connotations for the term. Accountability isn't all stress and pressure, though.
Education
Opinion
Can We Destroy the Silver Bullet Mentality Before It Destroys Us?
We live in a world of gimmicks, shiny new toys, and silver bullets. Too often we find ourselves chasing all of them and it prevents us from doing the work that matters.
Education
Opinion
Differentiation: Attainable or Somewhere Over the Rainbow?
Saying "data" in conjunction with student learning often feels sterile and uncaring. However, data is much more than just numbers, and you can learn more about it in this blog.
Education
Opinion
Collaboration Isn't New, But It Doesn't Mean You're Doing It Right
Many teachers and leaders collaborate. It's not a new word. However, just because they do it doesn't mean they do it right. Here are some things to think about when it comes to collaboration.
Professional Development
Opinion
Are Some Teachers Uncoachable?
Deciding someone is uncoachable is very complicated. It involves thinking about how the coach approaches the teacher.
Education
Opinion
What Was the Greatest Rivalry In Sports? Why Does It Still Matter?
The movie Hidden Figures exposed us all to a piece of our own history where women played an integral part. A new book reminds us of an important moment in sports where women were center stage, and more students need to know about it.