I’m unsure if it’s because I’ve been in the classroom for 17 years or if I’ve made the choice to take on leadership roles, but I am often asked, “When are you going to become an administrator?” I always laugh.
Read MoreLogical Steps Through Darkness: The Path Toward #NBCT
Are you working on National Board Certification or coaching NB candidates? I have this little mantra that’s become a good friend over the years. I want to share it with you and tell you what it means to me: Logical
Read MoreHow do YOU build a teacher army?
5:00 am BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! There goes the alarm clock, I haven’t heard it in two weeks. Christmas break is over, the new year has begun, and it’s time to get back in the routine of school. 5:15-6:15 am I’m
Read MoreRearview Mirror
Let’s be perfectly honest, reflection at any time of the year is hard, let alone in the moment or in real time. This is especially true as the year winds to a close. In schools, we witness and experience extreme
Read MoreAll I Want for Christmas: A Teacher’s Legislative Wishlist
Even though I’m listening to Wham’s “Last Christmas” for the third time today, I know the Ghost of Christmas Future looms right around the corner – for January brings the beginning of the Arizona legislative session. I’ve written before about
Read MoreRaising Digital Citizens
The layers of irony in the 1998 film You’ve Got Mail are numerous, but most overt is that the hit-you-over-the-head motif in the film is that the characters all use technology yet smite it. Technology will end society as we
Read MoreResponding To Not So Nice Emails
Chances are, you have been on the receiving end of an email from a parent, a colleague, or someone else that is less than kind. I‘ve worked with many teachers who need help responding to these emails and I’ve devised
Read MoreThankful for Yes
“Hey, are you willing to try something in your classroom?” “Can I come in your class and test something out with your students?” “I just read about a really intriguing strategy, will you read it and see what you think?”
Read MoreSpreading Kindness
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. -Dr. Maya Angelou Think about the emails you get as part of the school staff every day. Now, think about the emails you send every
Read MoreBonds and Overrides and the Public, Oh My!
As a busy teacher/advocate, I am careful to whom I rent space in my head, meaning, I don’t perseverate about things outside my control as much as I did as a newer teacher. Angry parents don’t phase me anymore. Administrative
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