December 17, 2022
On December 3, 2022, my Purdue Boilermakers got to play in the Big Ten Football Championship. They lost to Michigan, 22-36. But, really? They won. To me, it felt like Read more…
December 28, 2021
Last week, I went to the store to pick out a card for my wife. While scanning the shelves, I was taken aback by the overwhelming selection, the analytical shoppers Read more…
December 19, 2021
It’s not your fault. In that moment, in that context, and with all the information you had at the time? You did the best you could. You made the right Read more…
November 12, 2021
I can’t believe that this actually happened. It was just lunch. After all my reading, researching, and reflecting on best practices, here was daring leadership right in front of my Read more…
August 7, 2021
It’s a first! Twice? I never thought I would see this in any sport–let alone the Olympics. Check it out: Such a medals-winning moment! Yet, it would not go unnoticed, Read more…
July 10, 2021
Perhaps, one of the best things to know is when it’s your time to retire, move on, or change. And then to embrace it wholeheartedly. Maybe shelter-in-place gave me a Read more…
April 2, 2021
There’s a lot out there. Especially for teachers doing all the things, trying to stay abreast of current research, tools, and pedagogy–it’s a lot. There’s no shortage of new technologies, Read more…
February 20, 2021
About ten years into my career, I was nominated for a major award in my district. Several other educators were also nominated, and I knew that the candidate field was Read more…
November 27, 2020
With the educational infrastructure being pulled and stretched this year, educators, parents, families, and communities invested great efforts to rise to the challenge. No longer was it seemingly guaranteed which Read more…
November 25, 2020
Over the last few years, I must have been a listening ear (or a confident activator) in about 100 conversations related to… Your Expiration Date. The conversation goes something like Read more…
November 8, 2020
Here’s one more takeaway from the historical 2020 presidential election: One candidate touted his record of success, yet his character came into question after repeatedly spewing divisive, mean-spirited rhetoric. One Read more…
August 22, 2020
Dear Netflix, Greetings to you from an inquisitive educator. With COVID-19 circulating the globe, the world will never be the same. I’m wondering if now is the time to embrace Read more…
The very last thing anyone wants in the year of all-things-2020, and when trying to reopen schools amidst a global pandemic, is to add… One. More. Thing. So let’s not. Read more…
August 15, 2020
In a recent twitter chat, I was asked: “Some districts have transitioned to standards-based grading. What are some pros/cons of this shift?” There’s no way I could possibly answer that Read more…
August 7, 2020
Blogger’s Note: This is Part III in a series of personal reflections on the book: White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. While it’s imperative Read more…
July 22, 2020
The phrase “instructional leader” can mean a lot of things. Like many titles, it can take on different meanings, given our unique perspectives. Yet, the perception begins to contrast sharply Read more…