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One in five students between the ages of 12 and 18 suffer bullying, as face-to-face harassment moves behind the anonymity of online attacks, according to federal estimates.
"There are success stories of our students and staff each day that need to be shared," says Superintendent Josh Reitz of McHenry School District 15. "There are strategic plans that need to be carefully conveyed and feedback that we need from people to improve them. There are areas of confusion that need clarity and important resources or information that might be unknown to others which we need to shed light on."
District Administration's "Get on Board" series allows superintendents and other experts to share ideas for creating and maintaining productive relationships with school board members.
Principal Nikol Youngberg says establishing a welcoming and nurturing climate for students is not a cliche—it's her "why" for being an educator and for leading Flour Bluff Primary & Elementary Schools in Texas.
Districts in New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana and North Carolina part with superintendents who were at various stages of their careers. But several notable new hires also occurred.
Students returned to classrooms at Hazelbrook Middle School in Tualatin last week after a video of a violent student attack went viral last week, followed by threats to the school that led administrators to send students home Friday and close school through Monday.
"It forces collaboration between social studies, math, English and science teachers," explains Superintendent John Dignan of Wayne-Westland Community Schools, about embedding interventions into core instruction. "They're working together and our kids are getting the medicine they need—it's not just about remediation, it's about acceleration."
At the beginning of each year, Pandora Mike introduces herself in the Navajo language to ask students, nearly all of whom identify as Native American, if they are also members of her family clans. "Those who raise their hands, I let them know 'I am your grandmother,'" Mike explains."'From here on,' I say, 'if you see me in the hallway, you can call me Grandma."
Over 36,000 voters have signed petitions to kick board President Rick Ledesma and member Madison Miner out of office for quietly firing Superintendent Gunn Marie Hansen over winter break.
