Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker

When you think about providing professional development, do you feel stressed or excited? Photo by 1DayReview – Creative Commons Attribution License https://www.flickr.com/photos/159770474@N08 For many principals, providing professional development can be a daunting task. The good news is that professional development can become something that is meaningful and enjoyable when you realize you no longer have to be the expert. Instead, together with your school team, you can select topics, share expertise, and learn together how about topics where teachers really care about. In this week’s podcast, Principal Jen Schwanke and I discuss Providing Focused and Budget-Friendly Professional Development. She has been serving co-host for this series on “Strategies and Solutions that Work for School Leaders.” Jen is also the author of You’re the Principal. Now What? Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders, and the Principal of Indian Run Elementary School in Dublin, Ohio. Consider Your Background for Professional Development Here are some ideas to keep in mind before developing a Professional Development Plan: Size of school Size of district Previous professional development The level of your learners What the data say The resources available District priorities It’s important to keep this context in mind so that you can design PD that works for your setting and context. Recommendation for supporting teachers in PD Once you have this background, consider these steps and strategies: Gather history about what your teachers have done previously ASK THEM what they need (surveys, conversations, responses to school initiatives) o Provide choice and voice (just like the kids) o It needs to be applicable to their daily work Find time (creative solutions for finding time) Plan short-term and long term (sketching out a vision) Spread about the work (Delegate! The principal doesn’t need to be the wisest guy in the room) Use internal experts, but know when to outsource Vet your PD (don’t just jump on the first vendor that sounds good) Use your principal colleagues Follow through with what you promise!! Make profession reading an expectation (cheap, easy, and applicable– book study groups) Use resources (more and more available online) Finally, at the end of these conversations and planning, develop a shared professional development calendar. At the end of this week’s podcast, Jen shares a sample of how she and her school team build their own. Listen-in this week as we also add some bonus-conversation at the end to remind you that it is better to choose fewer priorities than overwhelm yourself and your teachers with un-focused professional development. Let’s Wrap This Up You need to remember there is no way to include everything you want to cover in professional development, but you can learn to share the learning and increase the joy of focused PD. It is more important to go deep in one or two areas than to overwhelm your teachers with too many initiatives at once. Be a leader who listens AND protects those whom your serving – while also inspiring learning. Now It’s Your Turn What is one new way you can begin approaching professional development that involves input from your team? How can you protect time in your calendar so that time is prioritized for ongoing learning for your teachers and staff? What is something you’d love to learn more about? Ask your teachers that question and begin planning professional development with their input. Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:147 Providing Focused Professional Development appeared first on Principal Matters.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed in trying to balance priorities? Photo by Stephen Leonardi – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@stephenleo1982?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit If you’re like me, you can probably think of more than once where student discipline, parent concerns, and teacher feedback provided you more tasks than you could complete in a day. No matter whether you are a new principal or a veteran leader, here’s a quick truth: you will never reach the point where you “have it all together.” That’s because you will always have room for growth. At the same time, how can you build strategies and good habits for better balancing priorities? This week, author and principal Jen Schwanke and I continue a series on Strategies and Solutions for School Leaders. As we discuss ways for school leaders to balance priorities, we focus on nine helpful takeaways so that you increase your capacity to manage the demands of school leadership. These include: 1. Acknowledging your limitations. Every leader must admit he or she has limits, and it is a healthy practice to anticipate what you will do when overwhelmed with tasks, requests, and responsiblities. 2. Refusing to be a martyr. Tuck in your cape. You are not a super hero. And your teachers and students do not need a leader who sacrifices his or her well-being to serve. 3. Watching your attitude. At the end of the day, you set the tone for the optimism and hope of your school. You are not in it alone, but your attitude will convey to others how they should be handling pressure. 4. Staying organized. Yes, there are strategies, plans, and tips that can help. But these must fit your work style and personality to be effective. 5. Leaning on support. You were made to work with others. Don’t be afraid to model humility, ask for help, and rely on others for the tasks of leading a school. 6. Connecting with colleagues. Other principals and school leaders can provide a safety net for you. They provide perspective and support that can make the load feel lighter. 7. Putting students first. Yes, you have a lot on your plate, but always ask yourself how your actions, words, and plans are helping students. 8. Learning the cycle of leadership. Believe it or not, principals sometimes reach points of peace. When you have these rare moments, don’t feel guilty. Learn to draw strength from them for the next difficult moment you’ll encounter. 9. Embracing unpredictability with humor. It will be difficult to survive leadership unless you embrace pressure as part of the journey. It’s even more satisfying when you learn to find joy and laughter even in the crazy moments. Let’s Wrap This Up Among these helpful takeaways, Jen and I also discuss several ways leaders can organize and prioritize tasks so that they are fulfilling their duties and honoring those whom they serve. This includes creating a scheduling system that works for you, taking time to prioritize, and keeping track of tasks and crossing them off the list. Many of these great tips can be found in Jen’s helpful book, You’re The Principal! Now What?. Listen-in to this week’s conversation to hear more reflections on these takeaways so that you increase your capacity to manage the demands of school leadership. Now It’s Your Turn The good news is that over time, school leadership does provide seasons of stability, where you can breathe, reflect, and re-prioritize. Good habits do lead to better results. This week, choose one good habit you may want to implement or enhance for balancing priorities. What is one step you can take today to rethink your approach to managing many responsibilities while also finding joy in the process? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:146 Good Habits for Balancing Priorities appeared first on Principal Matters.

When is the last time you heard the following words? “We do what’s best for kids.” Of course, we want school leaders to do what is best for students. But we also want to provide a place where adults feels supported and encouraged in bringing joy to students. Photo by KzAkabueze – ONEin12 – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License https://www.flickr.com/photos/64524820@N00 Those priorities are not in opposition to one another. And if you are going to encourage a culture of trust, collaboration and interdependence, you must value the input of your entire school community. That’s why I’m so excited to continue our conversation with author and principal Jen Schwanke as she co-hosts Part 2 of promoting a school culture of trust. In Part 1, we discussed the three kinds of culture school leaders may face: cultures of isolation, cultures of distrust, or cultures of teamwork. In Part 2, we talk about how to cultivate a culture of trust or teamwork by promoting positive outcomes for everyone – students, staff, teachers, and community members. Jen discusses some key questions for exploring your culture. Think about the following when seeking the input of your school members: How do you feel about what’s happening in your classes and our school? What is it that you see happening within our school that we can work on? Tell me why you think this challenging situation has happened? What do you think we can do about this? Is there anything you’d like to share? Listen to the history of your school, try digest information without passing judgement, and don’t commiserate with criticisms. Also, in this episode, Jen and I talk about other scenarios like: Does your school enjoy plenty of laughter? If not, it is possible students and teachers are not finding joy in their work. What philosophy drives your leadership? Embracing a philosophy that what’s best for students = every member of the school community feels valued. How do you encourage openness instead of isolation? Having open conversations vs. talking behind the back of the others. Don’t miss out on the entire conversation for takeaways and encouragement in the way you are building culture as we continue our series on Strategies and Solutions for School Leaders. Let’s Wrap This Up Ultimately, when everyone feels valued, you are doing what’s best for kids. When you study cultures at Chick-fil-a, Southwest Airlines, or Starbucks Coffee and other successful companies, each of these organizations focuses on a commitment to employee satisfaction as much as customer satisfaction. And a focus on serving all helps lead to school-wide cultures of trust. Now It’s Your Turn What ways can your commitment to “What’s best for students” involve all members of your school community? What is a way you can embed open-ended questions into conversations with students and teachers in order to more deeply understand the “why” of your culture? What is one step you can take this week to model trust in others? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:145 Promoting a Culture of Trust – Part 2 appeared first on Principal Matters.

Cultivating a positive school culture is a lot like tending a garden. Photo by Gabriel Jimenez – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@gabrielj_photography?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit When you have tilled the soil, pulled the weeds, and watered your plants, your work is not finished. You will need to take the same steps again soon in order to keep a healthy environment for growth. School culture requires the same care. In order to build and maintain a positive school culture, you must identify challenges and promote positives. In the book, You’re the Principal, Now What? Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders, author Jen Schwanke shares three kinds of school cultures to keep in mind: two negatives to combat and one positive to promote: A Culture of Isolation A Culture of Distrust A Culture of Confidence, Understanding, and Teamwork This week, Jen Schwanke joins Principal Matters Podcast to co-host a new series on Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders. During this episode, we discuss the following strategies: 1. Gauging the past: This includes researching your school’s history and staying impartial when gathering information. 2. Building from the ground up: This requires establishing trust, showing appreciation, staying positive, leading by example, asking the right questions, taking one step at a time, and not expecting perfection. 3. Keeping momentum: Throughout the year, you must relentlessly take stock, be visible, make a goal of “every kid, every teacher, every day”, get personal, and be personable. Let’s Wrap This Up No matter what time of the year, cultivating positive school culture involves promoting work within and outside the classroom, gathering people together, seeking ideas and input from others, building teams, and rewarding evidence of positive culture. As you do the consistent work of building a culture of confidence, understanding, and teamwork, you promote a healthy environment for student growth. Listen-in to this week’s podcast conversation to learn more! Now It’s Your Turn What is one step you can take today to engage “every student and every teacher” in a positive school experience? Whether you increasing visibility or sharing out student happenings on social media, keep cultivating the “good soil” of your school culture this week. Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:144 Building and Maintaining Positive School Culture appeared first on Principal Matters.

When Garth Larson was asked to move from secondary administration to become an elementary principal, he was curious if he could be an effective leader at that level. But his work in early-education combined with his years in secondary education gave him a unique perspective of the K-12 experience. Later, when he moved into a district leadership position, he and his teachers began asking lots of questions about their own K-12 grading practices: Were students being graded on their work or on their proficiency of learning standards? Were teachers more focused on instruction or on all students learning? What practices would ensure that students reached the targets set for targeted learning standards? Slowly, the grading practices of his entire district began to change from a traditional model to a target-based (or standards based) grading model. As a result of these targeted practices, within four school years, his district moved from a ranking of 120th among districts in Wisconsin to second in the state. Meet Garth Larson Dr. Garth Larson is the President of FIRST Educational Resources, based out of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He previously worked as the K-12 Director of Learning for the Winneconne Community School District in Northeast Wisconsin. He also served as an elementary principal and high school speech and English teacher. He earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He sits on the Board of Directors for ASCD Wisconsin, serves on the K-12 Advisory Council for Education for the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and also serves as an adjunct faculty member for educational courses offered through Dominican University of California as well as the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Garth currently consults to school districts around the country and provides customized professional development around a variety of school leadership topics. He Garth is also the author of Grading for Impact co-authored with Tom Hierck, and Collaborative Systems of Support: Learning for ALL with co-authors Tom Hierck and Chris Weber. Target-Based Learning In this week’s podcast interview, Dr. Larson explains the leadership lessons learned in his experience with target-based practices. Together we discuss: What motivated Dr. Larson’s teachers and administrators to move from traditional grading to target-based grading instead. How target-based grading reflects proficiency more than completion or practice. Models of target-based (or standards based) grading at the elementary, middle-level, and high school levels. Lessons Dr. Larson learned in managing change: how leaders must listen, respond to real and perceived challenges, and walk “into the tunnels” with teachers to find solutions. Finally, Dr. Larson shares about his journey as President of FIRST Educational Resources: his transitions from building leadership to district leadership and then to working with more than 1,500 districts across the nation. Let’s Wrap This Up Grading practices are often embedded parts of our school culture and tradition. As you study the learning practices of your students and the grading practices of your teachers, where do you see the focus and priority in student grades? As you lead others toward a focus on all students learning, what practices may need to reexamined for reaching those goals? Now It’s Your Turn When is the last time you have asked questions about grading practices? Would you say your students are graded primarily on proficiency? How can you ensure your school learning practices are focused on competency rather than compliance? If you would like to stay connected with Dr. Garth Larson, you can find out more about him and his resources for school districts at http://firsteducation-us.com. The post PMP:143 Learning for ALL with Dr. Garth Larson appeared first on Principal Matters.

It’s that time of year again for hiring and job searches! Whether you are conducting an interview or being interviewed, I have found some common expectations anyone should have when walking into an education interview. If you are looking for sample questions specific to principal interviews, let me encourage you to check out the post, 30 Questions from Principal Interviews. But if you are in transition or you know someone preparing for their next interview, I want to share some tips to keep in mind for a solid interview experience: Takeaways from years of conducting interviews As hard as it is to work through the hiring process, nothing is more important to the success of school than finding quality educators. Although I haven’t kept count, it is safe to say that during the last twelve years, I have interviewed over a hundred individuals for staff or teaching positions. I have also sat on teams interviewing for principal or director positions. In my school leadership roles, I have seen many great and not-so-great interviews. Likewise, I have delivered some of both myself. Because I am a teacher at heart, I sometimes visit with candidates afterwards about ways they could improve their interview skills. Since I find myself coaching the same consistent themes, here are the 10 of them: 1. Write a solid resume. This should go without saying, but a good resume should be neat, concise, and without errors. Display a heading with all your contact information. Skills most pertinent to the position should be prominent and experience should be listed chronologically with most recent experiences first. If possible, limit your resume to one-page. Long resumes are tedious to read and usually unnecessary. 2. Use pre-emptive email or phone call. My advice is to send a short, friendly email to the person(s) you believe will be responsible for the hiring. This is usually pretty easy to figure out by visiting school websites or just calling and asking school staff for contact information. Make sure your inquiry is brief, professional, and without misspellings. If you choose to reach someone by phone or leave a voicemail, rehearse what you will say ahead of time. By all means, do not ramble or give the impression that you are desperate for a job.  School leaders want people who are passionate about teaching or leading, not about just finding a job. 3. Research your prospects. With the ease of finding information via the web, there is no excuse for not understanding in advance the lay-of-the-land in respect to the school or community you have targeted. More helpful still is finding someone you may know who lives or works in that community as a source for information. Coming into an interview knowing a few names and faces helps to put you a step ahead and gives you some context for the discussion you will have. 4. Rehearse your introduction (and deliver with a smile). Almost all interviews begin with the opportunity for you to introduce yourself personally, professionally, and in regards to your education. First, express thanks for the opportunity to interview; then, follow-up with a brief introduction of who you are personally and professionally. Sit up straight, smile, and make good eye contact. Avoid crossed arms, clenched fists, or rambling which usually show signs of anxiety. Appearing cool under pressure is important because that is what you will be expected to do every day in a teaching or school leadership position. I can’t tell you how much more attractive candidates appear when they smile, so don’t forget your most powerful persuasion tool, which is often your expression. 5. Play to your strengths and come with your A-game. I won’t stay long on the point, but it is very important. Your goal in an interview is to demonstrate the same confidence, preparation, and ability to connect that you will need in the classroom or the position you are seeking. So show up with same A-game in an interview that you would want your students or team-mates to see you deliver every day in your potential position. 6. Anticipate questions and be prepared with examples. You will be asked questions about how you define effective teaching or schools, use procedures, handle difficult situations or people, and understand content area. Expect questions about your willingness or interest in extra-duty assignments, and examples of past experiences. Don’t be surprised by these. Think them through in advance. If you are asked a question you never anticipated, take a breath and think about it before responding. Again, your goal is to demonstrate how you will communicate to students or colleagues on a regular basis, so be clear, concise, and use examples. 7. Turn failures into stepping stones. A good interview should also be challenging. If you are asked about failures or difficult times in your professional experience, be honest, and share an experience where you turned a difficulty into an opportunity to grow and improve. 8. Bring your own questions. Write down and bring with you questions of your own. Here a few examples: What are the most important qualities you are looking for in this position? How would you describe the culture of your staff or school? How would you describe your leadership style? Can you describe how you lead and support your teachers or team members? How soon will you be making a decision about this position? Avoid questions about pay unless it is brought up by your interviewers. Those questions can wait if you’re given a follow-up opportunity. 9. Rehearse your closure. Just as important as your introduction is your final impression. Take time again to thank your interviewer(s) for the opportunity to meet. Repeat the reasons you believe this position is a great fit for your skills and strengths. Tell them you look forward to hearing from them soon and then stand, offer firm handshakes, and don’t forget to smile. 10. Follow-up with an email or card. If possible within the same day as the interview, send an email or leave a card expressing your thanks for the opportunity to interview. As hard as it was for you to do the interview, remember your interviewers are giving up hours of time they would normally spend on other priorities to look for the best candidates. Be patient if they don’t quickly respond to you with a follow-up, and do not burn any bridges if you are not offered the position. Every interview is an opportunity to show your strengths and may open another door down the road. Let’s Wrap This Up If you take nothing else away from these tips, remember this: Interviews are so much more than a one-time opportunity to speak to someone. Finding the position, you want begins by the quality of performance you are showing at your current position, is reinforced by the kind of responses your co-workers will give when contacted about you, and is enhanced by your ability to deliver when given the opportunity. No amount of interview preparation will ever be as important as your reputation. The post PMP:Encore027 Ten Tips for Interviewing for an Education Opening appeared first on Principal Matters.

Dr. Douglas Casa began his study of student athletic safety in 1985 when he suffered an exertional heat stroke while running a 10K race. Photo by William Stitt – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@willpower?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit As he explains, “I was fortunate to receive amazing care on-site from the athletic trainer; the EMT’s in the ambulance; and at the hospital from the emergency room physicians and nurses. I only survived because of the exceptional care I received. I was just 16 years old at the time, but I have been driven by this experience since that day.” Whether you a leading an elementary school or high school, school activities and athletics play such an important role in the lives of your students. These programs also contribute to the overall culture and climate of your school community. As positive as these opportunities can be, it is equally important that best-practices are in place for activities, practices, and games. This includes knowing ahead of time how you or your staff will handle emergency situations. Meet Dr. Doug Casa Dr. Douglas Casa is a Professor at the University of Connecticut and the Chief Executive Officer for the Korey Stringer Institute. Additionally, he is the editor of a book titled: Preventing Sudden Death in Sport and Physical Activity (2nd edition, 2017), published by Jones & Bartlett in cooperation with the American College of Sports Medicine. His new book titled Sports and Physical Activity in the heat: Maximizing Performance and Safety will be published by Springer soon. The Korey Stringer Institute In August 2001, Korey Stringer, an All-Pro offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL, died from exertional heat stroke. In April 2010, Kelci Stringer (Korey’s widow), James Gould (Korey’s agent), and the NFL asked Dr. Casa to develop and run the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) at the University of Connecticut. The mission of the KSI is to provide research, education, advocacy, and consultation, to maximize performance, optimize safety, and prevent sudden death for the athlete, warfighter, and laborer. For the past 18 years, Dr. Casa has worked toward his goals at the Department of Kinesiology, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut. You can read his entire bio here. Interview Takeaways In this podcast interview, Dr. Casa explains several important ways schools can be prepared with sound prevention policies and procedures: Find out where your state ranks in comparison to other states in the rubric provided for KSI on safety and prevention. (See KSI’s State Rankings page here.) Discover best practices for the four H’s. (Explore KSI’s website under the tab, Emergency Conditions for information on): Heart Heat Head injuries Hemoglobin, sickle-cell trait Explore affordable and practical ways to be prepared for heat-related incidents. Be prepared with written emergency plans for multiple settings on and off campus where students practice or perform. Understand the sickle-cell trait tendencies so that student athletes are appropriately rested and treated. Let’s Wrap This Up Dr. Casa also explains how his own story of heat stroke has come full-circle after more than 30-years in a compelling and surprising story he tells at the end this interview. Take time to listen and share this episode with others in your schools or communities who want best practices for keeping activities safe and healthy for students. Now It’s Your Turn What are ways you can evaluate your own school or district policies and practices in light of the KSI’s recommendations for best-practices? Do you have emergency plans for practice or competition locations? Study KSI’s state rankings and see where where your policies or procedures may need revisiting. Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:142 Preventing Student Athlete Injury or Sudden Death – Interview with Dr. Douglas Casa appeared first on Principal Matters.

Recently, I had the privilege of talking to Dr. Kyle Palmer about the lessons he has learned in his years as a teacher, principal and district leader. Photo by rebe_zuniga – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License https://www.flickr.com/photos/39015620@N00 As we talked about the successful professional learning teams his teachers have led, Kyle commented that when our hearts hurts when students fail, then we are willing to do whatever it takes for them to learn. His commitment to building strong cultures was a good reminder of why your school leadership matters. Meet Dr. Kyle Palmer Kyle Palmer is currently in his second year as Executive Director of Human Resources for the Center School District of South Kansas City, MO. Before this transition, Dr. Palmer spent the previous ten years as principal of nationally recognized Lewis and Clark Elementary in Liberty, MO. Kyle began his career as a 4th grade teacher in Ankeny, Iowa in 2000. In 2013, he was named the Distinguished Principal for the Clay-Platte region of Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals in 2013. Under his leadership, Lewis and Clark Elementary was designated as an “National Model PLC School” by Solution Tree in 2013 and 2015 as well as an “ICLE Model School” in 2015, 2016, and 2017. In his “spare time” Kyle consults with the ICLE (International Center for Leadership in Education), Solution Tree, and as a certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer, and Coach. Interview Takeaways Here are some of the topics we discussed together in this episode: After years of leading a school, Kyle talks about the changes he experienced leading from a district level. He explores why some leaders fail when they focus on so many tasks that they fail to accomplish any well. With a unique perspective on both building and district leadership, Kyle offers thoughts on what challenges or pitfalls that principals may want to avoid. Kyle discusses the research he has done into Professional Learning Communities: why some work better than others. As he thinks about partnering with parents, Kyle also discusses lessons he want principals to keep in mind about keeping perspective. Let’s Wrap This Up Kyle is a passionate believer in the power of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) and transforming schools to be more future-ready. Kyle’s research and dissertation on the “Existence of a Knowing-Doing Gap in PLC Implementation in LPS” led him to a deeper understanding about the power of establishing a culture that focuses on the practices of people working in a collaborative culture focusing on student learning. In the end, each of us can benefit from remembering that positive cultures drive positive changes. Now It’s Your Turn How can you seeing your school from another’s perspective to refresh your own? How can you stay focused on the main goals of your school so that you are not sidetracked by its many other urgent demands? What is one step you take today to stay connected to heart of education – helping all students learn? You can stay connected with Kyle via Twitter @drkylepalmer or by email at kylepalmer@gmail.com. Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP141: How Culture Drives Successful Learning Communities – Interview with Dr. Kyle Palmer appeared first on Principal Matters.

Next week, I have the privilege of gathering together with educators and school leaders for a Leadership & Learning Conference in Norman, Oklahoma. Guest speakers Jeff Zoul, Jack Berckemeyer, and Christine Handy will be on hand to share best practices. I’m looking forward to circling up with other educators who enjoy being life-long learners. Photo by rawpixel – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@rawpixel?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Gearing up for this time of learning reminds me of last year when I heard a presentation by Will Richardson, educator and author, who shared stories about new ways students are interacting with learning today. Here are three examples he shared: He talked about Nate Butkus, a 7-year-old boy who has started his own science podcast. He shared the story of a young man in India, Siddarth Mandala, who is beta-testing self-protecting “shock” shoes for women to protect them from rapists. He showed photos of students who are building tree-houses in their school cafeteria to replace traditional furniture. The common thread among all of these students is the new ways they can learn today: their abilities to find resources, access information, and see examples that feed and inform their passions. If we are living in a new world of learning where students constantly have access to create, design, connect, and produce inside and outside of school, Richardson asserts we must rethink three areas: beliefs, contexts, and practices. Here’s are three questions Richardson explores: How does this change our beliefs? We must be willing to rethink what we believe is effective learning; we cannot simply base this on tradition. Instead of making “student-driven learning” an elective or encore period, let’s completely design school around their passions and interests. How does this affect our contexts? Research shows that more students are actively disengaged rather than engaged; and technology often places us in “echo chambers” where we only access information from others with whom we share common interests. We must rethink how to keep students engaged in learning that is truthful, discerning, and meaningful. How does this influence our practices? We must become “skill” centered instead of “content” centered if students are to demonstrate mastery. We must move from the ever-increasing world of assessments for knowledge toward a world of application for learning. If students are really learning, they should be mastering new skills, not simply memorizing information they can easily access via a Google search. Another Example of New World of Learning Richardson’s presentation reminded me of a former student of mine, Jesse Haynes, who is now studying at the University of Tulsa. As a college communications major, Jesse’s professors have allowed him to begin podcasting as an independent study. Last year his podcast, The Others, a fictional narrative of a man stranded on a tropical island, hit over 1 million downloads. Jesse did not wait for a college degree to pursue his passions or reach a million listeners with his content and creativity. Instead he combined his degree plan with his passion, and he’s already practicing and applying those skills now. Jesse’s examples as well as the ones Will shared point toward an important question for each of us to consider even in our own professional or personal growth: Whose permission do you need to produce, create, design, or share your ideas? This is our new reality. People are longer just relying on traditional classes or internships to learn new skills, to share ideas, to begin businesses, or to launch products. So, what does this new reality mean for those of us in educational leadership? An Example from My Own Learning Let me give you an example from my own life. In 2012, after I was named Oklahoma’s assistant principal of the year, I had been asked to present at graduate classes or workshops. I realized I had a learned a lot valuable lessons to share from my years as a school administrator. I began to ask myself how I could find more opportunities to train, teach, or share with aspiring school leaders. One path for doing this would have been to pursue my doctoral studies in education. This may have helped establish my credibility as an expert in my field. Or maybe it would allow me to someday teach at the university level. But I made a different decision. I decided to being blogging instead. By sharing content online, I was able to catalog the lessons I was learning. I was sharing these ideas with school leaders while still practicing in my own school. And as a result, I was able to self-publish my first book, start a podcast, and see my second book published by Solution Tree Press. All of this content creation has opened doors for me to work with school leaders across my state and across the nation. Here’s my point. I did not wait for someone’s permission to begin learning, growing, and sharing ideas I thought were important. It’s easy to see how that has affected my professional growth, but why does this matter for your school leadership? As I visit with school leaders, I hear many of them share their disappointment, anger, or disillusionment at the public’s perceptions of our schools. We live in a time when public schools are under constant assault. Whether it is the portrayal of public schools as failing institutions or the lack of funding for schools, principals face challenges on two fronts: one, we must be creating the best environment for learning. And two, we must also be advocating for why our schools need public support. In light of these conversations about the possibilities we have for producing, designing, learning, and growing, here’s my next question for you: Whose permission are you waiting for to take back the narrative about the importance of your schools? 3 Ways to Take Back the Conversation About Your School We have never lived in a time when we have access to so many options for sharing, publishing, illustrating, and highlighting the good work happening in our schools. Here are just three examples of ways you can be doing that right now: 1. Start a weekly school newsletter. You may have a talented teachers or group of students who can help you collect great photos, images, or stories about learning, activities, or competitions happening throughout a week of school. Set a schedule for sharing this out. Whether you do this through Microsoft Publisher a Word template or by starting your own school blog, set a time each week to share a link with parents and your community members. At my school, we shared a summary of the week every Friday afternoon. It’s a great way for parents and community members to hear specific examples of positive learning happening in your school. Here’s a great example of a new school blog from Canton, Oklahoma Principal Adam McPhail. 2. Use social media to promote your school. Whether it’s via Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, choose a platform where you can post images, reminders, and updates for parents. One year I even paid to boost Facebook posts we wanted to be shared outside our own school community. When Aspasia Carlson was principal of John Marshall High School in Oklahoma City, she set a great example of how to use Twitter to showcase her school. It’s no coincidence that she had amazing support from local foundations who enjoy supporting these great students she highlights every day. 3. Share stories with your local newspaper or other media sources. Whether it is print media or television, media outlets are constantly looking for ways to engage an audience, increase traffic to their websites, and capture new subscribers. You can help them do this by sharing lots of great images and stories about students from your school. Don’t wait to be asked for a good story. Discover who are the best contacts for your local media outlets and begin emailing them the same updates you do your parents. They may not publish everything you send them, but when they do pick up on one of your story, then the reach of your school has just expanded to all their members too. Include Students in Your Messaging In connection with all these steps, I also believe it is important that you learn to engage students in ways to broadcast about your school. Last year we had student leaders who would create their own Twitter hashtags for events happening at the school, making videos to share in student assemblies, or broadcasting livestream from games or competitions. Students are smart and creative. Use their talents to expand the ways your school is communicating. Last year, for example, when I visited my state capitol to talk to legislators about the need to increase school funding, I didn’t travel alone. I took a small team of students with me. Lawmakers were happy to meet students, talk to them about the processes involved in government. Plus, we share photos from the visit via social media, our newsletter, and with local media. Let’s Wrap This Up As I listen to others talk about the new era of learning available for students, let me encourage you to think about how these same opportunities apply to your own school leadership. You may not own a media company, but you have powerful tools available to you every day for sharing with others about why your schools matter. Public school leaders do not need to wait for someone to discover a silver bullet for changing the narrative about our schools. We already have access to do that today. Imagine what happens if hundreds, thousands, or millions of educators unite around a commitment to talk about the great things happening in our schools. The momentum we can build could completely change the way people talk about schools. Now It’s Your Turn What ways can you embed practices in your schedule for sharing about your school’s successes? Think of one new action you take this school year to celebrate the good work happening in your school, and then find others who can help you reach that new goal? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:Encore079 Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? appeared first on Principal Matters.

I’ll never forget the semester I transitioned from assistant principal to principal. Photo by rawpixel – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@rawpixel?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Even though I had been in school administration for nine years at the time, the move to a new position brought back the old feelings of isolation. I also felt the creep of anxiety I had experienced as a new administrator almost a decade before. As the pressure mounted, I finally asked myself and important question: What lessons did I learn as an assistant principal that I should remember as I face the new pressures as a head principal? One lesson I had learned was that the best moments of my leadership normally involved asking my teachers, staff or fellow administrators for help. Instead of trying to solve problems and reach solutions by myself, I began to reach out to team members to ask for help. The more I practiced collaboration, the more support I found. Eventually, collaboration helped secure more stability and peace of mind. And I began enjoying – instead of dreading – the new tasks involved in my new role. Meet Jen Schwanke Every school leader has the responsibility of carrying the weight of hard decisions or final calls. With that responsibility also comes the opportunity to ask for help. Whether you are a new school leader or a veteran leader, it is safe to say you’ve hit hard times in the tough decisions involved. That’s why I’m excited to share this interview with author and principal, Jen Schwanke. Last semester I was introduced to Jen Schwanke, the author of You’re the Principal. Now What? Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders. Jen began her career as a language arts educator in 1998, and is currently Principal of Dublin Elementary School in Dublin, Ohio. She began her career as a language arts educator and also served as an assistant principal at the middle school level. A graduate instructor in educational leadership, she has written frequently for literacy and educational leadership publications and blogs about her experiences in learning and leading at jenschwanke.com. In her book, Jen shares so many practical takeaways, scenarios, and role-playing scripts for the real-life problems that principals face: meeting a new staff, developing solid professional development, managing discipline, implementing change, and so much more. I encourage you to listen-in to the topics we cover in our podcast interview, including: Why new school leaders need mentoring and leaning on one another for support and growth The pressures faced by both new and veteran school leaders and the power of admitting you need help or sometimes hate parts of leadership How a discipline-scenario gone bad helps gain perspective for the work ahead Practical suggestions for new school leaders wanting to lead effective professional development for teachers The power of relying on team members and working collaboratively for strong outcomes Let’s Wrap This Up As the saying goes, ‘You are no Superman, so tuck in your cape and ask for help’. When you do, you can also enjoy the rewards that come from shared knowledge and expertise. Whether you are a newer or older leader, you serve with perspective and strength when learn to you rely on others. Now It’s Your Turn What are ways you are relying on the strengths of others to help serve students? How can you reach out to other leaders in order to support their work as well as enhance your own? Think about ways to engage your teachers in the important tasks of teaching one another best practices and commit to not doing the work of leadership alone. You can find out more about Jen at her website, jenschwanke.com , or follow Schwanke on Twitter @Jenschwanke and Instagram @jenschwanke. Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:140 Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders – Interview with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.