Tag:

administrator

Five Foundations for Online Learning

by Elaine Plybon, Guest Author May 10, 2021

written by Elaine Plybon, Guest Author

After this year of new experiences, districts are busy working on plans for next year. Although many plan on returning to in-person instruction, others are addressing their responsibility to serve the families who have decided that online learning is the right fit for their student. This article aims to provide administrators with key points to consider when thinking about implementing a new, virtual program.

Professional Development

Professional development is the first item on the list because it is the most important to the success of any new initiative. Although many teachers have experienced remote teaching this year, there are some important differences between that emergency response and a dedicated, full-time, high-quality online program. Teachers should be provided opportunities to learn about the similarities and differences between traditional and online teaching. They should also receive development and practice in the area of online course design. Course design is different than lesson planning, and a teacher who is equipped with a strong understanding of good online course design will be ready for this new role.

As you consider each of these points, remember that online classrooms are not so different from traditional classrooms. Building the foundation for an online classroom should start with things teachers are already familiar with. For example, to answer a question like “How do we keep students from cheating in their online course?”, you should begin by thinking about the ways that a traditional teacher manages cheating in their classroom. Thinking through these similarities and then planning for the differences can reduce the unknowns for a teacher or administrator new to online learning.

Things to consider:

A district must decide which standards for quality their instruction and course design will follow. There are nationally accepted standards or a district may choose to write their own internal set of standards.
Every teacher who uses technology in their classroom or in an online environment must have a working knowledge of web accessibility standards and Universal Design for Learning.
All teachers and administrators who will be involved with the online program must have a thorough understanding of the district-chosen Learning Management System (LMS).

Delivery

Before any meaningful work can be done to develop the structure and content for an online program, a district must determine through what platform they will provide instruction. Parents and students will need to have one place to log into in order to understand expectations.

Things to consider:

Does this LMS share information with the district gradebook?
Does this LMS provide ways for students to collaborate with each other?
Does this LMS have a means for students and teachers to communicate with each other?
Can classroom discussions be facilitated through this LMS?
Can parents track their student’s progress and assignments through the LMS?

Curriculum in Online Learning

There are several options for a district diving into the virtual learning arena for the first time. Determining which of these models work best for your school or district is a vital step in planning. Trying to mimic what another district has done may not always be the best solution for your district. As an administrator who has had a successful part-time virtual program for several years, I can look back and see that the entry point for each district can be different.

Things to Consider:

Do we have teaching staff who have the skills and expertise necessary to design and deliver instruction online?
Do we have any existing digital curricula that can be used for this purpose?
Would using a third-party instructional service and/or courses be beneficial to get started in this effort?
Will we want to have our online program mimic the district curriculum?
What will be our quality review process?
What is our long-term plan regarding curriculum? Does it fit into the district long-term plan for traditional classrooms?

Assessment

One of the things I learned as I developed the online learning program in Keller ISD is that if I really want to be able to understand the effectiveness and success of the online students, I need to be comparing their performance on instruments that are the same as those being used to assess success in the traditional classrooms. This meant that if students in a traditional classroom all take a common assessment or complete the same performance task, then those same common assessments and performance tasks need to be included in the online courses. This way, I can compare results from classrooms to the results from the online courses, which allows administrators to get a realistic view of the effectiveness of the online program and locate gaps that may need to be addressed.

Things to consider:

Although cheating in a traditional classroom is just as likely as cheating in an online classroom, there are ways that technology can assist in reducing these incidents. Explore the options in your chosen LMS such as plagiarism checkers, timers, and browser locks.
A well-written assessment not only assesses student mastery, it protects itself from cheating. Consider reducing the number of multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank assessments present in an online course and instead assess using open-ended questions, reflections, and projects that result in measurable products to assess mastery.
Online courses are a natural way for students to be able to prepare for their state-mandated assessments. With the instruction for the year always available at any time, students are able to review those concepts they struggled with or can’t remember. Additionally, absent or homebound students can have the information available to them wherever and whenever they need it.

Evaluation of Online Learning

As an administrator responsible for the evaluation of full-time virtual teachers, I have felt the difficulty in utilizing prescribed evaluation systems that were written for traditional classrooms. After researching the evaluation system in my state, I found that there was an allowance for non-traditional evaluations, as long as the group of teachers as a whole and their administrator agree in writing to what their administrator will be using to evaluate the domains of the evaluation system. If the administrator follows that agreement, the evaluation system can be a useful tool for educators to grow their strengths and identify areas for support.

Things to consider:

A walkthrough can easily be done in an online course to determine how well the teacher designs instruction, assesses their learners, and how well their students are engaging with the content.
In lieu of a 45-minute observation, an administrator might take an in-depth view of a unit in the course and be able to see the entire lesson cycle as it was presented, received by the learners, retaught by the instructor, and assessed. This is actually a better, holistic, view of the performance of an online teacher than when we observe only part of a lesson cycle in a traditional classroom.
If the teacher holds tutorial sessions or synchronous sessions, an administrator should try to observe there as well. The strength of an educator to develop relationships in an online environment through both synchronous and asynchronous means is vital to the success of their students.
Is the teacher “present” in the course? The culture created in an online classroom (or not created in an online classroom) can easily be seen through these course observations.

Building a quality online learning program from scratch is not something that can be done overnight. Utilizing these points to consider can help a district team to identify the one area they will focus on for the coming year, what their long-range goals are, and the steps that will be necessary for the success of the initiative.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels

May 10, 2021 1 comment

Leadership

Leadership in Times of Chaos

by Dr. Bruce Ellis September 2, 2020

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Maybe you, like me, have thought multiple times, “Oh, if we could just go back to the way things were before COVID-19.” Even that thought itself could end with an exclamation mark at times. But things have changed and continue to change. And, for many folks, this change may feel like chaos. Regardless of what aspect of life you consider, there seems to be some level of chaos. But is all chaos bad? It probably depends on how we define chaos and how we as leaders respond to it.

A Quick Look at Chaos

Interesting to note, as I Google the word “chaos,” I’m given assistance from a variety of resources. One, interestingly enough, is from Google Books Ngram Viewer. This is a dangerous site for logophiles (lovers of words) in that you can easily spend an hour going down different rabbit holes exploring a string of words.

Nerdy? Yes. Fun? I think so … but I’ve been isolated for longer than I prefer. Anyway, from the 1910s forward, there is a general increase in the use of the word “chaos.” And, as of 1980 onward, the trend greatly increases. If you explore the word in other languages, you’ll find they all hold true to this increased use of the word.

So what does that mean for leaders? Or, a possibly better question, “What is one feasible, beneficial application that leaders can take away from this?”

Well, if you think about it, we had the Age of Mechanical Production that led into the Age of Science and Mass Production that led into the Digital Revolution that has led us to this Fourth Industrial Revolution. With each phase, I would imagine that there were folk who used the term “chaos” to describe the shift.

Though COVID-19 isn’t a technology breakthrough, it is causing us to rethink how we do pretty much everything. It’s spurning new innovation and even removing some bureaucracy that has probably slowed down innovation. As an optimist, I am inclined to think that education will have improvements because of this “chaos.” And you have the opportunity to help others through this chaotic time whether you have the title of leader, changemaker, influencer, maker, designer, entrepreneur, or no title at all. So here are some ideas to help you lead through chaos.

Be Calm

One of the things your team needs from you is for you to be calm. Nothing is worse than having one of the Three Stooges at the helm frantically giving instructions. Being calm doesn’t mean that you have all the answers, but it does mean that you are aware of the chaos and you choose to be methodical, ask questions, and make decisions based on sound thought. If you are calm, your team will find it easier to be calm. Even if you have to fake it, be calm. In order to do so, you may need to find someone that can be your anchor amidst the storm.

Help Your Team Process

Different people like to process events, changes, and anxieties in different ways. Some folks become very chatty and need to verbalize and hear themselves think aloud. Other folks prefer to observe and quietly think. And, unfortunately, some folks may feel paralyzed by the uncertainty of the times.

Hopefully you’ve studied your team before now to know how each one processes. Consider how you can provide a variety of ways for your team to process – either in a safe, group setting or individually. You may need to set norms during these times so that it doesn’t become a gripe session and spiral down. Encourage and practice empathy among your team.

Ask your HR department if an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available. According to the Office of Personnel Management, EAP is “a voluntary, work-based program that offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees who have personal and/or work-related problems.” Many districts provide some level of assistance. This may be a very relevant resource for particular employees who may need to process, but do it with a professional that isn’t a coworker or supervisor.

Be a Good Listener

Regardless of the makeup of your team, be sure to listen to them. Each one is communicating during this time of chaos…some are just easier to hear than others. Practice good listening skills – whether you are listening to the person who is over-the-top verbose or whether you are listening to your team member who is taciturn. It may help to parrot back what you believe they are saying in order for them to feel heard and for you to better understand them. Consider asking open ended questions.

And for some, you may need to clarify that if they want advice, it would be helpful if they start the conversation with something like, “I’d like to share something with you and get your advice.” Nothing says you are a poor listener more than giving unsolicited advice.

Create Small Wins and Celebrate Successes

Production and output may be different for your team right now compared to “normal” times. If so, consider how you can create small wins that your team can accomplish that work towards the larger goal. Are there new benchmarks you can identify or goals you can set which are appropriate for this time that will help your team focus on their job? You may need to involve your team in identifying those. Look for opportunities to celebrate successes, achievements, improvements, milestones, and minor accomplishments.

Communicate Openly

As with any leadership role, there are things that you cannot tell your staff, but that doesn’t mean you cannot communicate openly. While it’s probably not the best idea to tell them, “I have no clue what we are doing,” you can let them know that leading through this time is different than anything you’ve done before and you are committed to the task at hand and the team’s well-being.

There may be times that you need to let them know what you don’t know; this isn’t to alarm them, but to let them know you are aware of the question and looking for answers. You may need to update an old-school technique of soliciting anonymous suggestions, questions, and concerns by creating an online form for your team to use. This allows them to submit what they are thinking and allows you to address it with the larger group. Chances are, if one person is concerned about something, then others may feel the same thing. Use it as a means for growth and community.

These are just a few suggestions and by no means an exhaustive list. We would like to hear what you would add to our list. It could be something you do with your team or staff to help in chaotic times or maybe something you’ve read and thought about using to help them.

Drop your idea in the comments and let us know.

September 2, 2020 1 comment

Launching a STEM Academy

by Jonas Greene, Guest Author June 25, 2020

written by Jonas Greene, Guest Author

National trends show the STEM job market is increasing exponentially. Students, however, are not always prepared to pursue those careers. In Lewisville ISD (LISD), our goal is that all of our students enjoy thriving, productive lives, and we want to make sure the programs we create are preparing them for that future.

To help us create programs that provide rich learning opportunities for students, LISD surveyed parents and found that the vast majority wanted to see an increase in STEM programming. These factors led to the district designing and developing its first STEM Academy. The following are a few strategies we have implemented to make our vision for STEM teaching and learning a reality.

Start Early and Support the Transition to a STEM Focus

We began preparing for the opening of the first STEM Academy at Donald Elementary about 18 months in advance, working with campus leaders, teachers, parents, and the community. We wanted to assure our community that our STEM Academy would be built on research and best practices in STEM, so we initiated a partnership with the National Institute for STEM Education (NISE) in 2017. The NISE certification process offers teachers professional learning and best practices in STEM education. It also provides accountability so our community knows that an LISD STEM Academy is not just something we labeled “STEM,” but would be vetted and recognized nationally by an outside organization.

During the 2017-18 school year, 22 teachers at Donald Elementary completed the National Certificate for STEM Teaching (NCST). With the support of a virtual STEM coach, they developed digital portfolios demonstrating their understanding of 15 STEM Teacher Actions across three domains: Creating an Environment for Learning, Building Scientific Understanding, and Engaging Students in Science and Engineering Practices. Additionally, the school completed its requirements for the National Certificate for STEM Excellence (NCSE)–Campus Certificate, developing a digital portfolio demonstrating the application of the 15 STEM Teacher Actions.

The LISD STEM Academy at Donald Elementary earned the NCSE–Campus Certificate in May 2018 and opened its doors to students in fall 2018. Since then, the program’s popularity in the LISD community has led to its expansion to other campuses. The LISD STEM Academy at Polser Elementary and LISD STEM Academy at Valley Ridge Elementary opened for the 2019-20 school year. To date, more than 60 teachers have gone through the certification process. Our district has plans to open additional STEM Academies in the coming years.

Motivate STEM Academy Teachers to Learn by Making It Voluntary

One key to our program’s success is that it is all voluntary. Leaving it up to people to be intrinsically motivated to learn creates more interest than if we had required them to get the certification — and teachers are more interested than we ever imagined.

All of the principals, assistant principals, and instructional coaches at the STEM Academies have also gone through the certification process, and they worked alongside the teachers. It is helpful for them to know what teachers are learning so they can support them in the learning process as well as during implementation.

Create an Integrated STEM Program that Students Experience All Day Long

Our STEM Academies integrate STEM practices into all instructional areas, including language arts, math, science, social studies, physical education, art, and music. They also provide instruction in engineering every day for every student. Since there were no state standards for engineering in the elementary grades, LISD designed its own. In addition, students experience instruction in robotics, computer programming, and career exploration. The instructional hours at a STEM Academy are 25 minutes longer than a typical LISD school day to allow for additional STEM learning experiences.

As part of the integrated STEM curriculum, students learn content through project-based learning. We integrate inquiry-based learning and problem-solving across the content areas. We call our model of instruction “STEM Plus.”

Build a Common Vocabulary

Having a common vocabulary helps us talk about what we mean by STEM in our STEM Academy program. For example, before our launch, there were misconceptions about “integration” being the same as “replacement.” Many teachers thought if they did an engineering task, then they did not have to teach science that day. However, science skills are critical to the engineering tasks students are working on. Integration is not about replacing; it is about making connections from one content area to another. Having this common vocabulary helps ensure that every stakeholder is on the same page.

Make the STEM Academy Replicable

The STEM Academy program, which is an LISD school choice program, has attracted new students, resulting in increased enrollment at the three elementary schools. During the application period for 2019-20, parent information sessions were attended by more than 400 families, and the district received applications for more than 450 students.

Having a streamlined method of professional development and curriculum development has helped expedite the replicability of our STEM Academy program. While each campus has its own personality and culture, the certification process helps us ensure the program offers the same quality and standards at every campus. Our STEM Academies are already seeing positive changes. For example, students are showing more creativity and critical thinking, and they are excited about learning and enjoy going to school. That is our goal — not to improve a test score, but to create engaging learning experiences that help each student develop creative thinking and problem solving skills.

Photos courtesy Lewisville ISD.

June 25, 2020 0 comments

CTO/CIO Leadership

Streamline Your Work with Joplin

by Miguel Guhlin May 25, 2020

written by Miguel Guhlin

Many administrators I know spend their time between two devices. The devices include their Windows 10 computer and their smartphone, usually an iPhone. If you’re using a Windows 10 or Mac computer, then you may be unaware of a powerful, free tool that can help you stay organized. In this blog entry, we’ll explore a few tips that take advantage of Joplin to organize your email, critical documents, contacts, to-do lists, and more.

Safeguarding Data

Before we go any further, let’s take a moment to explore why we would use a free, open source note-taking and to-do tool. As administrators, we often deal with sensitive data that requires encryption. Wouldn’t it be neat to have a tool that featured end to end encryption? That way, it doesn’t matter if someone did get access to your smartphone, iPad, or laptop/desktop device. The data would safeguarded.

The tool we’ll be using is the free, open source tool, Joplin. It saves data in encrypted format in your cloud storage solution, such as Dropbox. If you have used Evernote, then you’re familiar with how Joplin works. The only caveat is that you cannot access Joplin data via a Chromebook or web browser. You CAN save information from the web (such as articles, blog entries, pictures) to Joplin.

Let’s explore a few ways Joplin can make your life simpler. In the last tip, we’ll discuss encryption.

streamline

Source: CloudHQ: Video

Tip #1 – Organize Your Email

“I get hundreds of email per day. Most are throw-aways, but a few I need to refer to time and again. They are process and procedures of how we do things. I try saving them in Google, but they get lost.” One way to overcome email challenges like this is to create a notebook in Joplin. Use that notebook to house critical messages, processes, and procedures.

Use the Joplin Web Clipper to copy critical content from your G Suite EDU inbox to Joplin. The Web Clipper is a browser extension that allows you to save web pages and screenshots from your browser.

For example, I received this email about conducting technology audits. Since it’s a webinar I would like to attend, I saved the message (which arrived via Gmail) to Joplin. You can see the original message below, followed by how it looks in Joplin:

From My Email Inbox:

Joplin

What It Looks Like in Joplin:

One of the main benefits is that I now have a Markdown-formatted, easy-to-edit version on my device. This is a great way to pull content from the web and remix it. Once this content is in my Joplin notebook, I’m able to move it around and put it in any notebook I want via click-n-drag.

Did You Know?

Sign up for one of our Google Certified Educator certifications. You’ll learn about more than Google Meet, as well as earn 12 CPE hours per course. Use these courses to get Google Educator certified. Find out more online.

Tip #2 – Save Digital Documents

Tools like Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive make saving scanned documents easy. While both house your data, the data is not encrypted at rest. That means that anyone who gains access to your account can see them. This can happen via a phishing attack or cloud storage hack.

The questions I often get from security-savvy administrators is, “Is it encrypted? Is it safe?” They are leery of trusting anything to cloud storage without encryption. Joplin can be their perfect assistant. It offers end-to-end encryption, protecting data while in transit from your device to the cloud. It also encrypts that data while at rest. This means that, even if someone gets access, they will not be able to read or view the contents of your notes.

Pictures you save to your Joplin notebook feature encryption. Of course, once you save a picture into Joplin, make sure to remove it from your smartphone’s photo gallery.

Tip #3 – Check That Off Your List!

“What I like to do every morning is make a checklist of what I need to do each day.” She held up her phone and waved it in front of me with a smile. “If I run into new items, I add them to my digital checklist and keep going!”

Joplin

A lot of us have “To-Do” lists, but it’s so easy to see them as a list of items that never gets worked through. While many are using Microsoft To Do (which got a workover from Wunderlist folks) and Google Keep. others may not want a collaborative tool. One of the challenges of relying on a cloud to-do manager is that it may not sync up in low bandwidth environments. As such, you can rely on Joplin because it keeps a copy of all your to do lists and notes on each device you have.

Tip #4 – Track Your Troubles

“The ceiling is dripping right into this computer lab,” pointed out a colleague. I opened up a note in the Joplin notebook I had setup for the campus and snapped a picture. I added the the classroom number and now I had a visual record of a building problem. Later, when I got back to my office, I could write an email and attach the evidence.

Use the Joplin app as a trouble-tracker and documentation tool. School administrators run into problems daily. Snap a picture of the problem into a Joplin note to keep a record of it.

Tip #5 – Manage Your Meetings with Joplin

Stuck attending an endless parade of meetings? In most meetings, we write notes that won’t make sense to others. With a keyboard, I am able to take detailed notes. I can also snap pictures of meeting materials. This could be business cards, meeting agendas, and handouts. This makes organizing so much easier. Even if you take notes on paper, you can later snap a picture and drop it into your meeting notebook on Joplin.

I’ve tried all sorts of digital note-taking tools and digital styluses, and I keep coming back to the old tools. Those tools? Pad-and-pen or a keyboard, then save it all into a Joplin note.

You can also track vendor interactions. Any campus or district administrator knows that vendors are going to come calling. Depending on how I set up my notebooks in Joplin, I can organize by project and match vendors to the job. This makes it easier later.

A Note About Encryption Before We Finish Up

Protecting your private data, including notes about work, can be a real money saver. When you encrypt data at rest, you ensure that others cannot access sensitive data. What’s more, it’s protected under the Texas Safe Harbor law.

That means that what’s encrypted doesn’t have to be reported as lost or stolen. That’s a money saver because it means you don’t have to pay for identity protection for affected parties. Joplin encrypts data stored in your digital notebooks and cloud storage (e.g. Dropbox). I hope you’ll take advantage of encryption (but don’t lose the password).

What else could you save in Joplin’s Notebook app? A few more I can think of include travel receipts, critical notes, and more. Take a moment to explore Joplin and see if it works for you. Remember, if you don’t have any security concerns, then Google Keep may work well for you. If you need a full-featured text editor, then Microsoft OneNote may meet your needs. It’s a question of what you need the most. Since I am a minimalist, Joplin works well for me. Find out if it will for you.

May 25, 2020 2 comments

CTO/CIO Leadership

Supporting Staff While Working Remotely

by Dr. Bruce Ellis March 25, 2020

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

While it may be commonplace for finance or IT workers to work remotely, it is definitely not usual to have school teachers and district employees working remotely. That is, until now. Working remotely is a great benefit for some people, while others consider it akin to torture to endure what seems like solitary confinement.

So, what do you do if you are managing staff that are now trying to figure out this whole “working from home” thing? We have a few tips for you and would love to hear what additions you would add to our list. Let us know in the comments!

Set Guidelines and Expectations

If your staff has not worked remotely before, it is advisable to provide clear guidelines and expectations to them. Office rules that were once understood take on a whole new meaning when everyone is dispersed — including supervisors. See what others in your capacity are doing and what expectations they are communicating. Tweak those to fit your district’s policies and your personality.

Just like in your work environment previously this year, your staff perform better when they understand what is expected, what success looks like, and have the freedom to ask questions and get clarification. Being in a forced remote working situation makes that even more critical.

Encourage Routines

“Routines” don’t have to be a negative word. Whether we realize it or not, we all most likely have routines at work each day. Routines provide predictability, which, in turn, can help us cope and adjust to new situations more quickly. If your routine when you arrive at work is to get a cup of coffee, talk with your coworker for five minutes, and check email before diving into the heavy lifting for the day, consider how that might translate to working at home.

Some routines may need to be adjusted a little to fit the new environment of working remotely. At the office, you probably don’t think much about your routines; you just do them. Pause for a moment and actually write down what your routine might look like now. It might even help to put start and stop times to tasks and activities on your schedule. Decide to try it out for a few days and examine it as you are going through it.

After a few days, examine what you wrote out and tweak as needed. Building predictability into your day will help you get in a rhythm of being more productive and satisfied with how you are managing the “new normal.”

Get Moving

If you are like me, you may do more walking at work than you realize. Trips to the printer, restroom, front desk, break room, etc. all add up to not being quite so sedentary while in the office. If I’m not conscious of it, though, I may realize (afterwards) that I’ve been sitting in the same spot on the sofa for several hours working.

While it’s great to get in the zone, we don’t want to neglect our body. Encourage your staff to take a fifteen-minute walk mid-morning and then again about an hour or so after lunch. Getting up and getting the blood pumping doesn’t necessarily mean doing cardio, but it does mean that your staff will most likely be able to think better and therefore work better.

Have Face-to-Face Communications

Even when we cannot meet in person for staff meetings, we can still meet online and try to emulate some of the practices that we benefit from in face-to-face meetings. Plus, changing to a quarantined environment with little transition time makes it even more beneficial to see others, and to be seen.

There are some reports and bits of information that can be effectively shared by email. And, in a normal office environment, it might be advisable to cancel a meeting if there was no real need to get together. That is, if everything could be handled via email and collaborative documents. But right now, even if you don’t have a heavy agenda, it is important for everyone to feel connected.

Now that we at TCEA are all working remotely, at least through the next couple of weeks, one of our rules is that everyone has their video camera on during meetings. We aren’t meeting high executives or CEOs and trying to win over million dollar accounts; we are meeting with each other in real life situations, which sometimes means an occasional kid or pet running through the background, the doorbell alerting that a package has been dropped off, or (gasp!) a house that hasn’t had a maid step on the premises in years (if ever).

Keep Things Light

Yes, these are serious times. Yes, we are all under a lot of stress. That’s why it’s important for leaders to find ways to make staff feel less frightened and more able to handle the situation. You can do that by putting some fun in their day.

At our first TCEA remote staff meeting, we played a Kahoot! game to get to know each other even better and to help us reconnect. At our next one, Executive Director Lori Gracey has said that it will be silly hat day for us all and we should come to the Zoom meeting with our best bonnets on. I’m sure there will be other surprises as this sheltering in place continues. But that seems less stressful because we are all in it together and able to laugh at each other.

Gauge Your Staff

You should already know your staff. You know those that do better when you drop in for just a minute each morning, those that think of being quarantined and working alone is better than a Disney cruise, and those that need your occasional reassurance that they are doing a great job. Working remotely doesn’t change any of that. So, as you think about your staff, consider how you can be that same great leader you are in person, but now via telecommuting.

You don’t want to micromanage, but you do want to help each staff member in a way that is meaningful to them. Unfortunately for you, though, this will probably take more time on your part and require you to be more conscious of your actions. But you can do it. You are a great leader and that is what great leaders do.

Thank Those Going the Extra 1,000 Miles

While what the teachers are doing with distant students is absolutely amazing, there are other staff members who are also going above and beyond. The cafeteria workers, the bus drivers, the other admin members of the team — all of them are putting the needs of the children first, sometimes even about their own health or family. Be sure to let them know how much you appreciate them for that.

And don’t forget your tech staff. While we’ve been talking about digital learning for years, being thrown into the deep end of the pool like this without preparation or training time is scary. They believe that this remote learning can be a true boon for student empowerment and achievement. But they are stressed beyond belief right now as they try to solve issues like digital equity, parents who don’t understand how technology works, log in and software problems, and more. Give them a virtual high five to show that you’ve noticed their very hard work.

At times like these, your leadership skills may shine even brighter. Those things that were taken for granted by you and others will more likely be noticed when done with intention. As you support your staff and fellow administrators, consider these tips to help make it an easier transition in a chaotic time.

I know this isn’t an exhaustive list that I’ve shared, so I’m asking you to add to it in the comments below. What tip or activity that you’ve thought of has helped you and your staff? Do you have a boss that has done something well to make this time easier to manage? Give a shout out in the comments below. This is the place to pay it forward so other leaders can implement your ideas and further everyone’s success.

March 25, 2020 0 comments

Leadership Libraries

Teacher, Librarian, Leader

by Guest Blogger February 4, 2019

written by Guest Blogger

Who are our leaders?

When you think about leaders on your campus and in your district, who comes to mind? Most of us probably think of the people in particular roles that are found on every campus and in every district. There are superintendents and a variety of C-choose your letter-O roles. Principals are also an easy group to call out. Let’s call those the Capital-L Leaders. But what about the lowercase-l leaders? These are the boots-on-the-ground people who are in our buildings and working directly with students every day. Are you one of those? If you’re taking time to read this, I bet you are.

Jimmy Casas talks about awesomizers and awfulizers in his book Culturize (2017, Dave Burgess Consulting). You don’t need definitions of those terms to know what Casas is talking about. You are probably already picturing people in your building who fall into those categories. The real question is, on a regular basis, which one are you?

What do leaders look like?

Leaders set the tone. They demonstrate attitudes and characteristics that they want others to follow. Do they encourage positive attitudes and risk-taking? Are they problem solvers and innovative? Do they ask questions, listen to answers, and provide constructive feedback? Leaders continue to learn and encourage others to do the same. They cultivate networks where sharing takes place.

How can librarians step up their game as leaders?

Become an ambassador or get certified. Apple, Google, Flipgrid, Buncee, Symbaloo, and Common Sense Media are just a few of the platforms that allow educators to earn certifications or become ambassadors for their products. And don’t forget about the TCEA certifications available, from Chromebook and iPad to ISTE Educator Standards to several leadership programs.
Be a resource. Whether it’s a new tech tool or a new application or feature of an old one, stay current with technology and look for products and tips you can share with your faculty.
Be a collaborator. Sometimes it requires being the first to extend a hand. Reach out to others and talk about how you can work together. Emphasize combining strengths, not making up for deficiencies. Be willing to take the first step, but don’t be disheartened if you are turned down initially; try again another time.
Be a teacher. Librarians in Texas are, first and foremost, teachers. Whether you are teaching students or teachers – ideally both – put your skills to use. Engage and deliver relevant and timely instruction.
Be a student. Learn something new. Keep reading. Easy, right? And many of us are starting an amazing week of learning at the TCEA 2019 Convention. What better place to be a learner?
Find your niche. What can you do that others can’t? Maybe it’s finding and applying for grants. Maybe it’s creating community partnerships. There are so many possibilities. Become the person that the rest of the campus can’t imagine losing.
Be a researcher. Librarians come by this naturally. And what is a researcher if not a problem-solver? Find answers to questions. If you have a question that is specific to your environment and no answer exists, conduct the research. Action research and evidence-based practice land squarely in our court.
Look ahead. We don’t all have to be visionaries, but it’s hard to lead when you’re running behind. Prep instructional units and reading or other promotions in advance. Plan ahead. It’s easier to make changes than to create from scratch at the last minute. Then keep your lessons, notes, and ideas readily available for next year. You’ll know what worked, what needed improvement, and you’ll be ahead of the game, freeing time for other pressing issues.

It doesn’t matter what your role is, someone else is looking up to you. Whether you’re a Capital-L Leader or a lowercase-l leader, you make a difference. You can be a teacher, a librarian, or an administrator. You can be a new teacher, in mid-career, or have 20+ years behind you. Wherever you are, it’s time to step up and lead. Your students and your profession need you.

This is a guest blog by Kristi Starr as part of a monthly series of blogs from LIB-SIG. Kristi is the library media specialist and co-campus technology leader at Coronado High School in Lubbock ISD and the President of LIB-SIG.

February 4, 2019 0 comments

Leadership

You Can Get Lost Time Back

by Lori Gracey April 21, 2018

written by Lori Gracey

There are things you do as an administrator that not only suck the life out of you, they also take away time. Valuable time that you could be spending coaching new teachers or helping struggling students. Unfortunately, TCEA can’t help you with those. But we can show you tips and tricks to make you more productive and help you gain back some of that lost time.

Screen Shots Made Easier

Want to send your colleague a quick screen shot? Don’t bother with the old school “Print Screen” usage. Pin the Snipping Tool to your tool bar and take a snip of just what you want to share. Mark up, copy/paste, save, or send in a matter of seconds with no cropping or editing needed. Advance features like “Delay” even let you capture images from drop-drown menus for instructional guidance.

Pivot Table Love

Excel has many amazing features like the simple Filter option or advanced Vlookup functions, but the love of excel really lies in the Pivot Tables. Learn how to dissagregate data in simple steps with easy-to-use Pivot Table functions.

Take a look at your data before creating your pivot table. Knowing your data before it is condensed is critical so you can correctly interpret it and make sure that is the story you want it to tell. And keep in mind that not all people are “numbers: people; some people respond better to stories. So, after you’ve created your pivot table(s), be sure to add the story of what your data says. This will help you better communicate to all your stakeholders.

So Many Words!!!

Stop typing into your presentation! TLDR (Too Long Didn’t Read) is a real thing. More than four lines on a slide, throwing everything into bullet format, getting lost in the details… Don’t lose your audience in a slide with too much content. Instead, add a short video or pictures.

You can enrich user experiences with multimedia. PowerPoint allows you to embed videos from YouTube and Vimeo, as well as any videos you may have on your computer. When embedding video, be sure to save the video and the presentation file (PPTx) in the same folder.

Pictures should tell a story. Once you have crafted an enthralling story for your presentation, you need pictures that illustrate each well-defined idea or concept. The simpler the image, the more impact it can have on the viewer.

Need More?

Check out other TCEA blogs on productivity, including this one with three more tips and this one for OneNote users.

April 21, 2018 0 comments

CTO/CIO Google Tips and Tricks

TCEA Responds: Connect with Google Certified Administrators

by Miguel Guhlin June 1, 2017

written by Miguel Guhlin

Welcome to TCEA Responds #2. Submit your own question(s) online. Today’s topic is Google Certified Administrator communities.

Dear TCEA Responds:

Would it be possible to get an email group together of the people who attended the Admin Domain bootcamp? I have questions and I would love to have them/y’all to bounce them off of. Thanks, Starling!

Dear Starling:

Absolutely, we can get a group together to support the Google Certified Administrator Bootcamp session, keeping you in touch with other session participants. In fact, TCEA Professional Development Director Diana Benner started a Google Plus Community to facilitate sharing among TCEA Certified Google Administrators (click the link to apply to join if you have already attended a Google Certified Administrator Bootcamp via TCEA).

Other Google Certified Admin Communities

TCEA Responds There are also many other communities for Google Certified Administrators on Google Plus. The benefit of joining several communities is that you get diverse perspectives and insights. For example, John Sowash asked in one Google Plus Community “What advice do you have for completing all the Google exams?”

Responses included some of the following points from Edward Dougherty and Amanda LeBlanc:

Remember that exams are “open book,” so organize your resources prior to the exam.
Complete the Fundamentals Training, especially if you are new to G Suite.
Review the Sample Questions provided by Google.
Find a study buddy who can ask questions and simulate scenarios for you.
Check out YouTube videos if you need assistance with one of the G Suite applications.
Take your time and double-check your work (especially with sharing rights).
Find a quiet space to take your exam with no distractions.
Reach out to other certified educators/trainers if you have questions (Twitter, Google+, email district members who may be certified).
Take time to practice with each of the tools as you go through Fundamentals training – take any “new to you” tools for a test drive so that you can see the connections in your day-to-day teaching and learning environment.

Participate in TCEA Bootcamps

Of course, completing the preparation course that TCEA Google Certified Administrators and trainers developed prepares you well, too! Why don’t you join us for a TCEA Google Suites for Education session? You will learn a lot more than just Google tips and how-to strategies. And you will connect to fellow Texans ready to learn and grow with you. Check the calendar to see when the next workshop is.

June 1, 2017 0 comments

Google Tips and Tricks Leadership Microsoft Professional Learning

Learn to Work Smarter, Not Harder

by Dr. Bruce Ellis March 16, 2017

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Do you find that it is hard to get everything done on your to-do list? That you don’t delegate some tasks because you want them done a certain way and you don’t have time to train someone? That anticipating a day off causes more stress because you know that it means there is less time for you to accomplish the same amount of work? Join the crowd. According to research, being stressed out at work may be more common than you think. Join us at the Productivity Tools for Leaders and learn how to make better use of your technology, time, and people so that you are more effective in your work.

TCEA is offering a full-day workshop that will help you with these very issues. The workshop is designed specifically for administrators at both the campus level and central office. Join us on June 15, 2017 at the TCEA headquarters in Austin for a day packed full of helpful information that you can implement the next day at work. You’ll be able to choose from a variety of concurrent sessions to tailor your learning to best meet your needs. You’ll be inspired and motivated throughout the day, enjoy a good lunch, and leave with handouts from all the presentations (not just the ones you attended). Our learning experience strands include:

Doing More with Technology – Sessions focus on features and tricks to help you make better use of technology that you commonly use.
Time Management – Sessions focus on best strategies and tools that you can choose from to help you better construct your day and accomplish the tasks on your to-do list more effectively.
Empowering Staff – Sessions focus on strategies and tools to deal with different personality types, improving customer service, and even how to work with “difficult people.”

This event is only $125 for current TCEA members and $174 for non-TCEA members. Fun and relevant learning, lunch, and continuing education credits are all included. Bring your favorite device and let our experts help you master the tricks you learn.

Register at this website today as space is limited. If you have questions or would like more information, contact me at bellis@tcea.org or by phone at 512-450-5396. We look forward to seeing you here and hearing the successes you experience as you start implementing what you learned!

March 16, 2017 0 comments

Good Teaching Leadership

TCEA 2017 Welcomes Nadia Lopez

by Alexis Cline October 10, 2016

written by Alexis Cline

“There’s a lot of time being spent on how we make kids pass a test, and how validated we are by numbers, but through that process, we’re stressing ourselves out, and we’re losing the passion behind education.” Nadia Lopez (@TheLopezEffect)

Nadia Lopez was ready to leave education a couple of years ago. The long hours and hard work that came with founding and running Mott Hall Bridges Academy in Brooklyn were taking their toll. All of her students lived below the poverty line. In order to achieve the 98% graduation rate of the school’s first three graduating classes, Lopez had to make sure her students’ basic needs were being met before real learning could even begin to take place.

Lopez wanted each child to know that he or she matters, and so she checked in with every class each day and learned the names of every student. At Mott Hall Bridges, students are referred to as “scholars” and expectations are high. Lopez and her staff were committed to supporting and helping scholars succeed, but the challenges were, at times, overwhelming.

Then, 13-year old Vidal Chastanet, a scholar at Mott Hall Bridges, talked with Brandon Stanton of The Humans of New York blog. That changed everything.

Vidal called Principal Lopez the most influential person in his life, explaining: “When we get in trouble, she doesn’t suspend us,” he said. “She calls us to her office and explains to us how society was built down around us. And she tells us that each time somebody fails out of school, a new jail cell gets built. And one time she made every student stand up, one at a time, and she told each one of us that we matter.”

The blog post went viral and was shared 145,000 times. Nadia was then featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, NBC News, and other news outlets. She discusses the impact of The Humans of New York story in a compelling video.

In an interview with the PBS NewsHour, Lopez described her reaction to the blog post and the outpouring of support that followed. “I was overwhelmed with joy and filled with tears because it made me feel significant at a time when I didn’t really feel like I mattered in my work anymore.”

Since the blog post, Nadia’s commitment to her students and education has been renewed. She and The Humans of New York raised $1.4 million to endow a scholarship fund for graduates of Mott Hall Bridges. She has also hosted a principal forum in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education, was honored with the Black Girls Rock Change Agent Award televised on Black Entertainment Television (BET), and became a TED Fellow. She and Vidal also met President Obama in the Oval Office.

Nadia Lopez will be the closing keynote at TCEA 2017, offering her insights and inspiration to other educators. You can read her newly-released book, The Bridge to Brilliance: How One Principal in a Tough Community Is Inspiring the World, in preparation for what will be a highlight of TCEA’s annual convention.

October 10, 2016 0 comments

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