Posts about Communications

Could the cloud be a silver lining for school leadership?

Could the cloud be a silver lining for school leadership?

June 1, 2011 No Comments

Is your head in the clouds? It should be. If you are a school administrator or a board member, you may have never heard or thought about “cloud” technology.  I mentioned the word the other day in an e-mail and was surprised to hear back that it meant nothing to the recipients.  I would respond ...

Promote Your Schools Using These Five Freebies

Promote Your Schools Using These Five Freebies

February 20, 2011 No Comments

Now that doing more with less is the new norm, how do you market and promote your school district and successful programs? Maybe it’s time for a brainstorming session with your school public relations professional. Don’t know where to start? I’ll kick the conversation off with these five freebies: Create desktop wallpaper and screensavers for ...

Is your LEADERSHIP team effectively using technology?

Is your LEADERSHIP team effectively using technology?

February 10, 2011 No Comments

Over the last two decades I’ve worked with school systems (both administrators and teachers) helping them to more effectively use technology. In most of these cases, this has been in the service of a technology company such as Apple, Promethean or eBOARDsolutions. According to this Edupotia article “Shaping Tech for the Classroom” by Mark Prensky ...

Creating a Performance Culture:  Elements for Success

Creating a Performance Culture: Elements for Success

November 1, 2010 1 Comment

Education leaders want their districts and schools to be high performing. To do that, leaders recognize that they must create Performance Cultures. But what exactly is does this mean and what do leaders do to create a Performance Culture? Culture, simply defined, means “the way we do things around here.” At Georgia Leadership Institute for ...

It’s a new world.  Are you ready to play?

It’s a new world. Are you ready to play?

October 8, 2010 1 Comment

During the 2010 Council of School Board Association Communicators Conference in Atlanta, I finally put into words what I’ve been musing for awhile. We’re at a communication crossroads where ink-stained fingers meet digital dudes and divas meet those who like a little broadcast with their print news and social media. Media consumption is no longer ...

Should boards model use of technology?

Should boards model use of technology?

October 1, 2010 No Comments

It’s so important for public school boards of education to be “onboard” when it comes to modeling good governance.   If a school board expects 21st century classrooms, they should model that practice too by using technology tools themselves.  Using computers for paperless meetings is a “must do”—it’s not just about being green, either.  Technology tools ...

Early Learning and School Readiness: A Worthy Investment?

As local school systems near the end of another school year and are planning and budgeting for the 2012-2013...

Planning for Mission: Possible

The eBOARDsolutions 2012 User Conference was held in late February in Atlanta, Georgia. Almost 200 eBOARD users gathered for...

The Flipped Classroom for Professional Development

Have any of the teachers in your school systems tried flipping their classrooms yet? Have you heard about it...

Embracing change: New words, new acronyms? LOL!

If you want to know about the latest terminology and acronyms, ask a young person! It seems that the...

What can we learn from…South America?

This past November, I had the opportunity to be part of the Senior Consortium for School Networking Delegation to...

What Does It Mean to be “On the Spectrum?”

As we try to raise the awareness level of special education and mental and emotional needs in the world...

Why School Boards Should Focus on Education Technology

Technology has changed the way virtually every industry in the world operates – from farmers to physicians – by...

The Amazing Story of Joplin, MO

In May 2011, tornadoes ripped through Joplin, Missouri. A community was destroyed. The hub of that community is the...

Do you grow your own leaders?

In a world where many are nearing retirement, public education faces changes in leadership across our country.  How does...

Transformative Teaching Practices

Missouri School Boards Association’s 2011 Pre-Conference was themed “Technology Trends in Education.” As a part of the day’s agenda...

Boards: Stay out of the Weeds

Is your school board’s work in the weeds or are you looking from a global perspective? It’s so easy...

What the heck is a QR code and why should I care?

You may have begun to see funny-looking black and white squares (QR Codes) that look a bit like stamps...

School Board Meeting Agendas: Who, What, When, Where, How?

Local school boards meet all around this country in governing our nation’s public schools. Who makes the agenda? In...

Art, music, PE and drama. Are they essential?

Art, music, P.E., drama…do we need performing arts and physical education in our schools? Absolutely. There are some students...

Could the cloud be a silver lining for school leadership?

Is your head in the clouds? It should be. If you are a school administrator or a board member,...

Connecting the Dots in Today’s Education Landscape

The Center for Digital Education held nine conferences this spring with a theme “Connecting the Dots” where participants not...

(Almost) Paperless Accreditation

Planning for accreditation can be an incredibly busy time for any district. Our plates are all full, as the...

Fleshing out your meeting agendas

If you’re like me, you’ve attended your fair share of meetings (staff meetings, board meetings, cabinet meetings…you name it.)...

Board meeting agendas: Staying on track

At the eBOARDsolutions User Conference in March 2011, I co-presented with Dr. Valery Hall of the Forsyth County Public...

A simple formula for excellence: People + Processes

Over the past two years, I have had the privilege and good fortune to be a part of what...