Joseph V. Erardi Jr. served as superintendent of Newtown Public Schools in Connecticut from 2014 until his retirement in August. During his tenure, the district implemented NaviGate Prepared as a component of a broad safety and security initiative undertaken in the aftermath of the 2012 tragedy there. Talk about preparation versus prevention when it comes […]

An innovative arts program in Connecticut allows students to study art alongside visiting Chinese students and collaborate in ways that allow a deeper appreciation for art from both cultures. The 2-year-old program is run by a magnet high school in New Haven, the Area Cooperative Educational Services Educational Center for the Arts (ACES ECA), which […]

Over a span of two years, Warren Township Schools in Warren, New Jersey, first hired a new superintendent and then replaced the principal at Warren Middle School. Both came from other districts. While Matt Mingle is the K8 district’s third superintendent in roughly seven years, George Villar succeeded a principal who retired after 23 years […]

Sensory rooms not only help students with special needs feel more comfortable and empowered in the classroom, they may also keep them in their neighborhood schools, according to K12 administrators. The carefully designed rooms may include dim lights to help students who are sensitive to light, weighted blankets to give them comfort or a swing […]

District leaders and experts weigh in on the four steps to having a successful intervention. – Plan ahead. Every system drifts. Perform regular audits of your intervention system. “If you want to have any initiative survive, you need to plan forward.” — Jim Wright, author and RtI trainer Link to main story: Intervention strategies evolve […]

More than a decade after Response-to-Intervention and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) took root on school campuses across the country, multi-tier strategies have become the standard for identifying and assisting struggling students. Yet, the way educators use these and similar systems continues to evolve. Educators now understand far more about the neuroscience of learning […]

Leo Brehm, learning evolution officer at Central Massachusetts Collaborative, has identified four components of the agile start-up mentality required for innovation: Teaming: Identify essential people for a project and quickly determine one another’s expertise so the team can work together productively. Psychological safety: Create an environment where people feel comfortable that they can share ideas […]

Before this new school year started, the Hartford Union High School District in Wisconsin wanted to hire a tech expert to oversee the district’s network. But a well-qualified candidate, who had been working for a healthcare company, wanted $20,000 more in salary than the district was willing to pay. “It took my breath away” says […]