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.
School & District Management
Opinion
Should Teachers Have a Voice in Faculty Meetings?
Schools should be places that foster collaboration, and too often they do not. Here is how leaders can change that.
Education
Opinion
Think Kids Don't Have Compassion? Read This.
If you think kids don't have compassion and empathy, you may want to read this blog.
Education
Opinion
Comfortable Learning Environment: Soften the Blow of Accountability?
In today's guest blog, two co-authors suggest that a comfortable learning environment is the key to softening the blow of accountability through reform, standards, testing, and mandates.
Education
Opinion
Leadership: Is It My Way or the Highway?
It may feel good to be the boss, but without listening to teachers, administrators are leading in the wrong direction.
Education
Opinion
Too Many Initiatives ... Too Little Time?
Schools are under initiative fatigue, but maybe they don't have to be as fatigued as they think.
Education
Opinion
5 Behaviors That Can Sink Leaders
Being a school leader is a stressful job, but one that comes with a great deal of responsibility. Schools, staff and students need great leaders, and there just isn't enough of that going around yet.
Education
Opinion
Is Loyalty Something We Should Care About?
In today's guest post, Steve Constantino provides a great argument in why schools should be creating a brand to build family engagement.
Education
Opinion
Does Increased Accountability Work?
A recent NY Times article suggests that increased accountability isn't helping to raise achievement or growth...something educators have been saying for many years.
Education
Opinion
Why the Label 'Exceeds Standard' Doesn't Work
In today's guest post, Professor of Educational Psychology and author Thomas Guskey says that "Exceeds Standards" doesn't work.
Education
Opinion
The Global Read-Aloud: The Perfect Place to Start
Empowering students and teachers is vitally important, and the Global Read Aloud is just one way to do that.
Education
Opinion
Why Your Whole Staff Should Be on Twitter
Today's guest post is written by 2 principals from California whose whole staff is on Twitter. Big whoop you may say! They show that there are many benefits.
Education
Opinion
Common-Core Side Effects: Worth the Costs?
Something is missing in the raging debate about the Common Core, and in today's guest blog Yong Zhao addresses it.
Education
Opinion
Do We Inspire Learning? Or Just Allow It?
Today's guest blog is written by Sean Slade, the Director of the Whole Child Initiative for ASCD, and he wonders if we inspire learning...or just allow it.
Education
Opinion
5 Reasons Leaders Need to Encourage Teacher Voice
Many teachers feel that they don't have a real voice in their school community, and if they don't have a voice their students won't.