Lines of Thinking From the 2014 ASCD Conference
Post written by Jeffrey Benson and originally published on his blog. The ASCD Annual Conference took place in Los Angeles from March 14–17. It was consistently thrilling to be among a diverse group of 9,000 educators. Everyone had stories to tell, aspirations to share, and good work to do. You just had to sit down next to anyone and say, "Where are you from? What do you do?" and an hour
Teachers are increasingly embracing leadership roles that allow them to use their skills and expertise outside of the classroom. Yet many schools are facing challenges in implementing distributed leadership models that empower teachers to become influencers and decision makers. ASCD's latest Policy Priorities examines teacher leadership and the obstacles practitioners face from the classroom to the central office in cultivating programs that expand and enhance professional growth and leadership.
The publication also explores the historical context of teacher leaders, provides examples of the various ways that teachers can be leaders, and includes insights and examples from on-the-ground educators. Read the issue and participate in the ASCD Forum, a global discussion on how schools can develop and support teacher leaders. Teachers and school administrators are encouraged to participate in the Forum through April 11, 2014. ASCD will use the discussion to inform its work on teacher leadership.
Notably, the growing focus on teacher leadership extends well beyond ASCD and its members. At a recent conference for educators, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan unveiled a new initiative intended to
3-29-14 THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education
The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog Engage Students with Motivation 3.0In this video, Daniel Pink talks to the Patterson Foundation about the need to upgrade our approach to motivation in schools. He uses the metaphor of an outdated computer operating system to characterize motivational practices that rely on punishments and rewards to elicit desired