While online curricula platforms have propelled personalized learning to new levels, Coppell ISD in north Texas takes the concepts a step further. Using IBM's MobileFirst iPad app, teachers tap into the internet of things to instantly see all the data collected throughout the school year on any student in class, including test scores, homework and […]
When the central Connecticut town of Cheshire moved to reduce power use, it upgraded six of its eight public schools with the latest internet of things technology. The plan combined energy-efficient LED fixtures with sensors and cloud-based servers that automatically turn the lights off in an empty room or adjust brightness. The district cut its […]
Many districts across the country struggle with increasing demographic homogeneity more than 60 years after the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. But the Morris School District in northern New Jersey has been hailed as a model for successful integration, in part due to its community's affordable housing and teacher […]
With the U.S. Department of Education doling out billions of dollars to promote diversity and to support low-income schools in 2017, administrators across the country are also working to better serve students of all backgrounds, abilities and interests. Two annual conferences this spring—the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the National Science Teachers […]
Susan German is a science teacher at Hallsville Middle School in the Hallsville School District, northeast of Columbia, Missouri. German, named the NSTA's distinguished teacher in 2011, teaches eighth-grade science. During her 20-year career, German has taught science and math in grades 6 through 12. We asked her for words of wisdom. Q: What do […]
As superintendent of the Franklin County Public Schools, I am always pleased when our programs successfully support our mission, which is "To prepare students for college and career readiness and to become contributing citizens." While we certainly cannot force our students to succeed in school or in life, we certainly can work to prepare them—to […]
Think back to what made you successful in college and career. In my case, what comes to mind are the ability to think critically, ask deep questions and apply lessons from the classroom to real-world settings. These are all so-called 21st century skills that are increasingly essential for children to learn—and to use as a […]
Editor's note: DA's new HR column will appear quarterly There is a kind of professional development that we rarely see but that many of us in school leadership could use. Some would call it coaching or mentoring, but what I'm describing is more specific—individualized instruction in an alternative setting off campus. I had just such […]
More than 10 years ago, when she was in sixth grade and her mother was incarcerated, Alisha Murdock skipped classes, fought with other students, got suspended and missed so much school she had to repeat the grade. Murdock says no one at school reached out to help, and she doesn't want today's students to face […]
Barely 5 miles from the hustle and bustle of LaGuardia Airport in Queens, students at John Browne High School in Flushing are plowing and tilling a field, tending to chickens and picking apples to sell. While John Browne is the only New York City high school with a dedicated agriculture department, many other urban schools—such […]
