Nine Key Questions

Posted on February 4, 2025 Written by

As the second half of the school year begins, it’s not too early to begin thinking about next school year and what you can do to increase your school’s impact.

Here’s are nine key questions from the business world that can help you focus on constituent expectations, external forces that may change those expectations, and identifying risks that may be within your control. (As you read through this article, just change “customers” to “constituents” … the parents, teachers, students, and everyone else your school serves.)

Asking these questions now has the potential to provide a fresh perspective on your school’s future as you look ahead.

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Leadership Body Language?

Posted on January 21, 2025 Written by

Researchers tell us that a staggering 93% of communication is nonverbal, with body language alone accounting for 55% of the message we convey. So as a leader, your physical presence often speaks volumes before you even utter a word. 

A recent article in Forbes magazine outlined the seven key elements of leadership body language. Since nonverbal cues significantly shape perception, mastering body language can be a valuable tool for any leader striving to make a lasting impact.

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Leading in Stressful Times

Posted on January 7, 2025 Written by

As we begin this new year, it’s no secret that many of your team members are dealing with significant stress for a variety of reasons … evolving home situations, a volatile political climate, job security concerns, tightening budgets, and much more. With all these major pressures (both internal and external), you may be wondering, “What’s the most effective way to lead in these challenging times?”

As noted in Psychology Today, there will always be internal and external stressors that impact our people and their work … and many of those stressors are beyond a leader’s control. But here are four specific tips that can help you lead from a place of clarity, consistency, and kindness. And when that is done effectively and consistently, then the outcomes and the culture will follow.

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Update: The 4-Day School Week

Posted on December 17, 2024 Written by

It’s been over two years since I’ve written about the 4-Day School Week. As we’ve discussed before (see here and here and here), shifting to a four-day week is a popular trend that has been sweeping the country.

It’s important to note, however, that this change still primarily reflects local preferences rather than reputable research, and it seems to focus more on the perceived benefits rather than on improving student learning. I discussed this in detail (with references) in the February 16, 2022 post.

So what’s the latest on this trend?

EdSurge just posted a fascinating summary that delves deeply into what’s happening with these movements across the country. While the policy has proven popular and does appear to have helped some districts retain staff, the studies reveal mixed effects on student achievement. And many experts say that increasing teacher pay is a much more effective solution than shortening the school week. The article also highlighted a number of other important factors that schools should consider if they’re thinking about switching to a four-day week.

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