I came to Virtual Arkansas in July 2018. We are a blended online virtual program that is the state of Arkansas’ Public Education option for offering courses that Public Education schools may not be able to offer themselves due to regional, economic or school size challenges. We eliminate the issue of availability and provide equitableContinue reading “Giving the PLC a little TLC: How Quality Checks are Improving the PLC Process”
Category Archives: School Culture
My 2019 #oneword- FOCUS: Yes, It is a Revisit!
So, here we are and I have never known so clearly what my #oneword should be… FOCUS. Funny thing, it’s been my word before. At first, I thought about changing it. I mean, who has a #oneword twice, unless they really sucked at it the first time, right? And then I really started reflecting.
We Can’t Afford to Not Vote…
In the day of school choice, vouchers, for-profit education systems, and charters, educators can no longer just show up to their jobs. We must be advocates. Not because we fear the loss of our jobs, but because the very students we serve in public education are in jeopardy of losing the opportunity to a freeContinue reading “We Can’t Afford to Not Vote…”
How Do You Choose to be Brave?
Shortly after I posted “My ‘One Word’ for 2018” the tragedy of Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida occurred. I thought of the bravery of the students, staff and first responders on that day. I thought of the bravery of parents who patiently waited for news of their child. I thought of the bravery ofContinue reading “How Do You Choose to be Brave?”
The Dance of Change and Progress
In the process of change and progress there are moments of celebration and times of distress. Too much change within the systems, its supports and the expectations can take a toll. Learning how to effectively lead and support through the dance of change and progress is a dance that requires expertise, understanding and awareness. OftenContinue reading “The Dance of Change and Progress”
Restoration of my Blog…
Since moving from a Instructional Technology Specialist to a campus based instructional coach and now an Elementary Assistant Principal, I have struggled with writing blog posts. It isn’t so much about the content, but where the ideas come for the content. In my current position, and the last position as a campus based instructional coach,Continue reading “Restoration of my Blog…”
Relevance, Rigor and Research #TCEA17
Last week myself and Sue Fitzgerald (the library-media specialist at Pike Middle School- where I previously served as a Campus Instructional Coach) and I presented on an instructional collaboration we had designed together for our students and 6th Grade World Geography and Technology Apps teachers in 2015-16 at TCEA 2017 in Austin, Texas. The titleContinue reading “Relevance, Rigor and Research #TCEA17”
The Good in the World…
It has been a long time since I have written in my own professional blog. Hundreds of posts have been crafted in my head. Yet, they never make it here, to the place and space for those ideas to become more than murmurings and ideas of my own. A place and space to share myContinue reading “The Good in the World…”
Learning to “TEAM”
Many times when we see the word “TEAM” we think of its association with sports. Quickly we make the connection to winning. With a sports team every individual has a role and is trained and ready to fulfill that role so that the “TEAM” will hopefully win. However, in education, we come with all kindsContinue reading “Learning to “TEAM””
Having a “Can Do” Attitude…
I have had the unique experience of transitioning from Middle School as an instructional coach to Elementary as an Assistant Principal. If you put a kindergarten parent side by side with a parent of an entering middle schooler, I am sure their fears and concerns would be very similar. One thing I think educators andContinue reading “Having a “Can Do” Attitude…”
