School Administrator: April 2017
Smarter Thinking About Smartphones
Finding Balance Over Cellphones at School
BY DELANEY RUSTON
The physician behind a film documentary on the subject shares four observations about student and teacher behavior. When are smartphones truly helpful and when do they become distracting?
Harnessing Cellphone ‘Addiction’
BY LIZ KOLB
What if the device of distraction could be harnessed into a powerful tool for learning and thoughtful digital citizenship? How educators might change the conversations that happen around mobile devices.
Beyond the Warnings of Social Media
BY DONNA M. FREITAS
Based on her interviews with students, a researcher believes educators have a duty to explore the meaning and purpose of social media and to help students relate to others through their postings.
Bring Your Own Device … and Manage Your Own Learning
BY RACHELLE N. WOOTEN
To embrace the use of students’ personal technology in schools, leadership in Fort Bend, Texas, finds it must meet teachers’ needs first. It’s helping them deal with a unique set of challenges compared to classrooms without a BYOD policy.
Adding School Climate and Culture to the Data Mix
BY JENNIFER MEDBERY
Dashboards represent a new application of statistical measures beyond students’ test scores.
Community Engagement 2.0
BY C.J. HUFF
A three-part scaffold for local schools to capture the public’s trust and build on it for the benefit of students. The author is a former superintendent.
STARTING POINT
The editor’s rationale for making sense of the ubiquitous cellphone.
STATE OF THE SUPERINTENDENCY
Pathways to the Superintendency
An infographic on common routes to the top.
BEST OF THE BLOGS
Pithy excerpts from four superintendents’ recent postings.
ETHICAL EDUCATOR
Praying for a Colleague
The dilemma of a 7 a.m. campus vigil for a prominent teacher.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Six Applicable Apps for Superintendents
BY NICK POLYAK
The top choices of his personal learning network.
LEGAL BRIEF
Educating Immigrant Students
BY JOY BASKIN
An issue at the center of public debate.
BOARD-SAVVY SUPERINTENDENT
Clamping Down on a Roving Board Member
BY MICHAEL T. ADAMSON
Aberrant behavior is easy to diagnose but harder to cure.
MY VIEW
‘So Tell Us About Your Failures’
BY DOUG EADIE
When conducting interviews, ask management candidates about coping with adversity.
MY VIEW
The Last Lesson Plan: On Losing a Teacher
BY PAM MORAN
A superintendent’s reflection on the most recent loss in her school community.
Reading & Resources
- Book Reviews
- Why I Wrote This Book...
- Abstract
- Bits & Pieces
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
The Rule of Gold
BY ALTON L. FRAILEY
Living and leading with a simple notion: Treating people well.
EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE
An Expanded Principle in Our Advocacy
BY DANIEL A. DOMENECH
The altered landscape in Washington heightens and broadens the advocacy role for AASA.
INSIDE AASA
Noelle Ellerson Ng on Rural Schools Advocacy
The association’s federal policy work for a full third of the nation’s schools.
SCHOOL SOLUTIONS
What’s Working, and What’s Not
BY BOBBI DEPORTER
Devising a system that tracks gems (successes) and opps (challenges) in schooling.
PEOPLE WATCH
Our compilation of the latest career changers in the superintendent ranks.
PROFILE: Kristen E. Stringfellow
BY PAUL RIEDE
Always “the new kid” as a youth, the superintendent in South Kingstown, R.I., ensures all students feel welcomed.
READER REPLY
LEADERSHIP LITE