In all cases, the recognition that professional development is a career long process is essential.  But, informed examination of alternatives and selection of options is essential to determine what professional development is needed for each individual.  Learning new ways of teaching and learning, or of leading a strategic planning process, or implementing the integration of technology or a shift into a STEM based learning environment, for example, is half the work.  The other half is…

Most schools across the country are on summer vacation. But a few northern schools are in their last week. Those educators will be deciding how to approach this tragedy to help children, faculty, and staff make sense of this horror and of the world as it is and can be. Listen to conversations around you. There are growing fears about air travel and heated debates about second amendment rights and privacy and safety. Cautions about movie theaters, sports events the like build concern,…

 If people understood the process, then they could help prevent it.

 Semi-literacy is the main thing killing our country now. Fixing this epidemic is the easiest way to fix the whole school system.

 Kids used to go to school for a year or two and they could read. That's how real education starts. The only way. Now we have an elaborate scam where public schools pretend to…

What First-Generation College Students Want

As policymakers and educators debate how to help high-schoolers from all backgrounds get to and through college, young people’s ideas about the support they need to succeed are sometimes left out of the discussion. (Atlantic,…

It’s Official: New York is making it easier for students with disabilities to graduate this year

New York students with disabilities can now graduate high school without passing most Regents exams. The dramatic move by New York’s education policymakers could…

Specialist teachers in elementary schools

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/master-leadership/id1119005931…

It seems we all take for granted that, unless a child is disabled in some way, by the time they are five years old, she or he can both walk and talk. They understand basic language and they can follow simple directions. We expect that there are variations in the capacities of children to accomplish these but also expect that they all can do it in some form. These days in addition to walking, talking, understanding, and following directions, some can read a bit and use technology. They…

This is the time that calls for leadership with a capital "L".  Building leaders cannot be successful as one or the other, managers or instructional leaders, nor can their superintendents. In order to meet the demands of this century, the leaders' success can only be found in becoming a Leader. Those in positions of power, authority and responsibility, who are responsible for safety, making sure rules are followed, records are accurately kept, jobs are done properly, instruction is…

Ideas and Tools to Give Everyone a Voice…

 Here is one of my favorite themes: Almost everything we see discussed is the SURFACE of education. The skin. The outside. The superficial stuff that doesn't really matter.

 I think our Education Establishment is truly brilliant at keeping people distracted and bewildered. The trick is to get people discussing things that are not primary. Throw out five or 10 excuses for why the schools are bad – kids are lazy, parents don't care, there's not enough money, the Internet is…