Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin made it a hit. Everyone could sing it and spell it...R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Baby boomers learned about it from their parents and in churches and schools. They were taught to respect their elders. Respect the flag.  Respect the uniform. Respect authority. We were raised to think there were consequences to not showing appropriate respect.

Respect for settings and environments was reflected in how one dressed. It was translated into professionalism and to…

Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin made it a hit. Everyone could sing it and spell it...R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Baby boomers learned about it from their parents and in churches and schools. They were taught to respect their elders. Respect the flag.  Respect the uniform. Respect authority. We were raised to think there were consequences to not showing appropriate respect.

Respect for settings and environments was reflected in how one dressed. It was translated into professionalism and to…

Educational leaders find themselves in an interesting position. After years of public criticism of public education from one faction or another, we are, with health care and defense, at center stage nationally. On that stage with us are those in powerful policy positions who are advocates of vouchers and charters to fix a broken system. Ironically, we do not see it as broken, though we agree it may need some work. So, we enter the drama in the role of the resistance. And, we know that, in…

Could we, like sunshine, invite delight into our schools? Currently, I am exploring the paradox of responsibility and delight.  As educators, we hold one in each hand.  I wonder how we can balance both the responsibility with the delight? I was wet behind the ears when I was hired as a Principal. In my early thirties, I had lots to learn.  I was very responsible.  But, I needed to grow in how to delight in my work. I can pinpoint the year when I learned the importance of morning…

Guest Post From Lorin W. Anderson, Co-Author Of The Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy

April 15, 2017 by Larry Ferlazzo 

 Typical stats say that we have more than 30 million illiterates plus a much larger group of people who are semi-literate.

if you define a reader as someone who can curl up with a good book, we probably have 75+ million nonreaders.

Think about it. How is all that possible? Easy. Our Education Establishment is really good at illiteracy. They play games – an endless charade…

The Importance of Play

Jonathan T. Jefferson

“We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything, than when we are at play.” - Charles E. Schaefer

 …

What to Do on Lame Duck School Days

Posted on April 23, 2017 by Jennifer Gonzalez



The term “lame duck” is most often used to describe a president who is still sitting in office after his or her successor has been elected. Technically this person is still the president, but his or her decision-making power is generally perceived to be minimal.



We have something like that in school: those days when technically we’re still in school, but because it’s right before…

Leadership, like life, is a journey best taken along with a healthy dose of self-knowledge, social conscience, empathy, compassion, and humility. What is taught and learned in administrative preparation programs are the nuts and bolts: the law, finance, labor relations, supervision, governance, the details of the daily responsibilities. These are all necessary knowledge and skills for the administrative role, but they are not all one needs to know. The successful ones, the ones who…