Leading Beyond Walls: The Role of Teacher Leaders in Education

In the book Teacher Leadership That Strengthens Professional Practice, Charlotte Danielson defines teacher leadership as a “set of skills demonstrated by teachers who continue to teach students but also have an influence that extends beyond their own classrooms to others within their own school and elsewhere.”  

The Role of Teacher Leaders

Teacher leaders inform, inspire, and impact students and staff as they strive toward collaboration to carry out their school’s goals and mission of improving student achievement.  

Danielson explains that although some teacher leaders have a formal role, “teacher leadership is spontaneously exercised by teachers in response to a need or an opportunity through work with colleagues.”  

Engage All Learners: 5 Must-Know Tricks for Accessible Presentations

As I was catching up on the latest episode of the For the Purpose of… podcast on Accessible Design, it struck me—how can I, as a graphic designer, ensure my slide decks cater to all learners? Crafting inclusive and captivating presentations is essential for anyone who shares information. After all, if your audience can’t grasp the visuals or decipher the text, your message might get lost in translation.

In this blog post, let’s explore five simple yet effective tricks to enhance your slide show for all learners. Our journey will revolve around universal design, ADA compliance, and, of course, equity.

Unveiling the Power of Belonging: Essential Strategies for Student Success

What is belonging? According to Cornell University’s Department of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, belonging is ‘the feeling of security and support when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identity for a member of a certain group.’ In school communities, belonging occurs when individuals can bring their authentic selves into the learning environment. When students, teachers, and staff feel a sense of belonging, they thrive in a learning community that embraces diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Belonging impacts performance significantly and is a critical factor in enhancing engagement and achievement across social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioral domains at home, in school, and in the broader community.

Survey Insights: Kent ISD’s Approach

Within Kent County, schools and districts taking the MI Student Perception survey measure belongingness by assessing how strongly students feel they belong in school, how well they perceive others understand them, and the extent to which students feel connected to their peers. Our students’ holistic experiences and well-being beyond test scores are the focus of this anonymous survey. It aims to comprehend students’ perceptions of belonging, social and emotional learning, and engagement. While participation in the survey is voluntary, robust data collection efforts facilitate informed decision-making. Recognizing and fostering a culture of belonging is the cornerstone of an effective teaching and learning process, ultimately enhancing students’ educational experiences. 

Guiding Sustainable Learning: Empowering Educators for Powerful Impact

“Powerful learning for children requires powerful learning for educators.” 

-GELN Organizational Practices Values 

Stop and consider what it means to learn something new. When was the last time something you learned changed your behaviors? What makes learning so hard? This year, we are tackling these questions at our Michigan Math Educators (MichME) network. Using the text Intentional Interruption, we are taking a hard look at adult learning- how it happens, why it’s hard, and practicing how to rewire our brains to overcome bad feelings to change classroom practice. Intentional Interruption describes learning as “a permanent change in thinking or behavior.” Considering this definition, with the time and money spent on professional learning to improve classroom practice, it is easier to see why professional learning alone rarely impacts student learning. 

How Can Mentorship Transform Your Teaching Career? Explore the Art of Guiding Growth and Success!

Have you ever considered the people and experiences that influenced your journey and shaped your life? You could write their names on the feathers of your gratitude turkey. Recently, one of my children brought home a construction paper turkey with feathers holding the names of different things he was thankful for. I wasn’t surprised that he was grateful for “PlayStation and pizza.” However, what intrigued me was the number of feathers that contained people’s names. So, during dinner, I asked him about the people he included in his turkey feathers. He had specific reasons for each person, but some common themes were feeling supported, cared for, acknowledged, and encouraged. These common themes got me thinking about who I would put on my turkey feathers. Initially, family and friends came to mind. Still, upon reflecting on my professional life, my mentors rose to the surface as the people I am most grateful for.

Curious About the Updated K-3 Early Literacy Essentials? Join Us at LLCN to Discover More!

Have you heard about the recent update to the Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy for Grades K to 3? You might be curious as to why the update was necessary. The original document was published in 2016 to enhance children’s literacy development in Michigan. It identified ten research-supported instructional practices for kindergarten to third grade to be utilized in “every classroom, every day for every child.” The authors intended to review and update this document every five years. The impact of the pandemic delayed the update until now. 

How Adaptive Schools Can Improve Your Professional Learning Community

Creating effective teams is critical for any organization, especially in the education sector. Professional learning communities (PLCs) are an essential part of this process. Through PLCs, educational leaders can foster collaboration among their staff and develop group members’ skills and abilities. PLCs provide a platform for educators to share their experiences, knowledge, and best practices. This helps to create a culture of continuous learning and growth within the school or district. Additionally, PLCs are an important tool for developing educational leadership skills among team members as they work together to achieve common goals.  

Adaptive Schools seminars provide a practical set of ideas and tools to develop collaborative groups.  These research-based strategies will support elements of PLCs.

Why It’s Important For School Employees To Be Trained in Human Trafficking

Every year since 2010, the President has dedicated the month of January to raising awareness about human trafficking and educating the public on how to identify and prevent this crime.

Human Trafficking is when someone exploits another person through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of forced labor, commercial sex, or both. In the case of the sexual exploitation of a minor (anyone under the age of 18), force, fraud, or coercion do NOT have to be present for it to be considered human trafficking.

Congratulations Kent ISD Partner Schools on MTSS Recognition of Excellence

With many demands, opportunities, and initiatives, staying focused on continuous improvement for all students has been and continues to be a challenge. How do we know which programs best fit the students we serve? How do we know when to stop certain programs and start others? Or, when to keep programs going while integrating other complimentary programs?

The districts in Kent ISD have been up to the challenge of answering these tough questions in order to best meet the needs of their students.

Leading with HEART Builds Team Connection and Collaboration

John Maxwell said it well when he expressed, “To  lead yourself, use your head;  to lead others, use your heart.” Great words to which we all likely can agree, but what does that really mean? How do we, as leaders, connect with others in ways that positively impact our students, staff, and communities? 

In a world where leaders are pulled in a hundred different directions, intentionality behind our leadership matters. Understanding the power of small, daily actions can build lasting impact when there is a clear focus. Leading with HEART is a way to connect with your team, build greater collaboration, and have fun!