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
The Direct and Indirect Costs to Defeated School Budgets
Across the country this year, many public school districts saw their budgets get voted down and they were forced to make more cuts or go into a contingency budget. As we enter the new school year, students, staff and parents are beginning to see the effects of their defeated budgets.
Education
Opinion
Creating an Inclusive School Culture
Officials need not endorse any particular student organization, but federal law requires that they afford all student groups the same opportunities to form, to convene on school grounds, and to have access to the same resources available to other student groups (Duncan, 2011, p.2).*
Education
Opinion
Impressive Empathy: An Interview with Michael Fullan
"One of the biggest barriers to improvement in school systems is the presence of punitive accountability. If you fail you will be put on a watch list. We have already seen that punishment (and even its opposite, reward) can never lead to intrinsic motivation to put in effort to solve a problem and to sustain one's interest in solving inevitable future problems" (Fullan, p.79).
Education
Opinion
Conflict Resolution for Adults and Students
"When it comes to deep divisions, resolution and empathy must be combined if change is to occur (Fullan, 2011, p.50)."
Education
Opinion
A Picture Walk Through Gender Differences
When I taught first grade, I introduced a new book to my students during calendar time. The book was entitled First Snow by Caldecott Award Winner Emily Arnold McCully. It's a wordless picture book that I had never used before but I loved the illustrations. Pauline, the school librarian suggested I use it with my students.
Education
Opinion
Building a Creative Classroom Environment
"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." Christopher Robin
Education
Opinion
The Good Ole' Days
"When I was young, the snow was deeper
and all the hills seemed so much steeper.
and all the hills seemed so much steeper.
Education
Opinion
Modern Family
"The first gave you a need for love; the second was there to give it" (Masse, 2007).
Education
Opinion
Verbal Communication
Note: Erik Palmer, an author from Denver, Colorado is a guest blogger today.
Education
Opinion
Speak Up, Be a Leader
"Speak up, be a leader, set the direction - but be participative, listen well, cooperate" (Bennis, 2003).
Education
Opinion
Drop Outs Don't Drive
Once a month I do parenting segments with Subrina Dhammi and education segments with Elaine Houston on WNYT which is the NBC affiliate in Albany, NY. Subrina approached me a few weeks ago about new legislation being introduced in New York State and wanted to do a news segment on it. It was entitled Drop Outs Don't Drive.
Education
Opinion
The Accidental Teacher: An Interview With Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson
"The high stakes test culture runs almost totally counter to what we know about how people learn. It causes us to engage in professional malpractice on a regular basis." Carol Ann Tomlinson
Education
Opinion
Helping Students Deal with the Loss of a Parent
"Approximately 1 in 20 children experience the loss of a parent before they reach the age of 18" (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1990).
Education
Opinion
We're All Responsible for Bullying
The other day I took a trip down to New York City to meet up with three of my friends from the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN). Having coffee with Joseph Kosciw (Ph.D.), Senior Director of Research & Strategic Initiatives, Robert McGarry (Ed.D.), Director of Training and Curriculum, and Daryl Presgraves, Communications Director is an enjoyable experience because all three have a wide variety of knowledge and approach their work in diverse ways, which is very healthy.