As teachers, one of the toughest aspects of our job is managing relationships with parents—especially when they are angry or overly needy. These situations can feel overwhelming, but they are also an opportunity to build trust and collaboration for the benefit of the student. Over the years, I’ve had my fair share of difficult parent…
Read moreDelegation for Leadership Growth: Benefits, Pitfalls, and How Principals Can Build a Strong Leadership Team
Yesterday, I sat down with a school leader to discuss the program he oversees. As we started our conversation, it was clear that he was overwhelmed, expressing that each year seemed to weigh heavier on him. He admitted feeling less capable of continuing in his role. Over the years, I had noticed something important: this…
Read morePreventing Teacher Burnout: Why Support and Appreciation Matter More Than Ever
Teacher burnout is a pressing issue that affects every corner of the education system. Research shows that by Thanksgiving, many teachers have already made up their minds about whether they plan to return for the next school year. This makes the first few months of school critical in retaining educators and ensuring their success. So,…
Read moreThe Importance of Reflection in Education
As an educator, I’ve learned something later in my career that I wish I had understood from the start: the importance of reflection. If you’re anything like me, there have been countless times when you’ve looked back at a lesson you taught or how you handled a challenging situation and thought, I could do that…
Read moreSupporting Our New Teachers: A Systemic Responsibility
Today, I had the opportunity to meet with a first-year teacher who is part of our district’s new teacher induction program. I frequently reach out to see if anyone needs help or assistance, and this teacher had requested a meeting because she felt overwhelmed. During our conversation, she shared her concerns about classroom management and…
Read moreThe Power of Vulnerability in Educational Leadership
As educational leaders, one of the most critical components of effective leadership is trust. Building trust with your teachers is not only about providing feedback and resources—it’s about building authentic relationships. Yesterday, during a presentation with district and school-level administrators and teachers, we discussed how trust is built through genuine connections, and I was reminded…
Read moreLeading with Purpose: Creating Meaningful Goals for Students, Teachers, and Parents
After years of creating school goals that were mostly focused on ELA and math—and admittedly, just to check the box—I realized something crucial: unless the goals are specific to a department, subject area, grade, teacher, or even individual students, they aren’t very meaningful. That year, we decided to become a goal-centered school, where every part of…
Read moreSaying One Thing, Doing Another: A Constructivism vs. Instructivism Dilemma
I recently had an eye-opening conversation with an educational colleague in Brazil that left me reflecting deeply on our teaching practices. During our discussion, he shared an interesting yet concerning reality about Brazilian schools. According to him, Brazilian schools are supposed to be practicing constructivism—an educational philosophy that emphasizes student-centered learning, hands-on activities, and collaborative problem-solving. The…
Read moreManaging vs. Micromanaging: A Lesson in Effective School Leadership
When I first transitioned into a leadership role, I was fortunate to be part of a unique leadership structure that our principal called a “triad.” This structure included the principal, assistant principal, and lead teacher working together to run the school. It wasn’t just a title—each of us had responsibilities that allowed us to collaborate,…
Read morePrioritizing Teachers’ Social-Emotional Health
We often talk about meeting the social-emotional needs of our students, but what about our teachers? 💙 Supporting the well-being of educators is just as important! After all, how can teachers pour into their students if their own emotional cups are empty? Creating a school culture that prioritizes teachers’ social-emotional health not only benefits educators…
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