Midyear Check-In: 2020 Conversations A year like none other. #Leadership by Erin Werra

5 Budget Curveballs for 2020 Mission: Impossible just got more... impossible.  #Business by Casey Thompson

What K12 Leaders Can Learn from Late Night TV Night owls appreciate long-running hosts and a solid, familiar format. What can you learn from late night shows? #Leadership by Erin Werra

The Golden Rule of Interoperability  Treat others’ private data the way you’d want yours to be protected. #Data by Caroline Gilchrist

Future-Proof Record Retention As districts update SIS and ERP solutions, how can they ensure long-term records are retained and safe?  #Data by Casey Thompson

How Assessment Squelches the Summer Slide COVID-19 followed immediately by a couple months off has the potential to make the summer extra slide-y. Assessment to the rescue. #Achievement by Erin Werra


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Midyear Check-In: 2020 Conversations A year like none other. #Leadership by Erin Werra

5 Budget Curveballs for 2020 Mission: Impossible just got more... impossible.  #Business by Casey Thompson

What K12 Leaders Can Learn from Late Night TV Night owls appreciate long-running hosts and a solid, familiar format. What can you learn from late night shows? #Leadership by Erin Werra

The Golden Rule of Interoperability  Treat others’ private data the way you’d want yours to be protected. #Data by Caroline Gilchrist

Future-Proof Record Retention As districts update SIS and ERP solutions, how can they ensure long-term records are retained and safe?  #Data by Casey Thompson

How Assessment Squelches the Summer Slide COVID-19 followed immediately by a couple months off has the potential to make the summer extra slide-y. Assessment to the rescue. #Achievement by Erin Werra

Arena Scheduling from Home Even if remote learning is a contingency, it’s wise to plan ahead for remote options—including arena scheduling.  #Achievement by Erin Werra

Radio Check: 5 Tactics for “Loud and Clear” Communication What can “radio talk” protocol teach us about quality communication? Turns out, a lot! Here are 5 takeaways from this tried and true method.  #Leadership by Caroline Gilchrist

Should Your School Use a Crisis Text Line? May is mental health month, but students struggle all year round. Here’s how technology can play a role in compassionate care.  #Leadership by Erin Werra

Solidifying a Distance Learning Strategy Uncertainty demands school leaders consider all angles of reopening schools—including teaching students who cannot return to the building.  #Technology by Casey Thompson

Introducing the Careers of the Future Quiz Peer into the crystal ball to see which jobs might suit your skills in 2050!  #Achievement by Emily Katz

What K12 Leaders Can Learn from Saturday Morning Cartoons Saturday morning used to represent golden hours of freedom and indulgence for kids. What can you learn from the heyday of kid freedom?  #Leadership by Erin Werra

Beware These 5 Threats During COVID-19 Hackers are capitalizing on vulnerabilities due to COVID-19-prompted remote work. Here’s how to stay safer in cyberspace.  #Data by Casey Thompson

When Your Team Struggles with Working from Home Troubleshooting and coaching the challenges of the new normal: remote work.  #Leadership by Erin Werra

How eLearning Can Empower Kids Learning doesn’t stop. But it will be different, and that’s okay.  #Achievement by Erin Werra

Why Emotional IQ Skills Are Essential for Students One of the most impactful ways to improve job performance is to brush up on emotional intelligence. What if we gave kids a jump on it?  #Achievement by Erin Werra

When’s the Last Time Vendors Asked for Your Feedback?  If you’re racking your brain right now, we have bad news.  #Technology by Casey Thompson

Computer Science: What’s Turning Women Away? It’s common knowledge that men have a greater presence in programming than women—but how did this trend arise? And what can we do to help girls overcome bias? #Technology by Caroline Gilchrist

To Educators: Thank You We're so grateful for your service. #Culture by Erin Werra

School Librarians Matter—Here's Why 4 reasons school librarians mean so much to students and schools. #Achievement by Erin Werra

Vetting Apps Across the District 6 red flags for applications used in classrooms with students. #Data by Casey Thompson

Project-Based Learning is a Perfect Developmental Match for Teens Adults, we’re witnessing a revolution. #Achievement by Erin Werra

Position Control and Traveling Staff As staff travel between buildings, how are you tracking their time spent in each? Is each building sharing an equal part of the position budget? These are just a couple questions that may affect the salary negotiations, budget considerations, and time tracking for these traveling employees. #Business by Casey Thompson

The Great Homework Debate Could “the dog ate my homework” someday be retired? Let’s look at both sides of this debated topic. #Achievement by Lauren Gilchrist

Prioritizing Accessibility in EdTech A big-picture guide for CTOs exploring the importance of accessibility in school technology. #Technology by Nou Chee Her

20 Things We'll Be Into This Decade A mix of perennial and emerging topics we’re looking forward to witnessing as time marches on.
  #Culture by Erin Werra

The Future-Ready Progress Report Half a decade later, let’s check in on the concept Future Ready Schools shares with district leaders to guide planning for technology, professional development, student achievement, and more. #Leadership by Casey Thompson

7 Dimensions of Wellness: How to Incorporate Each in 2020 Take a look at each of the seven dimensions of wellness and dive into how you can help your students be well in each category in 2020. #Achievement by Chris Harrison

Branding Is An Inside Job Education Dive's Superintendent of the Year Dr. Joe Sanfelippo shares how to get your entire team involved in telling your school's stories with pride and energy. #Leadership by Dr. Joe Sanfelippo

4 Strategies to Manage Educator Empathy Empathetic educators focus so much on keeping their spirits up to care for others—the quick refill cycle can lead to burnout. Here's how to stay healthy. #Leadership by Erin Werra

3 Conversations to Follow in 2020 As we welcome a brand-new year and decade, we'll explore the connection between technology and soft skills, ransomware, and measuring software efficacy. #Leadership by Erin Werra

On the Road with Lauren: Cranberry Science and a Splash of Red We traveled to Central Wisconsin to join a Splash of Red cranberry tour, led by students in the only cranberry science class in the country. #Achievement by Lauren Gilchrist

One-Page Pitch: Positive Attendance The Advancing K12 One-Page Pitch Series is designed to help you lead from within. This month's pitch: Postive attendance! #Leadership by Avery Faehling

Setting Up An eLearning Day Look out, kids, there's a new snow day ritual in town.  #Achievement by Casey Thompson

The State of K12 Coding Computer science is rapidly growing—and we're making progress. Check out this recap and learn about bringing the Hour of Code to your school. #Technology by Erin Werra

Leading Different Generations in a School District Leading multiple generations is all about striking balance between recognizing (and celebrating) differences and keeping all people focused on the same goals, regardless of age or experience.  #Leadership by Erin Werra

On the Road with Lauren: Race Cars Meet High School At Ashwaubenon High School, students are trading lectures and laptops for the chance to design, build, and race their own cars. #Achievement by Lauren Gilchrist

Battling Unseen Causes of Chronic Absenteeism These four barriers can stand in students' way of getting to school. Here's how you can help. #Culture by Casey Thompson

How to Prepare Students for the Jobs of Tomorrow The workforce is changing—how do we manage the gap between today’s skills and the impossible to predict future?  #Technology by Erin Werra

Teaching our Teachers: The Value of Teacher Mentorship We sat down with a veteran teacher to talk about the crucial role mentorship plays in an educator’s success. #Leadership by Lauren Gilchrist

Mobile Education Tug of War Technology has evolved the modern workplaces for maximum flexibility.  But is blurring the boundaries of classroom learning healthy for students (and teachers)?  #Achievement by Erin Werra

3 Ways to Keep Your Credit Cards Out of The News How can administrators stay vigilant against all types of fraud? By being good stewards of reimbursement approvals. Here's how. #Business by Erin Werra

Take the EdTech Careers Quiz Have you ever wondered what your ideal role would be if you worked at an edtech company? We put together this career quiz to help you discover where your talents could be put to the best use. #Leadership by Casey Thompson

One-Page Pitch: Data Security The Advancing K12 One-Page Pitch Series aims to help team members lead from within. This month's topic: data security. #Leadership by Erin Werra

How Ed-Fi Standards Simplify Student Data Management How do school leaders keep track of minute student data points in their district—then turn those numbers into action to improve instruction? #Data by Erin Werra

Brace for Impact: School Data and Disasters Losing access to student data is its own brand of disaster. Prepare by devising an airtight recovery plan. #Data by Casey Thompson

7 Things You Don’t Have to Print This Year Which processes can you shift online to move closer to a paperless office? Here are 7 ideas to consider. #Business by Lauren Gilchrist

Empowering Students with UX Classroom Design Studies show classroom design affects student learning. Why get students involved in the process? And how? #Achievement by Lauren Gilchrist

Do You Have a Crisis Communication Plan? If an emergency occurs today, how prepared is your district to communicate with the community?  #Leadership by Casey Thompson

Midyear Check-in: Conversations to Follow in 2019 How's the year going so far? Let's check in on our three important conversation topics for 2019. #Leadership by Erin Werra

5 Great Education Debates Let's explore both sides of a handful of education's perennial debates. #Culture by Erin Werra

On the Road with Lauren: Can Kindergartners Learn to Code? How do kids develop computational skills at the elementary level? We traveled to West Bend, WI, to find out from teachers who presented at ISTE. #Achievement by Lauren Gilchrist

Staging the School No budget for fancy landscaping, signs, sculptures, or fountains? No problem.
  #Leadership by Casey Thompson

Rethinking the Traditional School Schedule As we gaze into the future of K12 education, what scheduling changes do we see budding? How do these changes affect kids? #Culture by Erin Werra

The 5-Step EdTech Integration Checklist Here's a customizable template of the five main tasks leaders can follow to start an interoperability journey. #Technology by Erin Werra

EdTech Playbook: Interoperability Though the benefits add up quickly, interoperability takes careful planning to achieve. We'll explore the components in this four-part video playbook. #Technology by Rebecca Gaboda

One-Page Pitch: Edubranding The Advancing K12 One-Page Pitch Series is designed to help you lead from within. This month's pitch: Edubranding in the era of school choice! #Leadership by Lauren Gilchrist

What Do We Really Know About Screen Time? What used to be a matter of parenting opinion has moved into the realm of vocational requirement. We know kids are going to be using screens in and out of classrooms. So where can we draw the line between enough and too much? #Technology by Erin Werra

A K12 Funding Primer for Parents Do you find yourself answering questions about funding from parents? Here's a quick, share-worthy breakdown of the basics of funding to bookmark.  #Business by Avery Faehling

10 Digital Badges Worth Pursuing Which digital badges can make the greatest impact on teaching and learning? These 10 cover parent communication, digital skills, mentoring, and more! #Leadership by Avery Faehling

3 Contradictions Between Research and Practice Schools (and vendors) love to tout research-based solutions, processes, and practices. But is “research-based” really all it’s cracked up to be? #Leadership by Erin Werra

Talking to Parents About Digital Citizenship Parents may have various qualms about technology. Most of them boil down to one thing: protecting kids. Digital citizenship skills can help. #Leadership by Erin Werra

11 Districts Leading the Way in Video These districts discovered the secrets (and value!) of producing awesome videos. Learn from their approach and pick up some tips and tricks to crafting a video strategy. #Technology by Lauren Gilchrist

The Data Security Starting Five It takes a wide range of roles and skills working together to keep data safe. How does your district’s lineup compare to this security all-star squad?  #Data by Lauren Gilchrist

One-Page Pitch: Digital Badging The Advancing K12 One-Page Pitch Series is designed to help you lead from within. Our inaugural pitch: Digital badging for professional development! #Leadership by Erin Werra

High-Tech HR: One-Way Video Interviews Imagine interviewing every single applicant while speeding up the first-round process. Unbelievable? Believe it! Here's how. #Business by Erin Werra

6 Surefire Cures for Initiative Fatigue Or, how to keep your eyes on the prize and refrain from chasing the latest, shiniest trend. #Leadership by Erin Werra

3 Steps for Building an Awesome Brand Ace school branding, with bonus advice from the superintendent who (literally) wrote the book on it. #Culture by Erin Werra

Parent Engagement: Beyond the Homework Helper Which factors make parents into strong advocates? #Leadership by John Jennings

Guest Post: Our Journey to Mass Customized Learning "This wasn’t a small shift in mindset. We were completely reexamining how school has been 'done' to kids for the last century." Join us for a deep dive into the future of public education in Central York, Pennsylvania. #Leadership by Ryan Billet

6 Roles Technology Can Play in the Hiring Process These six tools, from emerging tech to tried-and-true strategies, can save time and effort in the recruiting process. #Technology by Erin Werra

Fact Check: 3 Examples of Data Gone Wrong How far should you trust the data? About as far as you can throw it, if these examples are any indication. #Data by John Jennings

Guest Post: Amping Up Your School Security When you hear the phrase “school security,” what comes to mind? Locked entrances? Cameras? Metal detectors? Resource officers? While these visual, recognizable features are great, there are other important facets of security to be considered.  #Technology by Dan Hoerl

7 News Literacy Strategies for All Ages How do we build a healthy skepticism to navigate the Internet’s endless content offerings? Most importantly, how do we share our strategies with students? #Achievement by Erin Werra

Meritorious: The Gold Standard for School Budgets Budgets: A necessary task, or an art form? #Business by Erin Werra

The Perils and Promise of K12 Crowdfunding What if you could skip the sales and go directly to donations for classroom supplies, edtech, or other initiatives? #Business by Erin Werra

EdTech Playbook: Moving to a New Student Information System The move to a new SIS is one of the largest, most challenging projects faced by school technology leaders. Learn how to do it right in this five-part video playbook. #Technology by John Jennings

10 New Year's Resolutions for School Leaders A collection of initiatives (and supporting materials) to consider after the clock strikes midnight. #Leadership by Erin Werra

3 Conversations to Follow in 2019 What’s on the horizon for the New Year? We’re keeping a weather eye on boosting computer science for early learners, digital badging for PD, and the future of hiring. #Leadership by Erin Werra

5 Creative Uses for Digital Signage in Schools Plenty of schools have put up screens to share content, but using them creatively is still a challenge. Here are 5 ideas for sharing creative content. #Technology by Mark McDermott

What is Arena Scheduling? If you're looking to increase student engagement, accountability, time management, and much more, why not give arena scheduling a try? #Achievement by Erin Werra

The 6-Step Fraud Test Few things can be more devastating to a school district than a major fraud scandal. In this article, we explore six areas worthy of the occasional audit. #Business by Erin Werra

3 Ways for Students to Steal Your Password Kids are craftier than ever these days, but with a little awareness you can stay one step ahead. Featured: Three 1-Minute Security Drill videos. #Technology by Erin Werra

What School Choice Means for Edubranding In the age of choice, what can educational leaders do to turn their schools and districts into desirable destinations for families and job candidates? #Leadership by Erin Werra

Let's Change the Integration Conversation Is product x compatible with product y? More importantly, is that even the right question to ask anymore? #Data by John Jennings

What is Whole-Child Education? Schools are nurturing multiple facets of child development. But how does whole-child education work? #Achievement by Erin Werra

10 Districts with Awesome Brands These 10 school districts identified why their district is awesome, then structured everything they do around it to produce a noteworthy brand. #Culture by Erin Werra

The Attendance Nudge By analyzing studies conducted in school districts using attendance letters, we can learn the best ways to nudge parents into becoming attendance allies fighting chronic absenteesim. #Achievement by Erin Werra

Why Can't We Get Teacher Evals Right? What does the research say about teacher evaluation, and what are some of the most common takeaways from recent studies? #Leadership by Erin Werra

4 Paths to Student Accountability Explore four strategies to maximize students' opportunities to develop accountability, practice self-management, and gain essential skills they’ll use long after they graduate. #Culture by Erin Werra

Introducing the EdLeader Personality Test We've assembled the first ever personality test designed specifically for educational leaders. What's your archetype? #Leadership by Erin Werra

The 4 Stages of Filling Big Shoes Few leadership challenges are more difficult than following in the footsteps of a local legend. Grab the torch and run with this four-step blueprint. #Leadership by John Jennings

Who is Responsible for Mental Health? Staff responsibilities overlap, data goes unanalyzed, and students (or teachers) line up at overwhelmed counselors’ doors. How do schools address mental health? A school psychologist and social worker describe their team's approach. #Culture by Erin Werra

10 Do's and Don'ts for Effective Teacher Mentorship Looking to boost teacher retention, build a strong school culture, and contribute to new teachers' professional growth? Learn 10 tips for improving your teacher mentorship program. #Leadership by Erin Werra

Micro-credentials: A One-Year Reflection One year after the rollout of the Future-Ready Teachers badge group, we reflect on slow starts, implementation hurdles, and the state of micro-credentials today. #Technology by John Jennings

Midyear Check-In: 2018 Conversation Topics We've been closely following 3 key education topics in 2018. See what the past six months have revealed and what to keep an eye on in the second half of the year. #Leadership by Erin Werra

FERPA and Your Student Information System Student information systems are the default location for most educational records, but how do you balance the need for speed and access with legal privacy obligations? #Data by John Jennings

Maslow and the Modern Learning Environment What can psychology tell us about creating a motivating learning environment? Explore the connections between Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs and students' needs in classrooms and schools. #Achievement by Erin Werra

4 Paths to Safer Schools Without a foolproof formula for school safety, how do you tackle such a serious topic? Find action items in four areas of opportunity, including advice from a lieutenant who works in a school district. #Culture by Erin Werra

The Elusive Coaching Culture Imagine a work environment where transparency outweighs fear, growth defeats insecurity, and positivity reigns supreme. This is what a coaching culture looks like. #Culture by John Jennings

The Right Fit: SEL and Technology Social-emotional learning and technology: Two inescapable topics in education today. But how do the two overlap to improve outcomes for students?  #Technology by Erin Werra

It's Ok to Have No New Projects Is innovation always the right answer, or are we just spinning our wheels? Give yourself a breather to build on what you're already doing. #Leadership by John Jennings

Guest Post: Behind the Curtain with Predictive Analytics How can we possibly account for unexpected, yet inevitable, expenses that happen within districts? Predictive analytics offer school business officers one powerful tool for peering into the future. #Business by R.J. Gravel, Ed.D.

On the Road: Chickens, Crops, and Community “Everyone put your chickens away!” It was, without a doubt, the first time I’d heard these words spoken in a classroom. Find out more about my trip to New Holstein and what you can learn from their community-driven curriculum.   #Culture by Lauren Gilchrist

The 3 Leading Causes of EdTech Breakups When you stop and look around, how many of your edtech partnerships are still fulfilling? Here are some common reasons why they fail and some ideas to turn them around before it's too late.  #Technology by John Jennings

Why We Need Computational Thinking “Teaching kids to code” has been a rallying cry for a number of years, but the desired outcome has more frequently evolved into “teaching kids to think like coders.” Here's what that means. #Achievement by John Jennings

5 Tech-Friendly ESSA Plans Which states have the clearest plans to fuel innovation in teaching and learning in the years to come? These five ESSA plans stand out from the rest. #Technology by Erin Werra

What is ePayables? What if you could turn accounts payable into a revenue generator for your district? ePayables is emerging as a preferred payment method, and for good reason. #Business by John Jennings

Guest Post: Records Retention 101 To keep or to purge student records? It's crucial to learn and practice your state's guidelines. Learn how one data manager practiced smart purging and retention processes. #Data by Sarah Paul

5 School District Data Center Mistakes Based on true stories; this is what happens when technology leaders don't get final say on where their data center goes or how it's maintained. #Technology by John Jennings

Hanging Out with the Chrome Squad Royse City ISD’s Connected for Learning (C4L) leader Cody Holt and his student-led IT team, the Chrome Squad, share their story about the difference they’ve made in their district and beyond. #Achievement by Erin Werra

Guest Post: Introducing #EdFinChat In this guest post, #EdFinChat co-creator Chris Wildman breaks down the making of a Twitter chat and discusses Twitter’s potential as a global networking tool for helping school business leaders shift to a more strategic role. #Business by Chris Wildman, CPA CGMA SFO

3 Top-Tier RTI Districts Response to Intervention has been around for a while and is widely recognized, but not every implementation is created equal. Three districts with strong RTI programs share what works, what didn’t, and how they keep the momentum going strong. #Achievement by Erin Werra

4 Ways to Build a Better Schedule Scheduling is one of the most time-consuming yet rewarding tasks in school operations. These student-centered and flexible scheduling methods are trending up. #Leadership by Erin Werra

Playing Nice: The EdTech Interoperability Landscape Someday we may see an edtech system that can do everything. Until that happens, interoperability is the new standard. #Data by John Jennings

What is Decaying Average? When it comes to standards-based grading, what's the best way to measure growth and proficiency? Many districts are turning to the Decaying Average for a more complete picture. #Achievement by Erin Werra

5 Ways to Track SEL Efforts How do you measure the important business of social-emotional growth and wellbeing without falling back on emojis and sticker charts? Here are five data-driven strategies for social-emotional learning in your district. #Data by Erin Werra

Is EdTech Ready for Multi-Factor Authentication? The push for multi-factor authentication is becoming stronger every year. But what does this security approach even look like in a school district setting?  #Technology by John Jennings

15 Advanced Metrics for Superintendents Knowing what to look for is half the battle. These 15 datapoints and four overarching categories can boost any superintendent's ability to effectively analyze data.  #Data by John Jennings

The Yin and Yang of Augmented Reality Augmented reality: trendy or troubling? Let’s take a look at the potential for AR in education and the potential pitfalls it poses.
  #Technology by Erin Werra

4 Ways to Improve the Substitute Teaching Experience How do you attract and keep good substitute teachers in your classrooms? By adjusting your processes to deliver a better experience, of course! #Culture by Erin Werra

EdTech Playbook: Twitter for Educators If you're doing it right, Twitter is one of the most valuable professional development resources for any education professional. Here's how you can get more from the Twitterverse. #Technology by John Jennings

The Road to Connected Schools Broadband is a necessity for learning in a digital world, but remote, rural schools are being left in the dust. Read on for an examination of progress made and ongoing opportunities on the horizon.
  #Technology by Erin Werra

3 Conversations to Follow in 2018 Goodbye, 2017! The new year sets the stage for fresh ideas. Here are three topics sure to make an impact in 2018.
  #Leadership by Erin Werra

The 5 Most Popular Articles of 2017 This year, Advancing K12 readers were all in on school PR, data stewardship, and the ever-expanding role schools play in our children's lives. Here are the five most-read posts of 2017. #Culture by Erin Werra

Student Apprenticeships: Working For a Brighter Future Through apprenticeship programs, students are earning school credits, gaining real-world experience, and getting paid. Watch the video to learn more!   #Achievement by Lauren Gilchrist

The Right Fit: Hiring a New Superintendent If recent trends are any indication, these four central themes will dominate superintendent job postings, interviews, and hiring decisions in the years to come. #Leadership by John Jennings

EdTech Playbook: School Data Data-driven is just a catchphrase, until it's not. In the world of education, learning how to turn data into insight is one of the most valuable changes you can make at the classroom, building, and district level.  #Data by John Jennings

The Quest for Parent Portal Buy-In Parent portals give teachers a central location to manage communication. But do parents really log in to continue the conversation? If not, how can teachers and school leaders encourage them to do so?
  #Technology by Erin Werra

How Can We Fix Professional Development? Two years removed from one of the most eye-opening professional development studies ever published, what's changed? #Leadership by John Jennings

Keeping Top Teachers in the Classroom Are teachers left with little choice but to “outgrow” the classroom to pursue admin roles? Find out how to identify and invest in your district’s future leaders.
  #Leadership by Erin Werra

8 Great Data-Sharing Districts Data shapes the day-to-day operations of schools. How can you improve and clarify the conversation? Check out 8 great examples of data visibility. #Data by Erin Werra

The School Culture Survey Template Want to take the pulse of your district's culture? Start from this free, research-based template. #Culture by John Jennings

The 3 Places Your Candidates are Looking Job seekers are doing the bulk of their research online before reaching the application stage. What does your digital presence say about your school district? #Business by John Jennings

Is This the End of Grades? Classrooms, schools, and districts are abandoning the traditional method of grading with letters and percentages. Find out why and learn what's next for gauging student success.  #Achievement by Erin Werra

The Self-Fulfilling School Culture What do the lessons in Outliers tell us about the self-perpetuating cycle taking root in the education job market? #Culture by John Jennings

5 Signs of a Tech-Friendly District How does one identify which districts have taken steps to modernize and improve the experience of their stakeholders? Here are 5 processes worth looking at.  #Culture by John Jennings

Design Thinking for School Leaders What does it mean to be a "visionary" leader? Here's what happens when we apply design thinking to three common school scenarios. #Leadership by John Jennings

Making Budgets Beautiful School finances can be complicated, but savvy school business leaders are using design to present information in a way that makes better sense. Check out our sample budget infographic for inspiration! #Business by Nickey Pietila

5 Ways to Get Better RFP Results I responded to K12 enterprise software RFPs for more than a year. Here's what I learned. #Business by John Jennings

School Districts for Ransom Prevention is the name of the game when it comes to battling ransomware. Cover your bases by securing effective backups, training (and retraining) your staff, and considering secure cloud storage.    #Data by Casey Thompson

The Future-Ready Teachers Badge Group We've teamed up with our friends at Badge List to offer a unique professional development opportunity for teachers. It's fun, it's free, and it's ready! #Culture by John Jennings

EdTech Playbook: Parent Portals The parent portal is one of the most valuable tools in your edtech arsenal. In this four-part playbook, find out how administrators, school PR pros, teachers, and parents can all get more out of it. #Technology by John Jennings

The Evolution of SIS Purchasing Your district is unique, and your SIS should be, too. Spec lists are only part of the story – consider these 5 non-traditional aspects of modern SIS purchasing.   #Business by Nickey Pietila

When Teachers Don't Take Attendance Will future generations still be able to relate to the concept of roll call? Not if positive attendance continues to flourish. #Culture by John Jennings

Security Drill: 3 Threats to Watch For When you get proactive about security, you’re protecting more than just your network. Learn how to stay protected against phishing attacks, share Google documents safely, and reduce the risks of local data storage by password-protecting your folders.   #Data by Casey Thompson

3 Ways to Up Your EdTech Game The people who get the most out of their edtech investments are the same people who refuse to play the role of passive consumer. Here's how they're doing it. #Technology by John Jennings

Guest Post: Demystifying PCI DSS Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) is a business framework designed to protect cardholder data. Learn about 5 important points for PCI DSS compliance. #Business by Ann Dunaway

Wanted: Soft Skills for Tech Jobs Hard skills might get you in the door, but soft skills help high performers shine. Here’s a look at 5 tech jobs and the soft skills necessary for success in each. #Achievement by Nickey Pietila

How Much Tech is Too Much Tech? More isn't always better. We've got 3 steps for tech leaders looking to set and maintain healthy boundaries on tech use in your schools. #Technology by Nickey Pietila

Guest Post: A Different Approach to IT Leadership Excellent leaders are essential. In this guest post, Klein ISD’s Vicki James shares her unconventional path to IT leadership and how a student-centered culture shift is making a difference. #Leadership by Vicki James

The Future of Mentoring: Say Hello to Hybrid Mentoring isn’t an all-or-nothing, in-person endeavor. The future of mentoring is hybrid – learn about the tech tools that enable continuous support while still allowing relationships to take center stage. #Culture by Nickey Pietila

5 Themes for STEAM A move to STEAM doesn’t have to mean a complete schedule change or curriculum overhaul. Here’s a look at 5 interdisciplinary topics you could infuse into classes that exist today. #Achievement by Lauren Gilchrist

8 Social Media Accounts to Learn From Social media is no gimmick; it's a direct line to audiences you wouldn't otherwise reach and mediums better served to deliver your message than any traditional approach. These districts are getting it right.  #Leadership by John Jennings

The New Business Office Can you bridge the divide between the old guard and the new and future version of the school business office? Make time for what keeps you closer to the mission and the reason for your work. #Business by Nickey Pietila

4 Ways to Save Money in EdTech Purchasing Edtech purchasers are tasked with getting the most bang for the district's buck. These four strategies are tried and true. #Business by John Jennings

3 Smartphone Uses for Administrators From district leadership to building principals, there's an app (or several) for all levels of administration. Learn to simplify approvals, automate notifications, and move evaluations to the cloud.    #Technology by Lauren Gilchrist

The Top 10 Literacies in Education Today Literacy encompasses a lot more than just reading and writing. How does your school district nurture the top 10 literacies in education today? #Achievement by Nickey Pietila

EdTech Battle Lines: Specs vs. UX Is it time to look beyond features and functionality? When making smarter edtech purchases, user experience is the best place to begin. #Technology by John Jennings

10 School District Websites to Learn From The web may be a place of constant change, but most district websites are frozen in time. As digital presence becomes a higher priority for administrators, take a page from these ten, ahead-of-the-curve districts. #Leadership by John Jennings

The New Role of the School Counselor Today's school counselors touch almost every corner of the school system. How is their role changing, and what can leadership teams do to support these invaluable district resources? #Achievement by Nickey Pietila

EdTech Playbook: The District Website The worlds of marketing and education have never been as closely entwined as they are today. School choice, family mobility, and a growing need to attract and retain high performers are just some of the reasons why. #Technology by John Jennings

Technology is Transforming Special Education From custom-designed solutions to common devices, technology empowers students in special education to reach new heights... #Technology by Nickey Pietila

Guest Post: Communications Done Right The School District of Milton's commitment to comms excellence can be traced back to the collaboration of its leadership team. Here's an inside look at how they got there. #Leadership by School District of Milton

EdTech Playbook: Digital Badging We're pleased to introduce this multimedia launch kit for digital badging. Included: A four-part video series on how to launch your badging program, an infographic featuring nine badges you can implement today, and a downloadable library of badge designs to help you get started. #Technology by John Jennings

The Carrot and the Stick: 2 Treatments for Absenteeism With a carrot-and-stick approach, you can attack your district’s absenteeism problem from more than one angle. #Achievement by Nickey Pietila

Weighing the Benefits of Project-Based Learning The benefits of project-based learning start in the classroom and spread throughout the community and beyond. If you haven’t considered this alternative learning approach yet, take some time to explore its potential. #Achievement by Nickey Pietila

3 Conversations to Follow in 2017 With 2016 coming to a close, here’s a look at three topics that will feature in education conversations in 2017.   #Culture by Lauren Gilchrist

Can Encouragement be Quantified? Too many qualified students are missing out on college due to a lack of support. Research has helped us understand the correlation between encouragement and college enrollment, but what can you do to start a new cycle of college success? #Achievement by Nickey Pietila

Guest Post: Why We Do What We Do in the School Business Office The business office and the classroom might seem miles apart, but they are united by a shared purpose. Read about one school business leader's quest to rediscover meaning in his day-to-day work. #Business by Brian Adesso

Where is the Middle Leadership in Our Schools? How could another level of leadership between principals and teachers change our schools? Middle leadership is catching on in high-performing schools around the world, and it can lead to big benefits in student achievement and staff effectiveness. #Leadership by Nickey Pietila

Get to the Heart of Disruptive Behavior Even though most administrators and educators agree that behavioral issues impede learning, few are consistently recording and analyzing behavioral data. In this article, we explore the strategies that will help you get to the heart of disruptive behavior. #Data by Leslie Strong

Libraries: The New Epicenters of Technology It’s time to turn the page on the library as we know it. Here are some tips for turning your school libraries into the heart and soul of your technology initiatives. #Technology by Lauren Gilchrist

Is Email Dying? If email is on its way out, what is taking its place? Here's a look at three communication trends vying to fill the gap.  #Technology by John Jennings

Flex Mod Scheduling Makes a Comeback Looking for an alternative to the 7- or 8-period daily schedule? We’re taking a closer look at the Flex Mod schedule and the possibilities and challenges of this growing scheduling trend. #Achievement by John Jennings

There Are No Low-Tech Fields Industries that once might have been considered “low-tech” are now desperately in need of people with technology skills. Is your district preparing students for a world where tech-savviness is no longer optional?  #Technology by Lauren Gilchrist

How to Win a Millennial’s Loyalty Your millennials want to be your biggest cheerleaders. We want to wear your t-shirts, puff out our chests, and say, "Yea, I work there." How can we find common ground on a workplace culture we can all live with? #Culture by John Jennings

Where Have All the Subs Gone? Schools around the country are facing a dire shortage of substitute teachers, and the causes are as diverse as the solutions. #Culture by Leslie Strong

The Mobile Health Office Are you thinking about breaking free from brick-and-mortar school health offices? Do budget concerns or a lack of nurses have you looking for alternatives? Let's take a ride on the school health bus! #Technology by Leah Kruger

Tackling the K-12 IT Staffing Challenge The amount of technology that goes into running a modern school district is staggering. Unfortunately, the resources and talent being allocated to IT departments don’t always keep up with the demands.  #Leadership by Cliff King

3 Ways to Treat Chronic Absenteeism Chronic absence plagues millions of students across the nation. Research has shown the detrimental effects these absences have on their futures – and the future of our schools. Here are three steps you can take to tackle this issue head-on.   #Achievement by Leslie Strong

Would Beethoven Shine in Your District? Are you doing enough to keep your advanced students invested in their education? Gifted and talented supports are making a comeback, and the research looks promising. Try out some of these alternative approaches to discover and nurture the genius in every kid. #Achievement by Leah Kruger

Is College Success a K-12 Problem? There's no denying the fact that college readiness is a K-12 concern, but what about college success? Leaders rise to this challenge not just out of a sense of duty, but also because they're committed to the success of students after graduation. #Achievement by Connie Bowman

The Future of Onboarding: Say Goodbye to Sink or Swim Will they sink…or will they swim? Once you’ve hired the right candidates, it's important to make them comfortable and get them up to speed. Research shows that your onboarding approach makes all the difference.    #Business by Nickey Pietila

Hand-Picked: Tips for Hiring Ah, the hiring process... It can be time consuming, difficult, and inconvenient. But it’s also one of the most important elements of a successful school district. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you look to fill those open positions for next year.  #Business by Leslie Strong

1974: A Brief History of Student Data Privacy A lot can change in 40 years, but the guiding piece of legislation protecting the privacy of student education records remains the same. Do you have a clear understanding of FERPA? How about the rest of your team? Get caught up in less than five minutes with this video. #Data by John Jennings

3 Proven Ways to Defeat Fraud Imagine discovering that while you've been agonizing over pennies in the budget, hundreds or thousands of dollars were being inaccurately reported or rerouted with malicious intent. It happens all the time. But it doesn't have to. #Business by Matt Zdroik

Next Man Up: Depth Charts and the District Office It's the year of the backup. Just as NFL teams have been forced to deal a slew of star player injuries, so too do school district offices struggle to stay competitive when turnover strikes their MVPs. Cue the Employee Disaster Recovery Plan. Includes infographic. #Culture by Tom King

3 Conversations to Watch in 2016 With another year coming to a close, it’s time to look ahead. Here are three topics that will dominate the education circuit in the coming year.  #Culture by Lauren Gilchrist

3 Easy Ways for Your District to Go Green As you ring in the New Year, look for ways to go green and save your district time and money. Get started by electronically distributing W-2s, employee offer letters, and custom forms. #Business by Matt Zdroik

Defined Autonomy: A Proven Approach to EdLeadership Are school district administrators an undervalued source of leadership or a bureaucratic roadblock on the way to progress? According to one study, the answer lies in the leader's approach. #Leadership by Ray Ackerlund

The Evolving Executive In nearly 7 years as CEO, I’ve witnessed my share of change. If I were to compare my role when I stepped into the position to my responsibilities today, the two job descriptions would have striking differences. The same can be said for the school district executives that I’ve worked closely with over the years... #Leadership by Cliff King

5 Education TED Talks You Should See TED talks have taken the world by storm. But what are they and how can they benefit you? We’ve got the answers. Plus we’ve included five can’t-miss edu-related talks to kickoff your TED endeavors. #Culture by Lauren Gilchrist

Is "Discipline" an Outdated Word? Discipline continues to be a tenuous topic in education discussions. Some semblance of order has to be maintained, but at what cost? Are suspensions actually helping students get on the right track, or speeding up the inevitable transition to the court system? Meanwhile, countless studies are showing the powerful effects of positive behavior management. #Achievement by Leslie Strong

Standards-Based Grading: The New Benchmark Have you considered how weighted averages can result in the inaccurate reporting of comprehension levels? Or how less-than-rigorous extra credit opportunities might actually be hampering achievement? Our obsession with points, percentages, and letter grades appears to be on its way out thanks to the rise of standards-based grading at the secondary level.  #Achievement by Leah Kruger

Too Much Access: The FERPA Compliance Gap What does the "legitimate educational interest" clause of FERPA have to do with your SIS? Here's how you can avoid the kind of audit failures that have plagued school districts throughout the country. #Data by John Jennings

Videos: The New Standard for PD It's well past time to reimagine professional development. From internal tech training to deep pedagogical growth, video is proving to be a more efficient, convenient, and economical avenue for the development and collaboration of educators.  #Culture by Lauren Gilchrist

Test Scores: The RBI of Student Data For the first 100+ years of baseball's existence, the run-batted-in (RBI) stood in the pantheon of baseball card statistics. Only recently did we come to the realization that the RBI was more a product of luck, environment and opportunity than a definining attribute of a hitter. Sound familiar? #Data by John Jennings

The Golden Minute: Reduce Dropout Rates in One Easy Step Can spending one additional minute each week on parent-teacher communication really have a profound impact on student outcomes? Researchers from Harvard and Brown universities think so...  #Achievement by Leah Kruger

Improve Community Outreach over the Summer in 4 Easy Steps As competition for enrollment increases, community relations continue to be a key component of successful school districts. The summer months offer a great opportunity to get proactive with your outreach programs - here are 4 ways to improve your public perception while students are out.  #Leadership by Ray Ackerlund

A Future Ready Primer for Superintendents One of the major takeaways from the 2014-15 school year was the Future Ready Schools initiative, led by the U.S. Department of Education and Alliance for Excellent Education. #Leadership by John Jennings

Data Accessibility is Still a Principal Concern Principals have significant talent management responsibilties, but are they always equipped with the best tools for the job? Probably not, according to a May, 2014 report. What can district leaders do to better support these efforts? #Data by John Jennings

10 Questions for a Leading Superintendent Superintendents play a critical role in establishing school district leadership strategies and pursuing achievement goals. We talked to Dr. Joseph Burns about some emerging K-12 trends and the specific steps he has taken to position his district for long-term success. #Leadership by Dr. Joseph Burns

Is Your Budgeting Process Overly Complicated? As your budget begins to take shape for the upcoming fiscal year, take a moment to consider the process itself. Are you able to focus your time and effort on making sure that everything is adequately funded without getting bogged down in logistics?  #Business by Matt Zdroik

Protecting Student Data The protection of student data received a welcome boost in awareness thanks to recent remarks from President Obama coinciding with his proposal of a new Student Digital Privacy Act in January. Unfortunately, some of the most important factors are often overlooked. Last year, we examined the difference between privacy and security and made some best practice recommendations for both...  #Data by Ray Ackerlund

Hot Take: Automated Classrooms Instructional hours have always been at a premium, but never more so than today. Here's a look at how new advancements in technology can help school districts cut operating costs and keep students safe.  #Technology by John Jennings

3 Ways to Improve Community Relations in Your District School districts and their communities are too often at odds with each other despite the shared goal of helping students achieve success. Here are three emerging strategies that you can use to promote partnership over confrontation by nurturing the symbiotic relationship between district and community...  #Leadership by Ray Ackerlund

The Possibilities of Blended Hiring Blended learning has taken off in classrooms, and the same elements being used to support instruction can also be applied to district hiring. In this article, we examine 5 steps to help you attract and identify better teacher candidates through a combination of strategy and technology.  #Business by John Jennings


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