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By Grace Shelton @GraceCShelton Teachers Want More Collaborative Working Time, and Survey Insights are the Key to Giving Them What They Need It’s no secret that teaching is not an easy profession. In today’s particular climate, teachers are faced with increasingly difficult tasks and confronted with burdens that restrict their autonomy and willingness to continue […]

By Grace Shelton @GraceCShelton   Why Surveys Matter Surveys are an important tool in determining what education stakeholders need. Policymakers and practitioners can gain a lot of knowledge and insight into the needs of their students, parents, teachers, and administrative staff through the use of well-designed surveys. That is why more and more evaluative processes […]

By @GraceCShelton As the new school year began in Los Angeles, the LA Unified School District (LAUSD) was seeking new ways to improve conditions for its many students. According to a recent article by the LA Times, many LAUSD students come from difficult backgrounds. As a result, the district has struggled in the past with […]

By Grace Shelton @GraceCShelton   We spend a lot of time talking about the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) in improving outcomes for students. However, there are some places that need this skill development more than others. Communities with higher rates of violent crimes have a more difficult time implementing SEL instruction and curriculum when […]

By Grace Shelton @GraceCShelton   As summer has faded and a new school year is well underway, it’s time to look ahead on what will be the top education issues facing teachers, administrators, and policymakers in the coming months. At least, that’s what this Forbes article indicates.  According to the author, there are many topics […]

By Grace Shelton @GraceCShelton   What makes a strong school leader? A research synthesis from the Gates Foundation details four ways strong school leadership can positively impact students and schools. The article states that strong leadership teams enable teachers to work with their peers and focus on improvement over evaluation, involve teachers in decision making […]

By Grace Shelton @GraceCShelton   Why Principals Matter  A few years ago, Hechinger Report released an article detailing the importance of school leadership in both student achievement and teacher retention. This article was hardly the first of its kind—in fact, one of the most cited research articles on leadership was published almost thirty years ago.  […]

By Grace Shelton @GraceCShelton   The Schooling Myth and ESSA’s New Priority For those of us who have worked and are currently working in schools, it’s funny—and a little sad—to revisit some of our favorite shows and movies from childhood. Each one depicts, in varying ways, the cold, dark school building with monotone teachers reading […]

  By @GraceCShelton   The adoption of ESSA has resulted in many education priority shifts. Many of these shifts focus on equity and access, whole child learning, and additional academic needs for students. However, one that is particularly interesting is the enhanced focus on positive school culture and climate. In order to encourage positive culture […]

  By Ryan Balch   3 Questions Parents Should Ask on Every School Tour As many parents are now thinking about school options for next year, there are a lot of questions parents have about how to know what makes a good school.  Is it a certain curriculum?  Having foreign languages or gardening programs?  Multiple […]