Best of the Blogs
School Administrator, December 2018


“[M]y observations did serve to reinforce my concerns against over-reliance on high-stakes testing and the injurious impact that such tests have on students. Many South Korean educators and families with whom I spoke are hopeful that their system of public education will start to move away from the grim ‘examination nightmare’ presented by their emphasis on stressful college entrance examinations.”

From “What I Did Last Summer” by Robert Pritchard (superintendent, South Orangetown Central School District, Blauvelt, N.Y.) on his Superintendent’s Blog


“While we certainly encourage community members to use the logo on social media platforms to show school spirit and community pride, we similarly discourage its use to infer or imply the District supports a particular political group, candidate, or position.”

From “District Trademark” by Adam Spina (superintendent, Williamston Community Schools, Williamston, Mich.) on his Superintendent’s Blog


“People that I work with know my baby rule, which states, ‘When babies come to central office, my office is their first stop.’”

From “Grandparents and Early Learning” by Chris Smeaton (superintendent, Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Separate Regional Division 4, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada) on his Superintendent’s Blog


“[W]hen I made the effort to really get to know my students (all 110 of them) and remembered to ask about the weekend football game … I marveled at what a difference this made to student engagement. How could I have not known about the value of relationships?”

From “Confessions of an Average Teacher” by Judy Paolucci (superintendent, Smithfield Public Schools, Smithfield, R.I.) on her blog Super Scoop



Read the full postings of these and other members’ blogs at www.aasa.org/SAblogs.aspx.