Letting Students Have a Say in School Policies and Practices Contributes to Heightened Engagement, Contend Panel of Superintendents
Three superintendent panelists talked about how student voice in school districts is almost invisible, yet it should be present everywhere. Michael Lubelfeld, superintendent of North Shore School District 112, Highland Park, Ill., was the main panelist of the student voice session on Thursday morning at the AASA National Conference on Education. Lubelfeld is passionate about […]
‘The Fred (Rogers’) Method’ for Raising Creative Kids Addressed in Conference Panel
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood,” sang panel moderator Greg Behr to the audience at a Thought Leader session on Thursday. They answered back with the call-and-response chorus, “A beautiful day for a neighborhood.” Fred Rogers’ television show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” brought a smiling, gentle friend to children who shared child-friendly information, songs and […]
Missouri Superintendent Curtis Cain Tabbed as 2022 National Superintendent of the Year at AASA Conference’s Opening Session
Curtis Cain, superintendent of the Wentzville School District in Wentzville, Mo., was named the National Superintendent of the Year during a ceremony Thursday afternoon on the stage at the 1st General Session of the AASA National Conference on Education at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn. Cain, 48, has led the fast-growing suburban district near […]
Education Secretary Cardona Talks Pandemic Relief, Federal Backing and His Own Appreciation for Those on the Front Lines at 1st General Session
“The work you are going to be doing over the next two years is critical to our country,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said at Thursday’s 1st General Session of the AASA national conference in Nashville. “This is as close to a reset as we get.” Speaking alongside AASA Executive Director Daniel Domenech, he […]
Mental Health Services Make Big Showing in AASA Exhibit Hall, Promoting Their Wares for Students, Staff
Working through the negative voice in your head after being bullied. Reconnecting with friends after a suicide attempt. Working through LGBTQ+ issues as a teen. These are just some of the storylines explored in the animated web series “My Life is Worth Living,” a free resource offered by the Cook Center for Human Connection. The […]
National Superintendent of the Year Curtis Cain’s Unflappable Presence Models Public School Leadership in Contentious Times
As superintendent of the Wenztville School District in suburban St. Louis, Mo., Curtis A. Cain covers a lot of ground. Not just the physical territory – the district’s 18 buildings over 90 square miles – but also the ideological terrain that has put so many superintendents to a stress test of late. Cain has managed […]
Doug Reeves: Post-Pandemic Schooling Must Emphasize Experimentation, Collaboration Among Administrators and Teachers
Douglas Reeves wants superintendents to know that implementing change in schools does not come solely from inspirational messages, but through what he calls the “science fair approach.” Put the focus on collaboration and experimentation, Reeves said, and stray away from trying to get everyone on board with the latest fad. In his presentation, “Deep Change: […]
Odds and Ends about Curtis Cain, 2022 National Superintendent of the Year Honoree
His Greatest Influence Curtis Cain, who is 48, considers mentorship the most profound impact on his 26 years in education. As he puts it: “We speak to the importance of significant relationships for students and, in numerous ways, this is true for professionals as well. From being a student to my teaching to engaging in […]
Social Media-Savvy Superintendents Provide Tips and Cautions by Drawing on Their Significant Use
Navigating the murky waters of social media has become a priority for superintendents, and a panel of six Twitter-savvy superintendents assured audience members at an AASA conference session Thursday that taking the plunge will ultimately result in positive outcomes for public education. A standing-room only crowd gathered in the AASA Social Media Lounge in Nashville […]
Women in Artful Leadership Addressed by a Veteran Trio in Conference Room of Eager Listeners
“Artful leadership builds on the innovative and creative talents of female leaders to challenge the status quo and open doors of opportunity for all students,” according to a joint statement issued at the AASA national conference Thursday by Carmella Franco, a retired superintendent, Maria Ott, a clinical professor at University of Southern California, and Ruth […]