Leadership Development… Learn to Love Change 26 Nov 201712 Jan 2019 For many, change is one of life’s most difficult elements. Human beings are creatures of habit.[1] They like to create routines and stick with them. Often, it is with a…
Christian Education… TrustED School Leaders: Intentional Change Agents 19 Nov 201712 Jan 2019 A school leader exemplifies trust when he or she is “willing to challenge and actively challenges the status quo.”[1] This is especially seen in how they lead others through change.…
Academic Development… Grading for Communication NOT Compensation 12 Nov 201712 Jan 2019 For school leaders to demonstrate trust in the areas of instruction and assessment, it requires being up-to-date on the latest research-based best practices, and guiding schools through the current reformation,…
Leadership Development The School Leader’s Influence on Curriculum 5 Nov 201713 Sep 2020 The competent school leader can profoundly influence the curriculum. Their use of positional and personal power, authority, and persuasion as an administrator can largely define the curricular program. It is…
Academic Development… 4 Key Characteristics of an Effective Curricular Program 29 Oct 20178 Jan 2021 As noted in a another blog, trusted school leaders ensure that the pursuit of Authentic Literacy and student learning is supported by meaningful and immediate Feedback for Learning. In this…
Christian Education… INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION: Breeding a Culture of Best-Practice 15 Oct 201730 Nov 2018 A school leader gains trust when he or she “ensures faculty and staff are aware of the most current theories and practices and makes the discussion of these a regular…
Christian Education… 2 Flexibility Principles for Principals 8 Oct 201713 Sep 2020 School leaders demonstrate the leadership competency of supporting their faculty and staff when he or she is able to adapt their leadership style to the context and needs of the…
Leadership Development… Competency Builds Trusted School Leadership 1 Oct 20172 Dec 2018 “I don’t trust words. I trust actions.” – Unknown[1] Trusted school leaders are skilled in their area of work. They are competent professionals, current on the latest research and best…
Leadership Development… Teacher Association Groups – An Indicator of Distrust? 24 Sep 20172 Dec 2018 In schools where formal teacher association groups exist, trusted school leaders must demonstrate a very keen sense of Situational Awareness. Teacher association groups may be well-intended, but at best are…
Christian Education… Leadership Character Reflected in Students 17 Sep 20172 Dec 2018 A challenging area for many school leaders to demonstrate Situational Awareness is in their relationship to students. Often senior-level school leaders have little direct contact with students – unless they…
Leadership Development 2 Practices that Increase Faculty Retention Rates 7 Sep 20171 Jan 2018 Many international schools, and all-too-frequently, smaller independent schools within the USA struggle with retaining quality faculty and staff. However, having high retention rates is not the primary goal. As noted…
Leadership Development Self-Reflection: A Key to Quality Employee Retention 20 Aug 20172 Dec 2018 Who am I? What kind of a school leader or employer am I? What do I do or offer in my leadership style and people management that other leaders do…
Leadership Development SITUATIONAL AWARENESS: Steering Your Ship through Rough Waters 13 Aug 20172 Dec 2018 A school leader exemplifies the leadership value of Integrity when he or she is “aware of the details and undercurrents in the running of the school and [utilize] this information to…
Christian Education… 4 Approaches to Student Discipline (But Only One Builds Trust) 30 Jul 20178 Jan 2021 Traditionally, many school leaders approach student discipline in terms of how to best control inappropriate student behaviors. If that control involves cajoling and constricting students into limited behavioral patterns focused…
Christian Education… FOCUS (Part 4): Self-Awareness and Integrity 20 Jul 20171 Jan 2018 At least two general observations are true in practically any profession, but especially of educators who demonstrate a focus on Character: (1) that they possess a healthy and honest understanding…
Leadership Development FOCUS (Part3) – Maintaining Focus While in the Public Eye 6 Jul 20171 Jan 2018 The life and work of those of us who serve in education is a public one. This is why Character is so vital. School leaders and teachers may not be…
Leadership Development FOCUS (Part 2) – Transferring the Focus: Converting Followers into Leaders 28 Jun 20174 Oct 2019 J.M. Burns is credited with coining two classifications of leadership styles (i.e. transactional vs. transformational) and is considered to be the founder of modern leadership theory. Burns’ work focused primarily…
Leadership Development FOCUS (Part 1): Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing 19 Jun 20175 Dec 2018 The school leader builds and demonstrates the trusted value of Integrity when he or she “establishes clear goals and keeps those goals in the forefront of the school's attention.”[1] A school’s core…
Christian Education… Core Values & Worldview Affect School Outcomes 9 Jun 20171 Jan 2018 A leader’s worldview affects all that they say, do, and think. When it comes to the development of the school’s curriculum, there is no way to approach the task without…
Christian Education… Ensure Your Core Values are Known & Protected 3 Jun 20171 Jan 2018 Trusted school leaders exemplify Character when he or she “communicates and operates from strong ideals and beliefs about schooling.”[1] Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying that, “Character is like a…
Leadership Development Advocating for the Community – Results in Higher Levels of Trust 14 May 20171 Jan 2018 High levels of community involvement and community connection to the school result in both assisting families in supporting their child’s academic development, as well as the child’s level of engagement…
Christian Education… The Value of Reflection 10 Apr 20171 Jan 2018 The elements and attributes that make up the qualities of compassionate leader/student relationships are no different from any other relationships. Fundamental to those qualities is the Golden Rule of Matthew…
Christian Education… Teacher Autonomy, Control, & the Grace of God 20 Dec 20161 Dec 2018 To what extent do teachers need control versus autonomy? To what extent should leaders seek others’ input, or simply be directive? Whether a school leader’s approach closely manages and controls…
Leadership Development School Leaders Build Trust when they Value the Expertise of Others 1 Dec 20161 Dec 2018 Research has shown that school leaders are trusted when they exemplify the value of Regard. One of the most significant ways in which leaders can demonstrate this value is when…
Academic Development… Clear Communication Results in TrustED Curriculum 3 Nov 20161 Dec 2018 Clear communication is essential when developing and improving the school’s curriculum. This is especially true at a global level - ensuring that all disciplines are integrated. This is where meaningful, clear,…
Christian Education… 3 Steps to Build Trust through Teacher Compensation 18 Oct 20161 Dec 2018 A TrustED school leader exemplifies that he or she authentically cares for and supports teachers when he or she “recognizes and rewards individual accomplishments.”[1] These leaders are known for continual…
Academic Development… Increase Student Achievement by Affirming Teachers 24 Aug 20161 Dec 2018 School leaders gain trust when he or she “recognizes and celebrates accomplishments and acknowledges failures.”[1] They build trust through the daily practice of intentional affirmation. Maintaining a practice of affirmation does not…
Leadership Development Build Trust by Keeping Circles Small 9 Aug 20161 Dec 2018 Whether internal communications address Board concerns, faculty and staff issues, or students, the first rule-of-thumb in building trusted leadership is to keep sensitive communications limited to the smallest circle possible.…
Leadership Development Email is for Information – NOT Issues 26 Jul 20161 Dec 2018 Negative electronic communications destroy trust. Many schools have experienced the very destructive effects of angry emails, though sent with the intention of privacy; see wider distribution – creating a wave…
Leadership Development The Value of the Non-Verbal 12 Jul 20161 Dec 2018 TrustED school leaders demonstrate clear communication through what they say and write (i.e. content), but also through how they say it (i.e. non-verbal elements). Some studies have concluded that there is typically…
