Transitioning from a focus on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) to Leadership and Character Development (LCD) entails a broader perspective...
All Blog Posts
Congratulations on your new role as a Multilingual Director/Coordinator! Your dedication to supporting Emergent Bilingual (EB) students has paid off...
In an effort to align Individual Graduation Committees (IBCs) and Programs of Study, while also phasing out sunsetting IBCs, the Texas Education...
The public education system in Texas plays a critical role in shaping our children’s future. Dedicated, hardworking teachers are the backbone...
By introducing the A-F system, TEA committed to keeping the same calculations and cut scores for up to five consecutive years. This allows for...
Classroom Instruction, Instructional Coaching, Strategic Instruction, Subject Areas
Nurturing a Growth Mindset in Math
Some of the consistent difficulties that ALL educators are confronted with include challenging behaviors and decreased motivation. It can be...
Summer Johnson, a high school student in Region 13, shares her perspective on navigating life with a visual impairment. She shares some dos and...
Advanced Academics, Classroom Instruction, Strategic Instruction
Do You Know Your Gifted and Talented Program Goals?
Gifted and Talented (GT) Programs vary across campuses, districts, and the state. Do you know your gifted and talented program goals? Are you...
Announcements
2024 Regional Teacher of the Year awards to Austin ISD’s Megan Vasquez and Samantha Marion
Megan Vasquez, the Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Samantha Marion, the Secondary Teacher of the Year, both representing Austin Independent...
Welcome to your first year as a Secondary Reading Language Arts teacher! Whether you just graduated from college with an education degree or you...
Behavior coaches are educational professionals who work with students, teachers, and administrators to help improve school climate and reduce problem...
In Texas, the accountability system serves as a vital tool for continuously improving student performance and eliminating achievement gaps based on...
As the backbone of any educational institution, school principals play a crucial role in shaping the future of students, teachers, and the school...
With the influx of technology into schools over the last three years, it is more important than ever to consider how and why we use technology in the...
When filling vacancies in your district, navigating the variety of teacher certification options and requirements can be challenging. Our Educator...
In an effort to enhance accountability and support dropout recovery schools (DRS), the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has proposed a separate...
Campus Leadership, The Practical Principal
Refine Systems to Regain Time for Instructional Leadership
You’ve received your student achievement results from the past school year. Your leadership team and you reflected on the data and are in the process...
No matter which classroom management system you choose to implement in your classroom, they all include these five key variables: Structure and...
Darren Webb Darren Webb, superintendent of Lago Vista ISD, has been named the 2023 Regional Superintendent of the Year by Education Service...
Academic Growth calculation is one of the big changes in the refreshed A-F Accountability System. TEA continues to evaluate growth in multiple ways...
The school year has ended; your teachers and students have left the building, and you’re closing out the year. As a proactive school principal, you...
Distance Learning, Early Childhood, Special Education, Subject Areas
Top Apps for Dyslexic Students to Enhance Literacy Skills this Summer
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Announcements, Migrant Education Program
The Migrant Education Program Takes Students to Washington D.C. for Leadership Program
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...