Best of the Blogs
School Administrator, January 2018


“What I have learned as I watch the Novi High School Marching Band is that it is a tremendously powerful and positive culture. … What these students do is not measured on a test. What these students do does not get published in the paper. What these students do does not lead the news at night.”

From “Measuring the Worth of a School” by Steve Matthews (superintendent, Novi Community School District, Novi, Mich.) on his blog The Superintendent’s Chair


“[W]hen facing challenging events and troubling times, I turn to the characters that brought such thoughtful and reflective insight as I grew up. So here goes … ‘You are braver than you believe, smarter than you seem, and stronger than you think.’ — Winnie-the-Pooh (A. A. Milne)”

From “September 15, 2017” by Michelle Reid (superintendent, Northshore School District, Bothell, Wash.) on her Superintendent’s Blog


“[B]eing a trustee is about supporting ALL students in the absence of any political agendas or single-minded issues and, most importantly, without inflated egos. Unfortunately, that is not what I’m seeing on social media as I view the campaigning throughout the province. … [W]e are slowly replicating the attack and smear politics … common with our southern neighbours.”

From “Trustee Elections” by Chris Smeaton (superintendent, Holy Spirit Catholic Schools, Lethbridge, Alberta) on his Superintendent’s Blog


“[I]t is also important to hire people that complement your weaknesses. It is only natural to want to hire people like you, who may not threaten or challenge the way you think and lead. However, it is critically important to change this mindset and do the opposite.”

From “Building Leadership Capacity One Teacher at a Time: Unleashing the Teacher Leadership Bench” by Kevin McIntyre (superintendent, Milford, Mass.) on his blog Unbounded Leadership


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