What a New Teacher Wants (and Needs)

What a New Teacher Wants (and Needs)

  This summer, I've hired two new teachers for positions in our school, while interviewing many others who were applying for their first teaching position. I've been thinking a lot…
Little Plastic Green Soldiers

Little Plastic Green Soldiers

  Often when I’m sitting through interviews for a teaching position, administrators will describe a candidate as being green. Now if you look up the meaning of the word when…
My Best Hiring Advice

My Best Hiring Advice

  I frequently have the opportunity to speak with aspiring teachers, and I try to share some advice about the hiring process. Trying to land that first teaching position can…
Drive-Thru Meetings

Drive-Thru Meetings

  Sometimes, you have information to share with staff that doesn’t require a full meeting. It might be sharing a packet of resources or digital resources, having staff review and…
The Quicker Picker Upper

The Quicker Picker Upper

  School’s out for summer. While students and teachers are home enjoying well-deserved rest and relaxation, school administrators are still at work. Of course, it’s much more quiet during the…
Road Trip

Road Trip

  I’ve hit the road this week with my oldest daughter to visit college campuses. 4 days. 4 schools. 2 hotel rooms. 1 minor league baseball game thrown in for…
Accountability and Discomfort

Accountability and Discomfort

I have found a shift over the years since I’ve been in education in whether parents are willing to hold their children accountable for their actions. Maybe this is because…
Listen to Every Song

Listen to Every Song

  Before the days of downloading, Napster, iTunes, and streaming, I had a Walkman. A big yellow one. And every morning before I got on my bus, I had to…
What’s it for?

What’s it for?

  In The Practice, Seth Godin writes: We have a meeting at 4:00pm. Okay, what’s it for? Well, we always have this meeting… So the ‘what’s-it-for’ is: It’s easier to…
1000 Words of Summer

1000 Words of Summer

  A little while ago, I stumbled across the book 1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round by Jami Attenberg. The book is…