Best of the Blogs
School Administrator, March 2022

“It is usually not a very good thing when the superintendent of an opponent from the previous night’s game reaches out following an event. I know, I’ve made that call a time or two. But to be completely honest, when I receive those phone calls it is often to comment on how well our students represented their school. Seriously. In the past I have had phone calls from managers at a McDonald’s, a grandmother who attended an event, or even an anonymous letter here or there. All saying how polite, thoughtful, and respectful our students are.”

From “Tremendous Amount of Pirate Pride!” by Anthony D. Voss, superintendent, Hudson Community School District, Hudson, Iowa, on his blog Education in Iowa Public Schools “We all need to make a valiant effort to talk positively about our work. I have encountered a series of questions and statements over the past 20 months about my position and the positions of all educators in my organization, in the state, and throughout the country. In each of those exchanges I found myself thinking about how to paint a positive picture of the work we all do.”

From “Our Role(s) in Educator Burnout, Recruitment, and Retention” by William Adams, superintendent, New London-Spicer Independent School District 0345, New London, N.M., on his blog Sup’s Slants
   
“[W]hen I walk around our schools, what I see represents all that is RIGHT in this world. … What I see … are smiling students (yes — even behind those masks). I hear laughter. I hear joy. I hear curiosity.”

From “December 22 Blog Post” by Heather Perry, superintendent, Gorham School District, Gorham, Maine, on her blog Monthly Superintendent’s Update
    
“With so much of one’s life being online these days, actual face-to-face interaction and knowing how to conduct oneself when in public places is a character trait that we all have to bring back to the table. Many students have to relearn how to function in a public setting. … We need to relearn that the type of language and the way one speaks/types in a text chat is not the same as an academic piece of writing or a face-to-face conversation.”

From “Danger, Beware” by Peter C. Blake, superintendent, Rome City School District, Rome, N.Y., on his blog Leading Through Listening
   
Read the full postings of these and other members’ blogs at www.aasa.org/SAblogs.aspx.