Odds and Ends About David R. Schuler
A collection of short takes about the distinctive characteristics of David Schuler, who was named 2018 National Superintendent of the Year® on Thursday. Creating an ‘Aha’ Moment David Schuler is relentless about identifying obstacles that hold students back and systematically mapping out ways to overcome them. But occasionally, solutions come in a flash of […]
Districts Detail Training to Remedy Discipline Disparities
A disproportionate number of students are suspended and even expelled in many school districts. The vast majority of these suspensions are for minor and discretionary infractions in the classrooms, hallways and cafeterias for behaviors such as disrupting class, talking back to administrators, tardiness and violating the dress code. That stark reality was shared at a […]
Billionaire Philanthropist to AASA: Superintendents Should Tap Their Grads for Big Support
The CEO and co-founder of the Blackstone Group, a global private equity firm with $434 billion in assets, told school system leaders they ought to solicit the successful graduates of their public schools for the same kind of financial support that has flowed regularly to private schools and colleges. Addressing the 1st General Session Thursday […]
Nevada District Uses Tech for Social-Emotional Learning
Social-emotional learning, or the process of acquiring social skills and the ability to control emotions, has a direct bearing on academic achievement, according to a pair of conference panelists who discussed the subject Thursday morning. Traci Davis, who is in her seventh year as superintendent of the Washoe County, Nev., School District, began the hour-long […]
The Middle School Kindness Challenge
Sharon Contreras, superintendent of Guilford County, N.C., Schools accepted the Middle School Kindness Challenge earlier this school year for her district. She described what that meant to her schools during a session at AASA’s national conference in Nashville on Thursday. Contreras was joined by her colleague Charlos Banks, executive director of student services and character […]
AASA Voice Sought By News Media on Tragic School Shooting Deaths
News media have sought perspective from AASA on the latest school shooting tragedy, leading to 17 deaths in the Broward County, Fla., school system. The association is often a go-to source for reporters seeking comment on national developments involving elementary and secondary schools. The network affiliates in Nashville for ABC, CBS and NBC inquired about […]
VIDEO: Value of the AASA Marketplace (2:04)
Three superintendents on how they benefit from their time visiting with commercial exhibitors in the AASA Marketplace at the association’s national conference.
Book Author Goodwin Lists Resilience as Trait of Top Leadership
Resilience, the ability to withstand adversity and learning from one’s mistakes are traits of most strong leaders, Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin told an audience of AASA conference participants Thursday evening. Goodwin toggled in her remarks at the 1st General Session between the past and the present, stressing the important role […]
Creating Future-Ready Schools Through Practices of Present
Joe Sanfelippo, superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Wisconsin, had an unusual request for someone about to start a session at the AASA national conference Thursday. “Pull out your cellphone,” he urged the 150 superintendents in the room, who were there for his session titled Creating Future-Ready Schools. Then, he added to his […]
Three Testify About Their Payoff From AASA Supervisor Academy
Laser focus. Better listening. Genuine partnerships. These are some of the benefits of the AASA National Supervisor Academy, a program launched in 2017 created by a partnership between University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership and AASA. The professional development program is for central-office leaders who are looking at ways to increase their principals’ instructional […]