When Wicomico County Public Schools implemented common core state standards six years ago, complaints from parents rolled in regarding challenging homework assignments. "Parents did not understand so they couldn't help their children" explains Julie Dill, elementary math supervisor for the 15,000-student district on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Then came Everyday Mathematics 4, a comprehensive […]
Donald Fennoy now leads the School District of Palm Beach County in Florida, the 10th largest district in the U.S. Fennoy has prioritized upgrading security, improving third-grade reading skills and increasing teacher pay, among other goals. He previously supervised transportation, maintenance and planning as the district's chief operating officer. Superintendent Tiffany Anderson of Topeka Public […]
Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida, made headlines for their articulate arguments for gun control after a February shooting at their school left 17 dead. Their eloquence and activism did not come as a surprise to district leaders: Broward County Public Schools operates a systemwide debate program in more than two dozen […]
A study from Harris Interactive revealed that 89 percent of teachers think edtech improves student outcomes, but only 14 percent of teachers use digital curricula weekly. A major reason for this is teacher unfamiliarity and discomfort with technology. As a result, many teachers are forced into using technology they are unfamiliar or uncomfortable using. Administrators […]
School district administrators hate it when they stumble across closets full of unused computing devices or visit classrooms where whiteboards are being used as very expensive chalkboards. Technology leaders at Dysart USD in the Phoenix suburbs had real-world experience with this phenomenon and were determined to make changes, says Diana Hawari, chief information officer. "Buying […]
Whether it results from misinformation, staff complaints or faculty disagreements about new policies, all districts face employee issues. Some have learned better than others how to address problems early, before they erupt. "In large districts, there's more opportunity for a communication breakdown" says Jeff Filloon, HR director at Chandler USD in Arizona. "Most problems can […]
Pressure to raise achievement test scores has become the driving force behind what is taught and how. Worse, the results from these tests reveal only a fraction of the overall picture of whether students are learning—and whether teachers are effective in their jobs, says Daniel Koretz. As one of the nation's foremost experts on education […]
Today's more sophisticated visitor management systems allow K12 leaders to get a better handle on who's trying to enter (or leave) their buildings—including tardy students. Lobby kiosks can perform automated and instant background checks, screen guests, and issue badges. This process can immediately identify registered sex offenders and alert staff to parental custody issues, among […]
Striving to ensure the implementation of best practices that support all learners is critical to academic achievement for diverse populations. Dearborn Schools is committed to ensuring that all students reach academic success. With a population of 20,907 of which 50 percent are English learners (several refugees and newcomer students), 8 percent special education and approximately […]
Student success starts at the building level. Can you talk about the influence of the building culture as an "experience" generated by teachers and other certified staff? When you build culture and experience, you must also consider creating a positive organizational climate. From a student's perspective, successful schools have a defined culture based on a […]
