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 Are Educators Really Listening to Each Another on Twitter?
Twitter is very popular with educators but are they really listening to each other or just sharing links?
Peter DeWitt, February 1, 2013
3 min read
Education Opinion What is Unschooling?
Unschool parents believe in student-centeredness and child autonomy which might offer good suggestions to the public school system.
Peter DeWitt, January 31, 2013
5 min read
Education Opinion Act Your Age! A Schoolwide Readers' Theatre
Readers' theatres are great ways to offer students a literacy enriched environment but school-wide readers' theatres can help improve the school culture.
Peter DeWitt, January 28, 2013
4 min read
Education Opinion Who Owns the Patent on Learning?
Educators, as well as parents, have the opportunity to inspire students to want to gain ownership over their own learning.
Peter DeWitt, January 26, 2013
4 min read
Education Opinion U.S. Dept. of Ed. Says Fewer Students Dropping Out of High School
A recent U.S. Dept. of Ed. report by the National Center of Educational Statistics shows that US graduation rates have increased while dropout rates have decreased.
Peter DeWitt, January 24, 2013
4 min read
Education Opinion Service to Others Should Last All Year Long
Days of service and no name calling weeks should be at the core of what schools do every day.
Peter DeWitt, January 22, 2013
2 min read
Education Opinion The Myth About Computer-Based Reading Software?
Computer-based literacy programs may not as successful as schools think they are.
Peter DeWitt, January 20, 2013
6 min read
Education Opinion When a Classroom Works (and Doesn't)
Based on Seth Godin's blog When a Meeting Work and (Doesn't), Peter delves into how Seth's suggestions can work for any classroom and school.
Peter DeWitt, January 17, 2013
2 min read
Education Opinion The Mean Girl Dilemma
Relational aggression(RA) is a term to describe behaviors that are used to harm someone by damaging or manipulating their peer relationships.
Peter DeWitt, January 16, 2013
6 min read
Education Opinion When Teachers Refuse to Give a High-Stakes Test
19 teachers from Garfield High School in Seattle refused to give a high stakes test. How do educators get policymakers to listen to their needs.
Peter DeWitt, January 14, 2013
4 min read
Education Opinion You're a Principal...Now What?
Education needs less accountability enforcers and more administrators who can create positive school cultures.
Peter DeWitt, January 11, 2013
5 min read
Education Opinion Does America Have a Violence Problem?
There has been a great deal of discussion lately about allowing teachers to bring guns to school or to hire armed security guards for every school. School districts are finding themselves go from discussing BYOD to discussing BYO...G.
Peter DeWitt, January 9, 2013
5 min read
Education Opinion How to Create a Boy-Friendly School
If we want to change the outcomes for boys, we need to first come to grips with this reality: School is a better fit for girls than for boys.
Kelley King, January 7, 2013
7 min read
Education Opinion Who Is Your Role Model?
Our children are bombarded with messages about who they can be when they grow up and it's more important now than ever to make sure that were are offering them the opportunity to learn from positive role models.
Peter DeWitt, January 4, 2013
4 min read