More on Bullying

Posted on March 21, 2023 Written by

Bullying between students can take many forms (including cyberbullying). Unfortunately, many studies suggest that this problem has gotten worse post-pandemic.

One of the best ways to counter bullying is to teach students how to appropriately intervene in instances of bullying, and how to support one another with strategies that play to their individual strengths. We discuss that in depth in my Physical Environment of Schools course … but there are also several great videos on bullying mitigation on the StopBullying.gov site.

In addition, this Antidote to Bullying article (EL magazine, 02/01/23), by education professors Fisher and Frey, shares the latest research on this topic. It also includes a “show and tell” video of an anti-bullying exercise.

Learning how to respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior can change your school culture. And over time, that can greatly reduce the incidence of bullying.

For more on this topic, go to the “Bullying” section under the “Other” header.

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Hybrid Learning Study

Posted on March 7, 2023 Written by

There were some interesting findings in a Hybrid Instruction study that came out last month. The authors examined Hybrid Instruction in nine states, and based on what they found, they offer some strong recommendations about what works best when face-to-face instruction isn’t possible.

If you’re an acting principal or superintendent, this background information could be very useful for future decision-making. Although the COVID crisis seems to over and most states are back to face-to-face instruction, who knows what tomorrow might bring? Legislation on this issue has swung back and forth over the past few years, and some even suggested that hybrid instruction might be a solution for the national teacher shortage. So as with most issues, it’s always best to be prepared with data from reputable studies.

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Principal Retention

Posted on February 21, 2023 Written by

Getting (and keeping) good principals is increasingly difficult these days. This five-year study shows that despite what some believe, salaries are far from the only issue. The study also offers some clear take-aways how districts can do a better job of keeping excellent administrators.

While many of you have already experienced some of the issues addressed in this article, it might be useful to share with your superintendent so that they can share it with your school board. It offers solid research support for what most of us already know.

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Building Community

Posted on February 7, 2023 Written by

In our last post, David Arencibia (one of three finalists for NASSP “Principal of the Year”) talked about the importance of setting high standards and establishing a culture of FUN.

Another finalist, Donna Hayward, addresses an equally important aspect of school culture … building a sense of community and family. In this Smart Brief article , she describes her school’s journey and offers several ideas worth emulating.

One of Hayward’s biggest goals this year has been “supporting teachers who are pretty tired, pretty fried,” and letting them know that self-care is vital and that they’re among friends who can relate. The importance of a sense of community should never be underestimated. In her words, “One step at a time, we’ll get through it together!” She believes that this attitude has been a key component in significantly improving outcomes for the students, teachers, and staff at her school.

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