Harnessing Technology to Empower Dyslexic Learners During the Summer Summer break is an ideal time for students to relax, rejuvenate, and engage in...
How the changes affect Consecutive Years and D Ratings The education system in Texas is constantly evolving to better serve its students. One change...
As the school year draws to a close, it’s important for instructional coaches to take time for self-reflection. Reflection allows you to...
As the school year comes to a close, it’s natural for teachers to reflect on their successes, challenges, and areas for growth. Taking the time...
The Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program is an innovative and exciting initiative that offers Texas school districts the opportunity to reward...
This blog is part of The Practical Principal, a monthly series for today’s school leaders. We cover a variety of relevant topics and provide...
KEY POINTS No matter how many more clinicians we train, we cannot possibly meet the overwhelming needs of our youth using traditional delivery models...
Traditional school disciplinary strategies are guilty – guilty of being woefully ineffective and failing kids and educators alike. They aren’t...
Are you considering a career change and want to become a teacher in Texas? Alternative certification is an excellent option for those who want to...
Think about how much information you get every day from listening. Your boss, your colleagues, and your students communicate with you often. How...
Expressive arts therapy techniques are a unique and innovative approach to mental health and wellness that utilizes various forms of artistic...
The role of a superintendent is complex. They are the face of a school district and serve as a liaison between their community and the staff in their...
So you want to become a principal in Texas. That’s great! You’ve pursued leadership opportunities on your campus and talked with campus leaders you...
Every March I watch round after round of NCAA college basketball. A few inches can make the difference between a game-saving win or a loss. Players...
Restorative practices (RP) is a framework that is grounded in the values of showing respect, taking responsibility, and strengthening...
When I taught fourth-grade science in July 2020, I discovered the classroom textbooks had copyright dates of 1992, almost two decades before my...
Questioning is one of those skills that most, if not all, know is an important catalyst for learning and growth. Yet, with the fast-paced nature of...
Restorative practices is an alternative discipline method that focuses on building healthy relationships between students and adults in educational...
One of the biggest challenges that teachers and administrators face is classroom behavior. And things have definitely not gotten easier since COVID...
HB 3906 (2019) and HB 3261 (2021) require that new item types be developed for the STAAR tests. HB 3261 changes §39.023 (c-8) to read...
As a result of House Bill (HB) 3906, passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in 2019, the STAAR tests are undergoing a major redesign that will affect...
The STAAR redesign required by HB 3261 (2021) has implications for many aspects of STAAR administration beyond new item types, writing assessments...
Like past years, TEA Student Assessment offers optional assessment resources to districts and campuses for the 2022-2023 school year. These optional...
The role of the mediator is to help others resolve their problems in a mutually agreeable way without getting bogged down in the problem themselves...
August brings a lot of excitement, as well as anticipation. Accountability rates are officially released in August, on what is, for many, the first...
“It’s not what you expect, it’s what you inspect.” This is what Casey Sledge, P.E., of Sledge Engineering, wants superintendents and school...
Austin Independent School District and Round Rock Independent School District teachers have been named the 2023 Regional Teachers of the Year by...
In general, the STAAR EOC participation requirements state that a student “should take the STAAR EOC assessments—Algebra I, English I, English...
The Effective Schools Framework (ESF) is a guide developed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to establish a clear vision for districts and schools...
If the title of this blog post caught your attention, it is probably because you’ve wondered if those you lead, influence, and work with really care...
School librarians play an essential role in developing literacy skills by creating an environment that values and encourages students to read for...
The Migrant Education Program is federally funded. As part of Program-Specific Assurances and the e-grant application, the program must provide and...
If you’re reading this blog post, chances are that you’ve thought about taking the leap from being a teacher to a school principal. But...
Principals and assistant principals have complex jobs that get more and more complex every year. On top of the challenges school leaders face on a...
It’s back-to-school time and that means looking forward and planning for great activities for our students whether we are in person, virtual...
The time has come to look more closely at interpretation as an “other duty as assigned.” Meaningful communication with students’ caregivers is needed...
The Teacher Incentive Allotment is a big deal for Texas teachers and their students. Governor Abbott signed House Bill 3 into law in 2019. Included...
Now that school is over for the year, what are some ways to keep our students enriched and still learning during the summer break? What are some...
Response to Intervention, otherwise known as RTI, is a critical and multi-tier way of identifying and supporting students with behavior or learning...
Career and Technical Education, often abbreviated as CTE, isn’t just an educational buzzword, it’s a vital part of setting up our...
Let’s be honest, it’s been a really hard year for most of us, and an exceptionally hard school year for educators. Educators have been on the...
Educators know the difficulties of the summer slide⏤the phenomenon where students lose significant gains in math and reading over the summer months...
Turnaround schools are identified as underperforming schools that are in need of improvement. Being part of a turnaround program can feel a little...
Leading change and ensuring students on campus have what they need to be successful learners during the pandemic is a challenging charge. Within our...
Have you ever had a defeated feeling after you taught a lesson you thought was perfection, only to be met with blank stares and confusion from your...
When you get an email reminder from The Texas Education Agency (TEA) that your principal certificate is expiring soon, it can feel a little...
I remember being a young child watching Mr. Roger’s neighborhood on our family TV. We lived in a rural part of Texas and television reception was...
Formative Assessment is a teacher tool that’s sometimes overlooked but incredibly powerful tool. Formative assessments are a valuable piece of...
Each generation has their own defining characteristics, whether it’s the self-sufficiency of Baby Boomers or the desire for meaningful work...
Mindsets play an important role in our lives, especially when it comes to learning. A mindset is made up of the beliefs and thoughts that shape our...
