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 Our Students Have a Story to Tell...
Great storytelling is an art, and this guest post by storyteller Chris Shaw explains why we need to keep the practice alive in schools.
Chris Shaw, February 11, 2014
3 min read
Education Opinion They Learned It, But Did They Feel It?
They Learned It, But Did They Feel It?
Peter DeWitt, February 9, 2014
5 min read
Education Opinion Read Carefully & Select the Best Answer
When each of us decides to become a teacher, we don't take an oath to spend the better part of everyday preparing students for timed impending doom. We hope to engage in a dialogue that allows students to acquire skills and inspire them to become lifelong learners.
Starr Sackstein, February 7, 2014
5 min read
Education Opinion The Five Dimensions of Student-Centered Leadership
In this day and age of accountability school leaders have a lot on their plate, but the five dimensions of student-centered leadership may be the most important.
Peter DeWitt, February 5, 2014
4 min read
Education Opinion Organizing an Edcamp? You May Want to Read This...
Edcamps are being organized around the world and some of us have "edcamp envy" which is why we are creating our own.
Peter DeWitt, February 4, 2014
6 min read
Education Opinion N.Y. State: Where No Confidence Is King
After a few difficult years in NY Public Education, this years brings a re-election for Governor Cuomo, a vote of no confidence on Commissioner King from NYSUT and a promise for some positive changes.
Peter DeWitt, February 2, 2014
5 min read
Education Opinion Building a Better Brain Before Children Enter School
Building a healthy foundation is vitally important for a student's growth, but we know that happens before children ever step foot into school, and the Alberta Family Initiative has a great video to highlight the process.
Peter DeWitt, January 30, 2014
4 min read
Education Opinion Labels Are Bad, But Is Tagless Better?
Educators understand that putting labels on children can be negative, but can treating then as though they are tagless just as bad?
Jon Harper, January 28, 2014
3 min read
Education Opinion We Need More Dialogue & Less Monologue From Secretary Duncan
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has spent most of his time as secretary saying the public education system is failing, and it really needs to stop.
Peter DeWitt, January 26, 2014
4 min read
Education Opinion 10 Critical Issues Facing Education
When it comes to education, there are numerous critical issues that need to be addressed in 2014, and these are ten of them.
Peter DeWitt, January 23, 2014
5 min read
Education Opinion Out Of the Negativity, Be the Water That Affects Positive Change
Being a victim of the system is not an effective way to promote progress, we must be a part of the solution.
Starr Sackstein, January 21, 2014
5 min read
Education Opinion Twitter Chats: An Hour Well Worth Your Time
An hour engaging in a Twitter chat will be well worth your time.
Peter DeWitt, January 19, 2014
4 min read
Education Opinion Poverty & Education: Meaningful Discussions or Misguided Diatribes?
When it comes to education, does the conversation about poverty lead to meaningful discussions or misguided diatribes?
Angel L. Cintron Jr., January 17, 2014
5 min read
Education Opinion Australian Officials Want a Less Liberal National Curriculum
Curriculum is an issue that we are debating in the US, and it seems that Australia is about to jump into the same debate.
Peter DeWitt, January 16, 2014
4 min read