Starr Sackstein is a secondary educator and school leader in New York. She is the author of several books on education, on topics such as going gradeless, peer feedback, and blogging. This blog is no longer being updated.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Mindset and Attitude Affect Our Interactions in Leadership
Leadership is hard and helping adults develop into their best selves takes time and patience. Not everyone will be ready to hear the message or take the risk, but we can't give up on. We need to meet them where they are (just like with our students) and help them grow from there. Differentiate your approach based on what you know and continue to learn about your team members and share feedback regularly.
Teaching
Opinion
How Do We Get Educators Into the Connected Network?
I was very proud this weekend to be a part of my school community going to an Edcamp together. Some of whom were there for the first time. Watching them see it all for the first time was truly amazing, not to mention the fact that the Long Island EdCamp was so well attended, way more so than the first few I went to myself.
Teaching
Opinion
Year Two Is More Challenging Than I Expected as a New Leader
The day to day minutia can really feel like drowning. This happened in the classroom too. Whether I questioned my practice or my assessment divergence from the system, I struggled and I think now that the challenges are becoming great as a leader, my inclination is to look back on my days in the classroom with great joy. It hasn't been until now that I could comfortably say that I was good at what I did, so maybe that is true of this too.
Teaching
Opinion
Data Doesn't Have to Be a Dirty Word
Every teacher wants his/her students to be successful and chances are, each teacher is doing so much already with the information he or she has to make that happen. As team leaders, we want to help our teachers leverage the information they have to create the most targeted and effective instruction possible, not just to do better on tests, but to be better learners throughout their lives.
Teaching
Opinion
Sometimes the Answer is to Walk and Wait
Something that I'm coming to realize is that every day won't be a super productive day to enjoy. Some days just getting through and getting something done is enough. Then not judging myself too harshly for the challenge. This can be an obstacle as it rubs against my perfectionism issues and that starts another whole line of questioning.
Teaching
Opinion
Without Follow-Up, There Will Be No Follow-Through
A new initiative is coming. This is nothing new. As a matter of fact, starting new initiatives is completely commonplace. As soon as an area of need is identified, we find a solution and start at it.
Education
Opinion
Why Do We Have Elite Schools?
If indeed New York City does change the way students are admitted to elite schools, they are playing a zero sum game and the kids at the non-elite schools will continue to receive an inferior education. Perhaps someday they can follow my plan as they see innovative smaller districts roll it out. In the meantime, they will no doubt continue with their own version of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Teaching
Opinion
Co-Planning and Co-Teaching to Focus on My One Thing
My one thing is to make sure that I get into at least one class a week, to model and participate in the learning that I hope and expect throughout our department. Students must be engaged. Teachers must be providing constant feedback and gathering data about what students are learning and adjusting along the way.
Teaching
Opinion
Improve Your Practice With Daily Reflection
After I do my reflection, I always make sure to make an action plan. It's not enough to think about how things went or question, I have to try to change what I am doing. This takes a deliberate effort and finding the right strategies to grow.
Reflection is a huge part of my educational diet and it has made me a better person, mother and educator.
Teaching
Opinion
The Impact of Implicit Bias and How We Must Work Together to Overcome It
Implicit bias will always exist but when we shed light on it and take actions to lessen the impact of it, then we can be more honest about the learning and growing we do together. No one is perfect and therefore we have to mind our own and each other's gaps.
Education
Opinion
Relationships: The Key to Moving from Teaching to Leading
Guest blogger Greg Fredricks shares his experience moving from teacher to leader in the Arlington Central School system. Read as he shares how relationships are at the heart of what is important in his new role.
Teaching
Opinion
Find and Expose Your Blind Spot as a Leader
Honestly, while I was reading and then subsequently doing the activity to figure out what I wanted to commit to, I struggle mightily with selecting one thing that I really wanted to work on. In many ways, my ego got in the way of my ability to really drill down, but as I started to think about what stung the most from last year's experiences, it was my own inability to get past insecurities and trust myself the way that I do in the classroom. Ultimately, this lack of confidence made difficult conversations one of the weak points in my leadership arsenal and it is so important.
Education
Opinion
Educators' Powerful Role in Motivation and Engagement
Guest blogger Tara Brown says, "Helping kids feel seen, heard and validated sends a clear message that kids are more important than content. Every emotional deposit, every positive connection from adults in the building increases a child's sense of well being and desire to be a part of the process. School staff who lead with their hearts have a strong commitment to making sure that every person's day is better because they interacted with me."
Teaching
Opinion
From #Attentive to #Commitment, This Year's #OneWord
Each year we must consider what we have worked on and make a decision on a new focus that builds on what came before. This year, my #oneword is commitment; what's yours?