Episode 129: The Rock Star Principals’ Podcast

Listen here at 8 AM today! The boys dig back into the archives for an interview with renowned author, Mike Schmoker, who wrote the famous education book, “focus.“ The lessons from this interview are applicable right now as schools prepare to begin a new year during a pandemic which is forcing educators to reevaluate how …

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Episode 128

Episode 127: The Rock Star Principals’ Podcast

School starts (or has started) imminently and the time has come to stop admiring the problem and start finding solutions. This week, Jon and Nick talk about the latest developments around the country regarding COVID-19, provide two important “RSP Lessons for Starting the 2020-2021 School Year,” and denounce the politicizing of the school reopening issue. Link …

“Do You See Me?” The Power of Student Connections

https://blog.nassp.org/2019/02/06/do-you-see-me-the-power-of-student-connections/ Positive connections between students, teachers, administrators, and school community lead to academic success and a balanced education. To reach their potential, it is integral that children connect to at least one person in their school community. This connection needs to exist within a safe and stable environment, providing opportunities for these relationships to strengthen …

Pushing the Pendulum

It was the spring of 1992 and there was no doubt about it; I was going to change the world. I had just walked out the door of Millersville University with my bachelor’s degree in one hand and my special education certificate, hot off the presses from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, in the other. Kris …

Share Your Passion with Students: School-Wide Clubs

https://blog.nassp.org/2019/02/20/share-your-passion-with-students-school-wide-clubs/ A maximal learning environment cannot exist without students feeling safe and connected with their teacher in the classroom. But teachers quickly get caught up with the demands of covering curriculum and meeting mandates. Most times, it is easier to conform to the system instead of infusing our individual personalities into our school lives. When …

Building Positive School Culture Through Service Activities

https://blog.nassp.org/2019/04/17/building-positive-school-culture-through-service-activities/ Middle level students are at a crucial age, consciously developing their identities while trying to understand how they fit in with their peers. Teachers, administrators, and staff have the opportunity to provide a compass for students navigating these difficult times. As middle level students develop their sense of self, they often begin looking for …

Most Improved: Our Journey With Student Awards and Recognition

https://blog.nassp.org/2019/05/29/most-improved-our-journey-with-student-awards-and-recognition/ When I became principal at Downingtown Middle School, it surprised me to find a heavy emphasis on end-of-year academic awards. At the end of the year, a student could win eight different awards simply for making honor roll. Over 80 percent of the student body qualified for honor roll. Each of those awards were …

The Capstone Project: How One Middle School Replaced Final Exams with Authentic Learning

The Data-Driven RaceAs school administrators continue to find ways to balance attempts to educate the whole child with demonstrating progress on high-stakes assessments, many have begun to re-examine their practices in order to determine if they are an effective means to accomplish that goal.  At Lionville Middle School in Chester County, Pennsylvania, we have spent …