Guest post by Edward Fuller and Michelle D. Young
The research is abundantly clear—great teachers have a very positive impact on students. Less known is that school leaders are the second most important school factor influencing a variety of student outcomes. School leaders influence student outcomes both directly, through interactions with students, and indirectly, by ensuring students have access to great teachers. (more…)
Guest post by Michele Paine
An area of passion for me as a school leader involves facilitating teacher growth. One way I work on this is by hosting several professional book studies during the school year.
Our district pays teachers for two days of flexible professional development time each contract year. Teachers can choose from a variety of options, including conferences, regional training, and state-led events. With all of these choices, however, I feel it is important to foster collegial discussion and professional reading. (more…)
What better way to celebrate National Principals Month than NASSP naming Thomas J. Dodd of Colorado the 2017 National Principal of the Year! In a surprise ceremony at his school, Dodd was presented with this honor after 11 years of working as the principal at Lesher Middle School in Fort Collins, CO.
National Principals Month
We are already into the third week of National Principals Month and time is flying by. Twenty states have already helped honor principals by passing their own resolutions formally recognizing National Principals Month. NASSP wants to thank the governors, legislators, and NASSP members in those states who helped make these resolutions possible. (more…)
Guest post by Alan Tenreiro
Like many schools, Cumberland High School in Rhode Island has been wrestling for years with the standards-era question: How do we shift our grading system to reflect genuine mastery and not just compliance? This question, reflected most recently in NASSP’s position statement on competency-based education, prompted us to design a proficiency-based grading system based on student performance levels, which is then translated into a numerical grade. The performance-level rubric promotes consistent scoring across all teachers in all disciplines, relying on moderate, strong, and distinguished command of the standard. And, perhaps most important, students also receive feedback on how they can improve their performance.
Guest post by Michele Paine
On the Fourth of July, I had the opportunity to reconnect with a colleague who had just finished her first year as a K–6 principal in a small rural partner school in the Greater Flathead Valley area, where I serve as assistant principal in one of its high schools. Over margaritas, we laughed about our school year, each of us sharing “lessons learned” during the year. While she serves an elementary school and I serve a high school, we found that our lessons could apply universally. (more…)
National Principals Month
National Principals Month continues moving along with NASSP co-hosting an event on Capitol Hill this week entitled “Revolutionizing School Leadership Under ESSA.” As states and districts begin implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), it is important to understand how the law can provide unprecedented support for principals and other educators. This event will bring in current and former principals and educators to discuss both the policy and practitioner perspective on how to best support school leadership to improve school outcomes. (more…)
Guest post by Jayne Ellspermann
Every administrator has encountered an angry parent who calls the school or comes in demanding a conference. These difficult moments can be a struggle for many of us, and we question what is the best way to deal with these people and situations. In my experience as principal, I have learned that angry or upset parents are an opportunity to develop a partnership benefiting all stakeholders.
Guest post by Lesley Corner
Before the 2016–2017 school year, Camden High School provided after-school tutorials and after-school homework centers for English and math. These methods of academic assistance increased student achievement, but we couldn’t reach some of the students who needed the most help due to their after-school obligations or transportation issues. After extensive research and school visits, we remodeled our schedule to include academic assistance during the school day for all students. Our model includes two types of assistance: Individual Learning Time (ILT) and Structured Learning Time (SLT). (more…)
National Principals Month
National Principals Month is finally here! To better understand the role and responsibilities of principals, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is conducting its Principal Shadowing Week from October 24–27. Principal Shadowing Week allows senior staff at ED the chance to learn firsthand from NASSP members. If any members in the Maryland, Virginia, or D.C. area are interested in having an ED staffer shadow them, you can email Zach Scott for more information. (more…)
As our organizations focus on educators and their leadership, we are reminded every day of their excellence in the community. We are also aware that all too often principals, who are key to the success of our students, schools, and teachers around the nation, are not given the appreciation or support they deserve. (more…)
Guest post by Rachel Heide
What support can districts provide to new teachers to help them adjust to the school community and the demands of the profession?
Two vital components for producing positive student outcomes are recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers. According to a 2015 U.S. Department of Education study on public school teacher attrition and mobility rates, as new teachers move toward their fifth year of teaching, the rate of attrition nears 20 percent (IES, 2015). When nearly one in five teachers is leaving the profession by his or her fifth year of teaching, schools run the risk of losing talented teachers who could be making the needed impact toward positive student outcomes. Finding ways to retain the talented teachers we hire has become an imperative, and this was identified as a key ingredient for meeting the needs of students during a period of population growth at Erie Middle School.
Inside the Beltway
What’s going on in Washington?
A potential government shutdown continues to loom on the horizon as it appears that Senate talks for a short-term continuing resolution have broken down. Early last week, all signs pointed to a budget bill that would fund the federal government until early to mid-December. However, by the end of the week Senate Republicans released their own funding proposal that Democratic Senators and Representatives refuse to support. The Senate plans to continue negotiations this week. (more…)
Guest post by Jeff Simon
Last week, I discussed the importance of building a positive school culture by utilizing a one-hour lunch period for clubs and activities that foster school pride and for innovative labs that encourage enthusiasm for learning. This week, I will share how we’ve built a culture of personal responsibility at Payson High School by providing a positive support system for student learning through embedded intervention.
Inside the Beltway
What’s going on in Washington?
On September 13, the NASSP State Principals of the Year went to Capitol Hill to advocate for increased funding for Title II and Title IV of the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA) as well as loan forgiveness for school leaders and increased professional development opportunities for teachers and principals when implementing career and technical education programs. (more…)
Guest post by Mieka Sanderson
Millions of low-income students miss out on school breakfast every day. Not having this important morning meal leaves students fatigued and distracted by hunger pangs. Research shows that food-insecure students are more often tardy, absent, and distracted in the classroom. Studies indicate that increasing school breakfast participation can play a key role in boosting student’s health and academic achievement.
As we all know, principal leadership is an essential fuel within schools that ultimately determines optimal student and school performance and success. But we also know that principals and the work they do in schools around the country are too often overlooked. (more…)
Guest post by Jeff Simon
Indiana Jones was my hero growing up—I wanted to be just like him. And now, as high school administrator, I get to do that every day, because not only did Indiana Jones study culture, he taught it to inquisitive minds and instilled passion in curious students to become lifelong learners.
Principals know that as the culture goes, so does the school. From Day 1, our administrative goal at Payson High School has been to build a culture that focuses on pride in our school and enthusiasm for learning. (more…)
Inside the Beltway
What’s going on in Washington?
On August 31, the U.S. Department of Education released proposed regulations on the supplement, not supplant provisions of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), recently revised by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Public comments will be accepted until November 7, and the final regulations are expected to be issued before President Obama ends his term in office in January 2017. (more…)
On August 31, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) released proposed regulations on the supplement, not supplant provisions of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as recently revised by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The USED will now consider public comments until November 7 with the goal of issuing final regulations before the end of the Obama Administration.
