Leadership

Why do schools struggle?

In a previous post, Frederick Douglass shared insights on the importance of struggling. Now, I’d like to share 2 pressures that cause nonproductive struggles in schools…and...

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Leading As Yourself

Work personality, work demeanor, work mindset, workwear, work friends, work, work, work. Where are you? Sure there are clear lines between personal and professional. However, where...

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Systems Thinking in the Principal’s Office

Often we refer to systems in RTI or systems for data collection and analysis, however, we don’t often hear about systems thinking in the principal’s office...

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Look Past the Data

Sometimes looking at data is the wrong path to finding a solution. Sometimes you must look past the data to envision a new reality. Case in...

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It’s Okay to Lose

10 students enter a competition, one wins. 20 teams start a tournament, one wins. 500 schools apply for a grant, one wins. If you compete, odds...

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Finding Mistakes

When editing my writing, I love finding mistakes. A mistake is one step closer to excellence. The same is probably true in all aspects of life...

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Mistake Made Us Better

In this conversation, Elisabeth Bostwick, Chris Chappotin, Jon-Eric Ziaer, and Chris Legleiter share mistakes they made and lessons they learned from their experiences leading learning. Topics...

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Good Enough Continuum

The trap of perfectionism is on the same continuum as the trap of laziness. Basic dictionary definitions from Google state: “Perfectionism: refusal to accept any standard...

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A Carpenter’s Belt for Principals

I remember growing up as my childhood home was being built. I loved watching the carpenters walk around constructing the walls and the cabinetry. They were...

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The Right Words

It’s not always the right motive or the right ideas that are needed. Sometimes it’s simply the right words spoken at the right time. Leadership is...

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Questions a Great Manager Asks

…and principals too. Because you are the manager of the school, and no, manager is not a bad word. How was your weekend? Would you like...

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Management, Unlike Leadership

In yesterday’s episode, A Brief History of Management, I posed a series of questions without providing answers. I’d like to offer a few bullets to encourage...

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10 Obstacle Tackling Traits

In yesterday’s post, I shared 10 obstacles teachers face that limit their effectiveness and productivity. Here’s the list of 10 school leadership traits that take away...

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Thorns and Dams

Even the smallest thorn can stop the strongest runner. It’s a pain deep in a shoe that really can’t be ignored. The largest dams are massive...

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When Leaders Connect

We marvel at the tight-rope walker because she’s all alone. She’s way up there with no support. She’s centimeters away from a dangerous fall. We marvel....

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