By Date
Rebirth of the Great American School System
David Kirp, author of the new book, Improbable Scholars: The Rebirth of a Great American School System and a Strategy for America's Schools, joins us to talk about the remarkable success of the public school system in Union City, NJ and how that success can serve as a model for every school district to improve schools and close achievement gaps. Continue
Responding to Principal Stress and Job Complexity
free According to the latest MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 75% of public school principals believe their jobs have become too complex, 50% feel under great stress several days a week, and job satisfaction is declining. To address these issues … Continue
The Opportunity Culture: Extending Great Teaching
Research shows that, on average, students who have the best teachers make about three times more progress than students who have the least effective teachers. Bryan Hassel, co-director of Public Impact, joins us to explain how to create an Opportunity Culture in schools, where the excellent teachers are able to reach many more students and these teachers are rewarded with higher pay within the existing budget. Continue
Understanding Student Rights in Schools
Bryan Warnick, author of the book, Understanding Student Rights in Schools, joins us to talk about speech, religion and privacy in an educational setting and why it’s important for school leaders to look at these rights with more emphasis on how they can be used to teach students valuable educational lessons. Continue
Addressing the “Boy Crisis”
Boys are 30% more likely than girls to flunk or drop out of school and are almost twice as likely to repeat a grade. Boys also lag girls in many meaningful indicators of academic achievement. Kelley King, a veteran school leader who has successfully led her own school to close this gender gap, joins us to talk about the brain-based differences between boys and girls. Continue
Unlocking the Doors to Top Teacher Performance
Improving school performance begins with school leaders who are motivated instructional leaders, but it won’t get far without teachers who are also highly engaged. So how do you get your teachers to become engaged? Award-winning principal and leadership expert Cathie … Continue
Evaluating America’s Teachers
As teacher evaluation becomes a reality around the country, all school leaders must address a fundamental concern: what do sound teacher evaluation practices actually look like? What does it take to provide balanced, accurate and rigorous evaluations that take into … Continue
Education 3.0
In today’s global economy, the workplace consists of people working in small groups to creatively solve problems with digital information tools, often collaborating with colleagues half way around the globe. Renowned educator and technology expert James Lengel, author of the … Continue
The Principal Mentoring Process
free Dr. Christine Mason provides an introduction to the process of principal mentoring in this segment and explains what a high quality mentoring program looks like. She also discusses how mentoring supports new or novice leaders and even experienced principals. Continue
Making the Case for Principal Mentoring
free With high-stakes accountability and the ever-increasing demands placed on school leaders, the job of the principal has become more difficult than it's ever been. Kathleen Sciarappa joins us to make the case for principal mentoring – what it is, why it's needed, and how it can help both new and experienced principals. Continue
5 Tools for Principals to Increase Rigor
How can school leaders make higher expectations for all students a reality? It begins with making the classroom a far more rigorous place. Barbara Blackburn, an authority on rigor, joins us to provide her insights into the topic this month. Continue
Stop Looking in the Traditional Places for Budget Savings
Nate Levenson, author of the book, Smarter Budgets, Smarter Schools, joins us to talk about how schools need to start thinking differently when it comes to budgets and discusses the big opportunities in three budget areas that tend to get the least amount of scrutiny in most districts. Continue
Inspiring the Next Generation of School Leaders
The role of the principal is more critical than ever to the success of education and there is a real need for school systems to identify, attract and retain new principals who are strong leaders and understand teaching and learning. Melissa Patschke, a twenty-five year veteran of public education, joins us to discuss how current school leaders can inspire and encourage the next generation of principals. Continue
3 Ways to Help “Loners” and Improve School Safety
After the recent tragedy in Newtown, CT many school leaders may wonder if some of the adolescents in their buildings are capable of similar acts. Dr. Nancy Rappaport, a child psychiatrist and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, joins us to talk about "loners," and explain why it's imperative that schools reach out and support these shy, socially awkward students. Continue
A School Leader’s Guide to Improving Teacher Quality
Candi McKay, author of the new book, You Don't Have to Be Bad to Get Better: A Leader's Guide to Improving Teacher Quality, joins us to discuss how to bring out the best in teachers through strong instructional leadership, and to talk about the role that school leaders need to play if we are to create and sustain a learning environment where all students can succeed. Continue
Social Media for School Leaders
Brian Dixon, author of Social Media for School Leaders, joins us to talk about how social media plays an essential role in helping school leaders to keep students, teachers, and the entire school community engaged in the educational process. Continue
The Multiplier Effect: Tapping the Genius Inside Our Schools
An interview with Liz Wiseman and Elise Foster
Why are some school leaders able to double their team’s effectiveness, while others seem to drain the energy right out of the room? To explore that question, and talk about how to bring out the best in your colleagues and staff, we’re joined this month by Liz Wiseman and Elise Foster, co-authors of the new book, The Multiplier Effect: Tapping the Genius Inside Our Schools. Continue
Responding to Adult Bullying in Schools
When adult bullying occurs in schools, the results can be corrosive and demoralizing. Kathleen Sciarappa, an award-winning former principal with over 26 years of experience as a school leader, joins us to talk about adult bullying in schools, how it impacts the climate of the whole school, and offers a variety of suggestions for dealing with the problem. Continue
Cage-Busting Leadership
An interview with Frederick Hess
Frederick Hess, author of the new book, Cage-Busting Leadership, joins us this month to talk about how counterproductive rules and red tape act to constrain school leaders and why the traditional schoolhouse culture can "cage" leaders and hinder school reform efforts. Hess believes school leaders at all levels have a lot more leeway to make transformational changes than they may think, and in this interview he explains how leaders can take on the status quo to great effect. Continue
Dealing with Anxiety in Children
One in eight children suffer from anxiety disorders and without intervention, they're at risk for poor performance, diminished learning, and social and behavioral problems in school. Jessica Minahan explains how anxiety affects students and how school leaders and teachers can respond. Continue