An incredibly important piece on teaching and education
Sometimes one encounters something that needs no commentary from me – it is complete in itself. I want to share something like that about teaching and education. People who follow the blog Valerie...
View ArticleThe Environment of Achievement, Part 3
Hope. Humility. Determination. How do these characteristics contribute to an atmosphere of achievement? The dictionary describes determination as a “firmness of purpose,” “perseverance,” “intentness,”...
View ArticleThe Finland Phenomenon – a film on schools
On Thursday night I saw the premiere of “The Finland Phenomenon: Inside the World’s Most Surprising School System.” This is the latest film by Robert Compton, who perhaps best known for “Two Million...
View ArticleEducation: two important proposals
Education is not listed among the enumerated powers of Article I Section 8 of the Constitution. Yet the national governments of the United States have maintained an interest in education going back to...
View ArticleThe “K” Playbook: Professional Learning for a Lifetime*
A mentor once said to me that he had never seen a kindergartner arrive at school with the idea that he or she was not a learner. During my professional years spent as an elementary principal, I...
View ArticleMiracle schools, vouchers and all that educational flim-flam
is the title of this piece by Diane Ravitch. It appeared at the website of Nieman Watchdog of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, as part of the “Ask This” which is subtitled...
View ArticleQuick—Hire the Wrong Superintendent!
Inspired by actual events…and a great article by Richard Lee Colvin over at The Quick and the Ed. The position of school district superintendent is complex, situational and nuanced. Hiring a...
View ArticleNatural Leadership: the Power of We
The opportunity to learn from a successful leader is worth its weight in gold. This past week, a team of educators with whom I work had a chance to visit a learning space that represents the impact of...
View ArticleRemove the Ceiling and Raise the Floor: Why Localities Should Have More...
The following Commentary appeared in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on July 10, 2011 at:...
View ArticleDecent or Unprincipled: How We Define Who We Are as Individuals, Communities,...
In life, everyone experiences regrets. Daniel Pink recently reported a study on what constitutes the greatest source of regrets that we Americans experience- loves lost or perhaps never found, career...
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