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.

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School & District Management Opinion Why We Can't Escape the Status Quo in Education
The pandemic has provided an opportunity for deep change, says Michael Fullan, so it's puzzling that we have seen very little improvement.
Michael Fullan, January 9, 2023
3 min read
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Teaching Profession Opinion 11 Critical Issues Facing Educators in 2023
From health and safety to labor shortages, the coming year is rife with challenges for school leaders and teachers.
Peter DeWitt, December 4, 2022
5 min read
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School & District Management Opinion To Have a Bigger Impact, Here's What You Should Stop Doing in Your Classroom or School
Teachers and leaders often want to lighten their load, but don't know where to start.
Peter DeWitt, December 1, 2022
6 min read
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School & District Management Opinion Stop Wasting Your Time on School Improvement Plans That Don't Work. Try This Instead
Too often, school improvement plans are seen as compliance documents that have little value. They don't have to be.
Peter DeWitt, November 21, 2022
6 min read
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School & District Management Opinion The World Seems Complicated. Perhaps It's Time to Be More Human
In our complex world, educators need to give themselves space to be human with one another and themselves.
Sean Slade & Alyssa Gallagher, November 14, 2022
5 min read
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Teaching Profession Opinion Want Vibrant, Engaged Teachers? Give Them Professional Freedom
A deputy superintendent explains how his district has created a stimulating environment by trusting teachers to experiment.
Jonah Schenker, November 6, 2022
5 min read
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Professional Development Opinion How to Elevate the Voices of Teachers. Try Narrative Pedagogy
The narration of a story can serve as a powerful mechanism for transforming learning.
Rebecca Thomas & Steve Saville, October 31, 2022
7 min read
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School & District Management Opinion The Word 'Supervision' Shouldn't Get a Bad Rap. Here's Why
"Supervision" implies power, which, if used wisely, can strengthen the principal-teacher relationship.
Kim Morrison Kazmierczak & Ann Mausbach, September 20, 2022
4 min read
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College & Workforce Readiness Opinion 6 Reasons Why We Should See Students as Changemakers
The future is very delicate. In this blog, Michael Fullan lays out 6 reasons why students should be seen as the changemakers to improve it.
Michael Fullan, September 6, 2022
8 min read
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School Climate & Safety Opinion How A Texas Teen Turned Bias and Body-Shaming into Advocacy and Action
A 19-year-old student activist can teach educators lessons about how to inform and empower students.
Jinnie Spiegler, August 21, 2022
4 min read
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Recruitment & Retention Opinion When It Comes to the Teacher Shortage, Who's Abandoning Whom?
Are teachers really leaving the school system or just an archaic model that we should all leave behind?
Michael Fullan & Joanna Rizzotto, August 15, 2022
6 min read
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School & District Management Opinion You're an Educator. What Can You Stop Doing This Year?
Teachers and education leaders often feel stretched for time. Here are 9 ways to rethink your schedule.
Peter DeWitt, August 7, 2022
5 min read
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School Climate & Safety Opinion How Do We Collaborate When Tensions Are Running High?
Conflict is all around us these days, but don't despair. Education and DEI leaders offer their ideas to foster collaboration.
Sean Slade, August 4, 2022
5 min read
School & District Management Opinion 4 Protocols That Can Shift Your Teacher-Leadership Meetings From Drab to Fab
Meetings are usually encounters in which adults talk at each other. They don't have to be like that.
Peter DeWitt, July 26, 2022
7 min read