I have just finished grading final exams for high school sophomores, and I can’t help but wonder if I am guilty of cheating. Balancing high standards with opportunities for retakes shapes my approach to developing assessments. In my view, a student who fails one section of multiple choice should have the opportunity to write more […]
Principals’ Corner
Principals.
Posted inCharter Schools, High School, Principals' Corner
Sensitive Teachers & the Benefit of the Doubt (Charter School Diaries #18)
Week 5/6 – 5/10 I had no clue that this week was Teacher Appreciation Week. As a matter of fact, I thought Tuesday was the only day for teacher appreciation. My wife actually informed me that it was an entire week. I had no idea. Either way, I was glad to hear that there was […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, Principals' Corner, The State of Education
The State of Education in New York: "The Hunger Games" (Part 1)
In this first of a 3-part series, the education policies of the State of New York and the country take on whole new meaning in light of The Hunger Games… In The Hunger Games, the Capitol rules. In education, “The State” rules. In The Hunger Games, the Capitol cuts off the food supply to the […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Principals' Corner, Uncategorized
Put Administrators in the Classroom!
When anyone thinks of the job of a high school principal one may think of one who’s always in the patrolling the school’s hallway to catch students misbehaving, congratulating student athletes or assisting a teacher with a difficult students. We watch these images of administrators are all over classic movies such as cult classic, Ferris […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, From the Front Lines, Kindergarten, Principals' Corner
To The Depths of Darkness and Back: A Personal Lesson
Have you ever doubted you’re doing the right thing? If all your time spent teaching was actually worth it? If you were really having an impact on students? Does this profession provide you a way to light others’ candles? Or do you find you’re burning so much that you’re doing nothing but burning your candle […]
Posted inFeatured, Opinion, Principals' Corner, Uncategorized
Willing To Do Difficult Things
Recently, Jake Miller and I wrote two articles that were simultaneously published, entitled “What Frustrates Me About Non-Public Schools” and “What Bothers Me About Public Schools,” respectively. Many comments were made on both of these articles, the theme of most being in agreement with a majority of the issues listed in both arenas. My question […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Legal, Principals' Corner
Testing Pressure Leads to a Criminal Indictment
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] The Atlanta Public School System has been marred in recent years by a state-testing cheating scandal. On Friday, March 29, 2013, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard issued an indictment against […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, How to Fix Education, Instruction & Curriculum, Opinion, Principals' Corner
What Bothers Me About Public Schools
This article is published simultaneously with its partner article, “What Frustrates Me about Non-Public Schools.” As a teacher who will never say “I’ve seen or heard it all,” I have become disenchanted with public schools, especially in Oklahoma. I feel that our schools, overall, do a severe injustice to our students by not providing […]