Leadership

Bring on the Dog-and-Pony Show

Approaching teacher evaluation from a variety of perspectives The term dog-and-pony show, in reference to teacher evaluation, frequently denotes a false presentation by a teacher to demonstrate instruction that is only done for the sake of the evaluation. I understand the perspective of Marshall in the article “Let’s Cancel the Dog-and-Pony Show” (2012, Phi Delta Kappan,

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Middle School Matters!

When a whole school district decides to make middle level education a priority, amazing things happen The relatively low priority for middle level education is a nearly universal condition particularly well known to those engaged in educating young adolescents. These passionate educators are committed to pouring themselves into educating students in one of the most

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Effective School Leadership: Eight Questions to Ask Yourself

Being a good leader means taking time for personal reflection All effective middle school leaders take the time to reflect. In addition to purposeful reflection, the strongest kind of leader will also question themselves, explore their thoughts, and assess their actions in an honest manner. The eight questions below should be answered by any change

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Building Relationships with Students: It Isn’t Just for Teachers

Five principals share three keys to building principal-student relationships The golden rule of middle school: Build relationships with your students. This claim is supported by the Association for Middle Level Education (NMSA, 2010), as they describe a successful middle school as “an inviting, supportive, and safe place” where “human relationships are paramount” (p. 33). Discussions

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