The challenge to leaders of public education Mel Hawkins The education reform movement, with its focus on high-stakes testing and privatization through the creation of charter schools and vouchers, is a response from dissatisfied customers of public education. These powerful men and women leading the education reform movement are justified in their concerns but their solutions could not be more wrong. Read more>> Believe literacy is possible Sponsored by Voyager Sopris Learning There is more to a student than the ability to read. Potential comes in all forms. Let’s challenge the stereotypes and see students for their potential, not their inability to read. Let’s empower each teacher to change lives. Let’s recognize each district for its ability to build a better literacy program. Read more>> Reversing civic ignorance requires a collective, cross-sector effort The Seattle Times Social media is a showcase of civic illiteracy. It also could be a catalyst for promoting civic education. Civic ignorance is a bipartisan concern, uniting teachers, the private sector and government. So national and state history needs to be hitched to any civics’ curriculum. Read more>> How to develop a powerful strategic plan to drive results Sponsored by District Management Group While virtually all school districts have a strategic plan, only some provide a clear vision and detailed objectives that drive action on a day-to-day basis. This framework enables you to develop an actionable, focused strategic plan to help your district meet ever-mounting challenges and raise student achievement. Read more>> If your teacher looks like you, you may do better in school NPR Think back to grade school for a moment and envision that one teacher who could captivate you more than any other. Did that teacher look a bit like you? One recent study says: probably. Surveyed students reported putting forth more effort in school and having higher college aspirations. Read more>> Personalized learning benchmark score Sponsored by Education Elements The shift to personalized learning can be challenging. As a district leader, you likely have questions about whether you are implementing well or how you compare to other districts. Onpoint is a benchmark score designed to help you at any stage of your implementation. Read more>> Grit needs to become a part of the school curriculum The Dallas Morning News As teachers who give our students everything we have (and then some), we can take practical steps to cultivate grit in our students. We can fulfill the dual purposes of helping our students fall in love with nuances of our curriculum while developing their abilities to persevere through challenges. Read more>> When teachers are engaged, students succeed Sponsored by AVID A recent Gallup study reported that just 30 percent of U.S. teachers are “actively engaged” in their work. Teacher engagement is central to helping students realize their full potential. This report details the characteristics of effective professional learning that sticks with teachers so their students can thrive. Read more>> The social media presence of schools and athletes should be sensible The News Herald For better or for worse, social media has enveloped our lives. High school athletic departments and their athletes are no different, as social media is a representation and extension of identity. That carries with it a duty to be responsible in its use. Sometimes that use falls short of that goal. Read more>> | 