How do you grow student resiliency?

Equity = Safety > Belonging > Achievement The new year started with hope and enthusiasm.  Then, from day one transportation was a challenge.  Lunch was a challenge.  Classroom behavior was a challenge.  No, it wasn’t COVID. Unknowingly, we had tripped trauma triggers for dozens of students. For years, we planned to combine two schools.  An…

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Teachable Point of View

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True North – Your Teachable Point of View What do you say when you don’t know what to say? One of the best leadership hacks is knowing your north star – the compass you steer by.  What are your core values?  What will remain stable no matter what?  Choose your words carefully … and then…

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More to read … Equity … and Crisis Leadership

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More … to Read THREE timely sections of great reads this month: Current Books ♦ Equity ♦ Crisis Leadership. A brief note about what I found compelling in each. CURRENT Reads:                                     Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done by Charlie Gilkey  | 2019 How to ideas on setting up projects.  No more than 5 big…

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Decision Making in Uncertain Times

Decision Making in Uncertain Times Education depends on tradition.  Making change is hard work and time consuming.  As one famous quote says “Change has as its enemy all those who have done well under the old system and has as lukewarm friends those who might do well under the new.” Reopening School With COVID-19, change…

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Connect and Communicate

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Connect, Connect, Connect In uncertain times connect OFTEN … even when you feel like you have nothing to say.  In times of change everyone is uncertain, on edge, fearful.  If you don’t communicate, rumors will run rampant. But what do I say, when everything seems to be changing daily? Three phrases to use often ……

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Keep looking up!

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Communicate Hope in multiple ways to multiple audiences  Leaders, in crisis and under stress, often retreat to dominate traits. Personality inventories (there are many) often divide the world into four “types.” Each type respond differently – especially when we retreat to our preferred safe zone..  Use, True Colors One of the personality inventories, for example,…

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Graduation Gains – One district’s success

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Federal Way’s success with continuous improvement: An Interview with Superintendent Tammy Campbell Dr. Tammy Campbell became superintendent of Federal Way Public Schools in 2015. Federal Way, located 25 miles south of Seattle, serves 23,000 students in one of the most diverse districts in the nation.  Graduation rates have risen from 76% to 87% with significant gains…

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Leading Racial Equity

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Leading Racial Equity Moving from courageous conversations to courageous leadership. Much of our equity work in schools has focused on courageous conversations, popularized by Glenn Singleton and others.  As leaders we can and must go much further.  Yes, we should encourage our staff to have courageous conversations about race and equity.  More to the point,…

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Leading in Crisis

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Leading in Crisis We are living in unprecedented times.  Due to COVID-19, virtually all school buildings in America are closed.  School leaders are called upon to sort out untold new ways of doing school.  School lunches.  Distance learning. Day care. Special Education.  Union rules.  New technology platforms.  And at the same time, district leaders are…

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How to Lead When it Matters Most

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Book Review: You’re IT by Leonard Marcus … You’re IT: Crisis, Change and How to Lead When it Matters Most This book is chock full of good leadership, and so appropriate for these uncertain times.  The book grew out of crisis. What went well – and not so well – after national crises like 9/11,…

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