School Administrator: January 2021
Early Learning Done Remotely




A Conversation With John Kotter: Leading Transformative Change
Our Thought Leadership Series features retired superintendent Larry Nyland interviewing John P. Kotter, author of That’s Not How We Do It Here! A Story About How Organizations Rise and Fall … and Can Rise Again.

Brain-Compatible Instruction for Young Learners in a Remote World
BY LINDA L. JORDAN
An understanding of neuroscience contributes to growth experiences of youngsters, even in virtual settings.

    Trauma Sensitivity in Early Learning
    BY SUSAN F. COLE AND JOANNE E. CAMILLO
    Caring connections with students and families can help combat the pandemic’s severe effects.

    My Learning Curve for Early Learning
    BY PETER DALLAS FINCH
    School system leaders with limited exposure can be pacesetters in lifting early childhood education.

    What Head Start Can Teach Us About Engaging Families
    BY DEBORAH L. BERGERON
    The national director of Head Start, a former principal, on mutually advantageous, reciprocal connections.

    The Power of Play
    BY PASI SAHLBERG
    A Finnish educator’s views on the essential place of unstructured school time during the school day.

         



        STARTING POINT
        Our attention to the pandemic’s powerful punch to those in the early levels of education.

        STATE OF THE SUPERINTENDENCY
        Social Media Presence
        How many superintendents are daily users and how many try to stay away?

        BEST OF THE BLOGS
        Excerpts from four thoughtful blog posts relating to superintendents’ work in the most trying times for our public schools.

        ETHICAL EDUCATOR
        Tattling on Truant Peers
        What’s a school district administrator to do with knowledge shared by a son about his friends’ inclination to skip online classes in a neighboring school system?
         
        LEGAL BRIEF
        Reducing Liability From Complaints
        BY SARA G. BOUCEK
        Limiting the school district’s risk will mean de-escalating parental or citizen beefs before they reach the courts.

        BOARD-SAVVY SUPERINTENDENT
        Policy Pitfalls Awaiting Triage
        BY COURTNEY SANIK
        Working together to update your school board policy book that often grow dusty without periodic attention and renewal as conditions change.

        MY VIEW
        There’s No Leadership Without ‘Nuance’
        BY MICHAEL FULLAN 
        The venerable book author wonders whether school leaders today carry the ability to link contextual details to the big picture to effect complex change.

        MY VIEW
        One Study Is Enough to Be Dangerous
        BY NORA E. GORDON
        Educators ought to be wary of relying on a single piece of research to back one’s position with confidence.

        MY VIEW
        Janitor to Custodian to Superhero
        BY PETER C. BLAKE
        A small-city superintendent shares his appreciation for those staff members who maintain school buildings as healthy workplaces amidst the pandemic — often out of sight but not out of mind.

        Reading & Resources

        • Book Reviews
        • Abstract
        • Bits & Pieces

         

          

        PRESIDENT’S CORNER
        Creating Spaces for Collaboration
        BY KRISTI WILSON
        Symbiotic exchange leads to sharing, learning and strategizing, especially when it comes to educating our youngest students.

        EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE
        Our Actions on the Early Learning Front
        BY DANIEL A. DOMENECH
        How your professional association is making a major commitment to growing early childhood programs nationally.

        A monthly compilation of members’ career movements.

        PROFILE        : Kenny Rodrequez
        BY JOETTA SACK-MIN
        The superintendent in Grandview, Mo., had all of his communication channels open and operating when the pandemic struck.

         



        READER REPLY

        LEADERSHIP LITE