Five Ways to Drive Change

Posted on April 1, 2025 Written by

Being a change agent is hard work! But successful change agents can help their organizations become both more effective (focused on the right things) and more efficient (maximizing time and resources). 

In this article, management expert Paul Thorntan offers five suggestions that can help you better navigate the messy business of effective change. Properly applied, these simple concepts can help you create the kind of positive momentum that leads to a highly successful program and lasting change.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged: , , , ,

Nine Rules to Correct Culture

Posted on March 18, 2025 Written by

Here’s a fascinating article from the business world about “fixing” a distorted corporate culture. In many ways, it’s essentially an expansion of the “You can lead a horse to water, but …” mantra that we’ve all heard before, but with specific tips on getting that horse to drink!

Executive coach, Art Petty, posits that in struggling organizations (or in our case, schools), we should never assume that the culture is broken. Instead, we need to realize that it’s simply been distorted … possibly by poor leadership or flawed decisions. And the job of any new leader is to respect and leverage the existing culture, not to “fix” it by attempting to force immediate change.

Creating a supportive, effective school culture takes time. But by focusing on key issues and leading by example, you can move your school culture towards a climate of renewal and positive growth.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged: , , ,

Strong Relationships Drive Change!

Posted on February 18, 2025 Written by

Successful change initiatives depend on strong relationships. This blog post (from a Director of Curriculum and Instruction in New York) offers three tips for fostering relational change.

And while these tips seem obvious, we often fail to apply these guidelines to our change work. Ultimately, we must recognize that change is rarely a solo experience, and act accordingly. Because others are involved in the process, great leaders are constantly aware of their colleagues wants, needs, challenges, and worries. This relational focus helps us embrace change for what it truly is … a necessary part of life.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged: , , ,

Improve Attendance!

Posted on July 16, 2024 Written by

In the post-pandemic era, many schools face major challenges with chronic absenteeism. But this ASCD Blog article suggests that using strategies that teach, reinforce, and support students in meeting attendance goals can lead to a significant transformational change.

Of course, changing the culture of attendance in a school requires a collaborative effort among staff, families, and the broader community. But making the shift from a punitive to a proactive approach can greatly reduce chronic absences.

Note: A recent poll found that many parents simply don’t understand the seriousness of chronic absences. That highlights both the problem and the solutions suggested above.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged: , , , ,