Leadership articles

Recent articles from Leadership

Strategic planning during tough times: here's how school leaders should plan for the best possible future during an economic downturn.(Cover story)
January 1, 2009... No question about it. These are the toughest economic times we have seen in decades. School systems and their leaders are being hit from all sides. Foreclosures in communities all across the social spectrum are depriving school districts of their anticipated funding. In San Bernardino...

Fanning the flames of future fulfillment: in a world where a doom-and-gloom outlook makes sense, it is important to remember that it is survival of the spirit that matters most.(Column)
January 1, 2009... "Financial Flames Fan Fears for Future" would not be an unusual newspaper headline as I write these words in mid November. I understand that it's the job of cable news networks to keep us watching by scaring us to death ("The world is about to end, stay tuned for details right after this...

Collaborating on district budget priorities: it is critical to include all stakeholders in the budget process when identifying key priorities for your district, especially at a time when funds are tight.
January 1, 2009... Each year, school districts throughout California face significant budget restrictions. As costs continue to escalate, ongoing revenue sources remain lower than anticipated, ongoing expenditures. This is most critical for the school district's unrestricted sources of revenue. As these funds...

Communicating "bad" budget news: in crisis situations, school leaders need to openly, honestly and proactively discuss what is being done to come to a solution.
January 1, 2009... By anyone's terms, 2008 was a terrifying budget year--from the state level to the global economy. It was no different for schools, which were forced to make financial "guesstimates" without knowing the real numbers. And for many, it involved bad news and reductions in staff or services....

What to look for when observing teachers: conducting classroom walkthroughs through the lens of student achievement data.
January 1, 2009... After you have breezed in and out of classrooms conducting walkthrough observations, do your teachers ever ask, "What can you tell from observing three to five minutes of my teaching?" It's a fair question. And in some cases, the answer may be, "Very little." However, if you know what to look...