Opinion Blog

Finding Common Ground

With Peter DeWitt & Michael Nelson

A former K-5 public school principal turned author, presenter, and leadership coach, Peter DeWitt provides insights and advice for education leaders. Former superintendent Michael Nelson is a frequent contributor. Read more from this blog.


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 BYOD: The Latest Educational Scapegoat
Is BYOD the next educational scapegoat?
Starr Sackstein, April 3, 2014
6 min read
Education Opinion Because It's on the Test...
In many states, high stakes testing really provides little to no effective feedback to students and teachers, which isn't pedagogically sound, but teaching something "because it's on the test" isn't pedagogically sound either.
Peter DeWitt, April 1, 2014
5 min read
Education Opinion PISA Head Delivers Speech on School Autonomy
PISA's Andreas Schleicher will be presenting a paper on Policy lessons from around the world. What will we all learn from his data?
Peter DeWitt, March 30, 2014
5 min read
Education Opinion Are You Stuck With Their Mindset?
Just because we are stuck with their policies doesn't mean we should be stuck with their mindset.
Peter DeWitt, March 27, 2014
3 min read
Education Opinion Schools...the New Digital Age Learning Organization?
Are we are stuck in the proverbial quicksand or can schools become the new digital age learning organization?
Bill Brennan, March 25, 2014
5 min read
Education Opinion Are American Students Prepared to Think Globally?
When travelling internationally, it seems as though people have a much more global perspective than Americans. Is it possible for American students to gain a global perspective if they lack access to travel?
Peter DeWitt, March 23, 2014
6 min read
Education Opinion Learning Intentions & Creativity in New Zealand Schools
Looking at model schools and standards, how can we adapt in a way that will progress student learning?
Peter DeWitt, March 21, 2014
6 min read
Education Opinion Opening the Door: An Alternate Path for Public Education
Last week, in Long Island a panel of experts that included Michael Fullan, Andy Hargreaves and Pasi Sahlberg discussed how there are better ways to improve schools than the reforms coming from the USDOE and NYSED.
Michael J. Hynes, E.D., March 20, 2014
4 min read
Education Opinion Grades: The Educational Dinosaur of Our Time
Grading: Is it the educational dinosaur of our time?
Starr Sackstein, March 18, 2014
6 min read
Education Opinion It's Time to Celebrate Schools
In the U.S. we don't usually celebrate schools at the national level, but in New Zealand they are celebrating through the Festival of Education.
Peter DeWitt, March 16, 2014
3 min read
Education Opinion An Edcamp at the U.S. Department of Education?
Edcamps are a growing trend in education as a great method of offering professional development to educators by educators, and now there is on being planned at the U.S. Department of Education.
Peter DeWitt, March 14, 2014
3 min read
Education Opinion Social Media Is Better Than You Think
There are many negative preconceived notions about social media, but it may be better than you think.
Peter DeWitt, March 11, 2014
4 min read
Education Opinion Common Core: Guilty by Association...or Just Guilty?
There is a lot of debate swirling around the Common Core. Is the Common Core guilty by association or just plain guilty?
Peter DeWitt, March 9, 2014
4 min read
Education Opinion Scribbling Is Okay When You're Two
This guest post by Jon Harper questions whether it's our curse of knowledge that has lead to all of the educational debate.
Jon Harper, March 7, 2014
3 min read