Principal Street

It's hiring season, and principals are looking at creative ways to fill those teaching positions. It seems like a good time to take a second look at the four-day school week. Many schools have made the switch this year. How was their experience? Can a shorter school week help us attract and keep teachers in this climate? What have we learned?

Follow on Twitter: @Paul_N_Thompson @TheresaStager@dianalambert @DrRachaelGeorge @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Paul Thompson is an Associate Professor of Economics in the School of Public Policy at Oregon State University. His research focuses on the effects of four-day school weeks, financial intervention systems, and changes in local and state funding for K-12 education.

Theresa Stager is a seasoned K-12 administrator, currently serving as Principal at Saline High School (MI). She is a Board Member for MASSP (Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals), a Corwin author, and a frequent contributor to podcasts, articles, and books. Theresa is a doctoral student in Leadership and Innovation at Arizona State University and is committed to supporting staff and students and mentoring leaders.

Diana Lambert covers teachers and teaching for EdSource. Before coming to EdSource, Diana was an education reporter for The Sacramento Bee for more than a decade. She has won numerous awards, including the 2017 James Madison Freedom of Information Award from the Society of Professional Journalism, and both a first-place honor for investigative reporting from The Inland Press Association and the McClatchy President’s Award in 2016. Before becoming an education reporter Diana was a bureau chief for the Sacramento Bee.

Many educators see work-life balance as a pipe dream detached from the realities of teaching. It’s certainly among the most elusive goals in education. But despite the complex forces pulling us out of balance every day, some educators have found ways to bring more stability, joy, and peace to their challenging work. Here’s what they say works.

Follow on Twitter: @JessicaCabeen @SarahSajohnson @DrRachaelGeorge @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70b.

Jessica Cabeen is the Principal of Alternative Education Programs in Austin, Minnesota. Jessica was named the 2021 ED Dive National Principal of the year, 2017 Minnesota National Distinguished Principal of the Year, and was awarded the NAESP/VINCI Digital Leader of Early Learning Award in 2016. She is a NAESP Middle Level Fellow and a Future Ready Principal. Jessica is the author of Hacking Early Learning and co-author of Balance Like a Pirate, Unconventional Leadership, Lead with Grace: Leaning into the Soft Skills of Leadership and Principal in Balance: Leading at Work and Living a Life.

Sarah Johnson has led in rural Pk-12 schools in Northwestern Wisconsin since 2004 in teacher leadership roles and as a building principal at all levels. She is a leadership coach for excellent principals across the country with J Casas and Associates and hosts the In AWE Podcast where she amplifies women to empower a community. Sarah is co-author of Balance Like a Pirate: Going Beyond Work-Life Balance to Ignite Passion and Thrive as an Educator and author of Lead with FAITH: Building Strong Foundations So You Can Rise Up, Slay Fear, and Serve Well. She is deeply passionate about serving principals to live full lives that transcend the title.

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This is the time of year when principals find themselves with one foot in the current year and the other planning the next. We invited a panel of veteran school leaders to explore how we can lead more efficiently during this time of year and whether ChatGPT can help.

Follow on Twitter: @DrMarcusJackson @CShawR10 @mjanatovich @DrRachaelGeorge @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Dr. Marcus Jackson is in his 20th year as an educator. He has served as a teacher, assistant principal, and administrator in elementary, middle, and high school. Additionally, he's served as an adjunct college professor, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Chief of Secondary Schools, Chief of Student Services, and Chief Academic Officer at the district level. He is also the CEO of Jackson Educational Consultant. He is the author of several books including,10 Daily Essentials For Principals: Tips for having an Effective, Efficient, Efficacious Day.

Chandra Shaw has more than 24 years of experience in education, as a teacher, reading specialist, instructional coach, and now a Literacy Consultant at Region10 Education Service Center providing professional development, planning assistance, and instructional coaching services to more than 120 districts in the DFW area.  Whether as a TEDx speaker and amateur YouTuber Chandra loves to find creative ways to share her passion and love for teaching and learning with educators everywhere.

Mike Janatovich is the Chagrin Falls High School Principal in Chagrin Falls, Ohio and an ASCD Emerging Leader Class of 2015.

Everyone is talking about ChatGPT. Among the people we need to include in those conversations are parents. Join us as we talk about what parents need to understand about ChatGPT from an educational perspective.

Follow on Twitter: @DrRachaelGeorge @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd @MajaliseTolan @TheScienceLane

Majalise Tolan is the Secondary Director for the Lincoln County School District in Lincoln County, Oregon. She is also the co-author of She Leads: The Women’s Guide to a Career in Educational Leadership with Dr. Rachael George.

Dr. Dennis Lane is the Instructional Technology Administrator for the Oregon Trail School District. Dennis works alongside parents, students, and teachers; helping them get the most out of their classroom technology and learning environment. He taught middle school science and robotics for 12 years and spent his doctorate work developing a survey instrument that examined the student experience in the blended learning environment.

We’re hearing more about ChatGPT every day stoking a wide spectrum of emotions. Educators have many questions and principals have a pivotal role to play in helping faculty find answers and manage the impacts.

Follow on Twitter: @JamesBrauer @Eklundteaches @AllysonApsey @DrRachaelGeorge @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Dr. James Brauer is currently the Director of Graduate Studies and Instructor at Avila University’s School of Education. Previously, he was the founding school leader of Iowa Connections Academy (a public, virtual school serving students in grades K-12 throughout the state of Iowa) and an assistant principal for the North Kansas City School District. Dr. Brauer began his career as a special education teacher at USD 500 Kansas City, KS.