Best of the Blogs
School Administrator, January 2020


“[T]here is a clear need for more mindfulness so that individuals can be more deliberate about their passive and active pursuits. We should spend a few days (or weeks) tracking our active and passive pursuits and how we are feeling on days when we do not have some balance.”

From “Encouraging Calmness in the Storm” by Patrick Larkin, assistant superintendent, Burlington Public Schools, Burlington, Mass., on his blog My Learning Journey


“Have you ever said, ‘Just give me a minute to think?’ We say this because we know that in order to think deeply about a problem, we need to devote time, energy and attention to the act of thinking.”

From “Creating a Culture of Thinking” by Kimberly Pietsch Miller, superintendent, Bexley City Schools, Bexley, Ohio, on her Superintendent’s Blog


“[Y]ou may have heard some version of the statement that ‘Classrooms have not changed much since they were first conceived in the 18th century.’ Invariably, the person making the argument would show a faded (black and white) picture of a classroom with rows of students in desks bisected by the teacher’s desk at the front of the class. (Do you ever notice that the kids in those pictures were never smiling?)”

From “Classrooms Then and Now” by Kevin Godden, superintendent, Abbotsford School District, Abbotsford, B.C., Canada, on his blog The Triumph of Teamwork


“I spend a lot of time in my car, driving from school to school or home to work. While the traffic may stress me out, I arrive early to my destination 99.9% of the time, so I try to take a moment to take at least 3 deep breaths before I step out of my car and into the next meeting or activity.”

From “Building Resiliency” by Amy Illingworth, assistant superintendent of educational services, Encinitas Union High School District, Encinitas, Calif., on her blog Reflections on Leadership and Learning



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