In this month’s questionnaire, we ask Brad Currie, supervisor of instruction and assistant principal for the Chester School District in Chester, NJ, and co-founder of #Satchat (an online Twitter discussion forum for school leaders), about what makes the forum special, his challenges as an assistant principal, and his favorite sports team.

What’s your educational philosophy?

My educational philosophy is based off the motto “What’s best for kids.” I believe that educators should exhaust all options to promote the success of students. Risk taking, mistakes, and failure must be embraced by all stakeholders so that a culture of lifelong learning can exist.

What was your biggest challenge as a middle school assistant principal?

It came when our middle school went 1:1 with Chromebooks. People do not know what they do not know, including myself, as it relates to how technology can change the learning culture of your school. Fast-forward to the present-students and staff are really thriving in our paperless environment.

What are you most proud of as an assistant principal?

I am proud of how my colleagues try new methods and tools, both tech and “nontech,” to meet the needs of our diverse student population. I’m also proud of how well we tell our school’s story through Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, our school website, and our mobile app.

If you could change one thing about secondary schools, what would it be?

I would change the way educators at the classroom, school, and district levels share best practices.

What are the characteristics of a dynamic secondary school principal? 

Being approachable, supportive, trustworthy, and practicing what you preach.

Why did you decide to start #Satchat?

I decided to start #Satchat with Scott Rocco in April 2012 because we were both new to Twitter and felt there needed to be a place where educational leaders at the classroom, school, and district level could reflect, share, and learn. 

What makes #Satchat special?

#Satchat is special because every Saturday morning at 7:30 (ET) you can log into Twitter and come across an idea, initiative, or resource that could potentially impact the success of students in your classroom, school, or district.

What is your favorite book?

My favorite book at the moment is Visible Learning by John Hattie. The research that supports student learning is really helpful and something that we focus on throughout the school year.

What is your favorite sports team and why?

My favorite sports team is the Philadelphia Eagles. My favorite coach is Andy Reid, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles. His calm demeanor, caring nature, attention to detail, and vision for a successful organization are some things I truly admire.