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As 2019 comes to a close, NAESP would like to wish its members, partners and other education professionals a safe and happy holiday season. As we reflect on this past year in education, we would like to provide the readers of NAESP's Before the Bell a look at the most accessed articles from the year. Our regular publication will resume Tuesday, Jan. 7.
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By Kimberly Ragland
From Aug. 9: Every teacher on the planet knows what I'm talking about when I say I had "the dream" last night. You know, the one where you show up to the first day of school dressed in shorts and a tank top. Your walls are completely blank, and you can't find any prepared lesson plans or materials. Sound familiar? Why do we always have "the dream?" It's because teacher preparation is key. We know that if we're not ready to go when school starts, it sets the tone for our students.
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By Brian Stack
From Nov. 8: If there is one thing I have learned after nearly 15 years as an administrator in my New Hampshire school, it is this: There is no greater return on investment for a school principal than the steps he or she takes to build trust with the staff in their school. After all, it is not the principal but the staff members, including teachers, support staff, office staff, custodians, bus drivers, and food service providers, who act as the boots on the ground to make a school function successfully. Without trust between the principal and his or her staff, a principal will never be truly effective.
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By Michelle R. Matisons
From Jan. 15: The school safety debate picked up steam almost one year ago on Valentine's Day 2018. That day, a former student walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, school and fired on students and staff, killing 17 and injuring 17 more. This debate is ongoing and presents many possible solutions from diverse sectors. A recently released 400-page report details that many factors blended together to result in such a tragic outcome. Controversially, this report recommends that teachers and staff use Florida's Guardian Program, allowing teachers to carry concealed weapons to protect students in the event of a mass shooting or similar threat.
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By Brian Stack
From Jan. 8: As we embark on a new calendar year, I ask my fellow school principals whether your school is best preparing kids for the future. This will be my single focus as we start 2019. At our graduation ceremony last year, I reminded graduates that they entered the PK-12 education system at just about the same time that the first iPhone was introduced to the market. I noted how much our world and our society has changed as a result of personal smartphone devices and drew a parallel to how much our school's definition of "college and career readiness" has had to evolve over that same time frame.
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By Roberta Matuson
From June 4: I don't know about you, but I'm growing tired of hearing leaders complain that they can't fill jobs. When asked, they can come up with a dozen reasons why this is so. Are you guilty of this as well? Imagine a VP of sales telling her CEO that she is unable to bring in deals. Do you think she'd be told, "That's OK; everyone else is having a tough time selling." No, of course not! Too many organizations are delusional when it comes to their hiring practices. They have a system in place and continue to use it, regardless of the dismal results. Here are some of the more common delusional hiring practices that I see.
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By Brian Stack
From Feb. 1: Every year for the past several years, I have been asked to justify to the elected officials in my New Hampshire school community why with a declining enrollment I am not recommending a reduction in school administrator positions at my high school. It is hard to explain to someone not in the field that the amount of responsibility and workload of a school principal does not correlate directly with the size of a student population. Some aspects of the job do — such as managing student discipline and evaluation of staff. Yet, other aspects of the job do not.
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By Catherine Iste
From Jan. 22: While it was once commonplace to start in one classroom and stay there for 30 years, it is not any more. Whether it is a change in the cap allowing veteran teachers more credit for their experience, more charter schools within districts or the increasing competitiveness between and among struggling and successful school districts, teachers of all tenures are more mobile than ever. Here are a few tips on why and how it may be a good time to change districts.
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By Patrick Gleeson
From Sept. 17: Almost half of all K-12 teachers quit teaching within five years. Those who quit are disproportionately teachers in two of the most critical areas: English or science. Moreover, they quit soonest and most often in high-poverty and urban schools. But neither the federal government nor most state governments have convincingly answered the simple question of why this occurs.
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By Brian Stack
From June 21: For me, this is about the time of the year when some of my teachers will come to me and ask me if I am planning to leave the school at the end of the year. "If you leave, I leave!" is a common phrase I hear from them. The truth is, I’m not looking to leave. I have a high level of job satisfaction, and I am excited to go to work every day in an effort to work with my team and my staff to make a difference for the 700 students that we serve. I wish more of my principal colleagues could feel the same way about their school and their situation.
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By Brian Wallace
From Oct. 8: We all know there's a difference between a boss and a leader, and it shows: 94% of people with a great boss say they are passionate about their job, while only half with a bad boss say the same. Furthermore, while 70% of employees say their manager is good or great, two-thirds of people have left a job or plan to because of their boss. So, what does it mean to be a great leader? And how can you make sure you're leading and not merely managing? Check out this infographic for more information.
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By Bambi Majumdar
From June 28: As the use of digital technology expands across the K-12 spectrum, newer tools like virtual reality (VR) are creating quite an impact. A slew of ed-tech companies have introduced VR apps that can transform the way we teach and learn by bringing vivid experiences to the classroom, which can attract and inspire young minds. VR-based lessons, virtual field trips, and immersive science labs all have immense potential to increase student engagement and performance and boost learning outcomes.
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By Sharona Sommer, CPC
From Jan. 18: What does it really mean to enable versus support your student? Generally speaking, enabling refers to the practice of over-helping, as in rescuing your student from uncomfortable or challenging situations without considering if they are able to handle it themselves. When you support your student, you provide space for them to learn from their mistakes and build the necessary coping skills to handle life's twists and turns. It is your job as parents and caregivers to provide positive encouragement along the path to independence but not to pave the road for them before they get there.
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By Bambi Majumdar
From March 29: A report released by the Lastinger Center for Learning at the University of Florida shows glaring disparities in trauma training for K-12 students and school employees across various districts in Florida. In-depth analysis and mapping patterns of adolescent trauma show how the lack of trauma support can be detrimental for students, families, and districts as a whole. In the 29 districts surveyed, the researchers found that there was no uniform curriculum or training method for district personnel to help children who have experienced trauma.
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By Brian Stack
From Aug. 30: Imagine having the option to schedule your school weeks as four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days. Earlier this summer, We Are Teachers blogger Elizabeth Mulvahill reported that 25 states are currently testing four-day school weeks. What started as a logistical solution for rural school districts is now gaining popularity in both suburban and urban areas. According to Mulvahill, "Research by the National Conference of State Legislatures estimates 560 school districts...have at least one school with a four-day schedule. Leading the charge are Colorado (55%), New Mexico (43%), Idaho (38%), and Oregon (32%)."
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By Patrick Gleeson
From Nov. 15: One of the hot-button areas for all the Democratic presidential candidates is education. How do they propose to make it more affordable and equitable? How do they propose doing that without lowering standards? Most importantly, how do they propose paying for these costly improvements? Here are the plans of the leading candidates for the nomination — Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders — on two of the most important education areas.
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