Every March, the NCAA March Madness showcases the best and brightest in women’s basketball to millions of viewers. And every year, principals and administrators observe teachers for at least 45 minutes to grade their effectiveness as teachers. This is such a high-stakes procedure, as anything can happen that would make the most effective teacher, look […]
Principals’ Corner
Principals.
Posted inPrincipals' Corner
Adaptive Intelligence, a Powerful Tool for School Leaders
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Adaptive Intelligence: Leading from the Head, Heart, and Gut Adaptability as a school leader is a great skill. A typical day in a school is filled with ever-changing moments. Putting out fires throughout the day keeps you on the […]
Posted inMental Health
Principals Will Be Missed, Too
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! I posted this question on several Facebook principal groups. I asked, “Has anyone left the admin position and switched careers? Why did you leave the profession?” I heard back a resounding “Yes!” Approximately 150 persons replied with reasons the […]
Posted inOpinion
Behind the Mask: Returning to School in the Midst of a Pandemic
We got the kids back. So why is it still so hard to reach them? Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Like many educators, I was excited when we managed to reopen our little Washington DC charter school last August. As middle school principal, I’d […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Why Transgender Students Need Teachers Who Aren’t Afraid
The battles taking place in the classroom in Virginia are at the core of what it means to be a teacher in American public education today. The debate over mask mandates, the US History curriculum, and how to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ students are all in the news today, with teachers and students in […]
Posted inPrincipals' Corner
Principals are Hanging on by a Thread
Principals and assistant principals are hanging by a thread. A thread that keeps getting pulled and pulled until it eventually snaps. Not many people ask the school administrators, “How are you?” Many will tell you they are not doing well mentally or emotionally. The toll of trying to navigate the continually changing world during COVID19 […]
Posted inBack to School
Whichever Way You Cut It School in 2020 is Hard
Guest Writer: Dr. Noor Ali, Principal, Al-Hamra Academy Fall 2020 school reopening has been a tricky, tricky business. It has been a time of untold stress and unfathomable planning. It has required flexing of all our known boundaries and delving into the great uncertainty that only a pandemic could unleash. From is this really a health […]
Posted inAdult Learning
What it Means to be a Principal During a Pandemic
Guest Writer: Dr. Noor Ali, Principal, Al-Hamra Academy Of course, nobody prepared school leaders for a pandemic-sized crisis. This is understood. Nobody is ever prepared for the exception. We prepare for the norm, and if we’re adventurous, we plan to push the envelope on the norm to create a change agency. We calculate, evaluate, and […]