I remember one of the first times someone conducted a learning walk in my classroom. The other teacher entered the room at the beginning of class and sat towards the back of the room. I was nervous as I started the lesson and kept making eye contact with the other teacher, trying to interpret what she thought. I broke the students into small groups to discuss a passage they had read, and afterward we regrouped as a whole to answer a series of questions. The students were exci

When teachers, leaders, and support staff all come together to make positive changes at their school, the results are usually impressive....

I once observed a middle school classroom during a silent reading period. At the start of class, the teacher announced that it was time...

When students walk into Mr. Taylor’s classroom for the first time, he is often wearing a suit of medieval armor or an ancient Roman...

Early in my consulting work, I was presenting to a group of teachers whose district had hired me to coach them. While I’d done some...

With everything educators have had to juggle in recent months, strong instructional leadership is more important than ever. The following...

Anytime we sit down to coach a teacher, we are asking her to trust us. We are asking her to join us on a vulnerable process of growth,...

Leadership is the heart, coaching is the work, and listening is the key One of the great joys of my work as an instructional coach—first...

Just recently, I came across a striking statistic. According to research from Arianna Huffington and Michelle Gielan—author and positive...

To Hire Excellent Teachers Without Leadership Skills is a Mistake. Here’s How to Avoid It. School closures are upending how teachers...

I t’s hard to go a week without someone reminding us of the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL)—and with good reason. SEL is...

Group work can help students develop valuable skills such as communication, teamwork, management skills and responsibility for their own...

Engagement is incredibly influential. Unleashing its positive effects is easier than it may seem. Some years ago, I was coaching in a...

Anyone who knows my work knows that I believe in everyone’s potential to push past the fear of change and choose to reach for growth....

A while back—before the pandemic—I was about to speak in front of a group of educators I’d been newly hired to coach. I was introduced by...

I have learned from Kathy Perret for many years. The book she co-authored, The Coach Approach to School Leadership , is jam-packed with...

Dr. Rick Jetter has over 20 years of experience in the field of education. He has held various positions such as teacher, principal,...

Steve Barkley's work in the area of instructional leadership is nothing short of amazing. He has spent over 40 years serving as an...

How to avoid the pitfalls of enthusiasm and instead turn it into a superpower What inspires me about my work are the passionate...

How positive instructional leaders lean on past successes to motivate future successes When I was in fifth grade, a high school guidance...