Principal Connection/Can You Be Too Nice?
Thomas R. Hoerr argues that sometimes principals can try too hard to be “liked” which can undermine their ability to lead. This can lead to a few problems.
Measuring Effective Teaching
Colleen Walsh promotes the use of multiple methods of sense making.
Are You A Manager or a Leader?
The author argues that there are important differences between managers and leaders and offers these ways to build leadership…
When Nice Won’t Suffice
Elisa MacDonald asserts that professional learning communities must be able to tackle issues and give and receive constructive criticism for there to be any real improvement within a school. She offers strategies for addressing a “culture of nice” that prevents a team from being effective.
Distilling the Wisdom of C.E.O.’s
Adam Bryant interviewed over seventy chief executives and other leaders to determine five essential qualities that C.E.O’s share and look for in new hires.
What Works in the Classroom? Ask the Students
This New York Times article by Sam Dillon reviews a huge research project that suggests that students may offer important feedback regarding the effectiveness of teachers.
Study: Effective Principals Embrace Collective Leadership
Christina A. Samuels reviews a study that examined the traits of effective school principals and found that high student achievement is linked to collective leadership.
Five Keys to Effective Teacher Learning Teams
A five-year study of Title I schools identified these five keys for creating effective teacher learning teams…
Running Into the Fire
David Maxfield suggests these approaches to educators for reducing stress and improving outcomes…
The Widget Effect: Our National Failure to Acknowledge and Act on Differences in Teacher Effectiveness
This report explores public school districts’ failure to measure or record teacher effectiveness in any meaningful way and argue that in addition to measuring and recording teacher effectiveness, school districts should use that information to inform decision-making. They lament that the only way to determine who effective and ineffective teachers are is usually through word of mouth.