Inside the Trenches of the Principal: Week 5
For years now, I imagined what I would say the first time I stepped in front of my staff as a principal. I had the chance this week, and while I’ll leave what I said as a secret between my…
Inside the Trenches of the Principal: Week 4
Week 4 is in the books, and another busy week it was. This week was highlighted by a “Meet the Principal Night” at a local restaurant, where families were able to pop in and say hi to me and the…
Inside the Trenches of the Principal: Week 3
Over 17 hours, 34 teachers and many conversations later, I now have a much better feeling on who the people are on the bus at Moore Magnet ES. I had the pleasure of listening to personal stories, dreams and wishes,…
Inside the Trenches as a Principal: Week 2
This past week can be summed up in one word: humbled. I have interacted and worked alongside many principals over my career in a number of capacities. But ultimately, I was never the principal at the moment. This past week…
Inside the Trenches: Being a Principal – Week 1
July 17, 2017, 12:30PM Ms. Smith, the outgoing principal at Moore Magnet puts the master key into my hand. And I stood there for a second, frozen. I was officially principal. I had dreamed of that moment for a long…
Rethinking Morning Work
The days of being an elementary school student, walking into class in the morning, completing a worksheet silently, and pulling out a book to read when you’re done are over. Wait. No they’re not. This age old practice continues in…
17 for ’17
For the past two years (2015 & 2016), I have created teacher “bucket lists” that offer challenges for you to try out in the New Year! Sticking with tradition, may I present to you the 17 for ’17: 1) Give…
Dear Black Friends,
I’m sorry this has happened again. For the second time in two days, and for the umpteenth time over the past few years, we have witnessed (and in the most recent cases watched live) the senseless shooting of innocent Black…
What is “College Readiness”?
Embedded into our society and schools today is an expectation to prepare students for “college and career.” It can be seen in the standards that are taught and in the legislation that is passed. For a long time, the concept…
5-minute PDs
Professional Developments can be tiring – for the presenter and the audience member! In the rapid, time-is-of-the-essence society we live in now, we need to rethink how we are distributing and acquiring information. For my final assignment for my Wake…
