Turning around a low-performing school is no easy task – and sustaining that turnaround over the years to come can be just as challenging. In this video, teachers and school leaders from Evergreen Elementary School in Spanaway, Washington explain how the implementation of a “No Excuses” model helped them improve and sustain their success over Read More
Village Oaks Elementary School Novi, Michigan Building School Culture by Leading with HEART. One of the most challenging tasks for any new principal is creating school culture, particularly when a strong culture already exists. This podcast walks you through the process Principal Alexander Ofili used at Village Oaks Elementary School in Novi, MI, to do Read More
Sierra Expeditionary Learning School Truckee, CA In 2008, in a small town in northern California, a dozen or so parents of preschoolers started dreaming about a different kind of elementary school and chartered SELS—the Sierra Expeditionary Learning School, in Truckee, California in March 2010. This podcast features Kim Bradley, a founding parent and current board Read More
Game Changer tells the story of struggling White Street School in Springfield, MA, where “demographics” had been the steady explanation for low student achievement. Families were reluctant to send their children to a school were only 4% of fifth graders scored Proficient in any subject. In 2010, the State Education Department had singled the school Read More
The seven 2015 Bell awardees for Outstanding Leadership generously devoted some of their time at the ceremony to share the experiences as school leaders. Five video interviews include an introduction to the seven principals; they offer their definitions of the term leadership; they recall a moment when they “got” the essence of their work; and Read More
With experience as a successful administrator and knowledge of the research, Principal Victor has strong opinions about what makes a school good for teaching and learning. Faculty members understand and support her vision, generating very low turnover rates over the years. Principal Victor’s distributed leadership model gives teachers numerous opportunities to contribute to discussions of Read More
Pompano Beach is a school where, in the words of then-principal David Gordon, “It’s okay to be smarter.” Principal Gordon, magnet coordinator Bill Bankowski, and students and teachers describe some of the practices that make this relatively small (1260 students) high school the one where top colleges and universities come to recruit scholars and scientists. Read More
St. Mary’s teachers are drawn less by money than dedication to students and the school’s collaborative culture. Beginning teachers are paid on par with the public schools but the salary scale for veteran (more than 10 years) teachers is at least 20% lower. St. Mary’s employs highly qualified veteran teachers part-time through a uniquely flexible Read More
Although Principal Crawford’s leadership is a finely tuned blend of knowledge, disposition, and skills, she credits her success to her ability to “get the right people on the bus.” She knows that Sherwood’s success depends on the staff’s collective capacity to get the job done – whatever it takes. Professionals are drawn to Sherwood for Read More
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