How One Superintendent Built a Shared Identity from the Ground Up
When Dave Parker began his tenure as superintendent of Forest Grove School District, he didn’t have a blueprint. He had curiosity—and a desire to …
Tag: Relationship Building
Sharing Student Stories to Bring Your School Identity to Life
Your students’ stories are already unfolding in classrooms, sports fields, extracurricular activities, and the community. How can you collect and ce…
Use Openers and Closers to Support Authentic Connection
Meetings that start and end with purpose don’t just feel better—they produce better outcomes. Openers and closers create a foundation of trust, en…
Meaningful Endings Inward-Outward Activity
This brief, yet powerful, closing activity not only offers a clear end to your gathering/meeting/training/activity/etc., but it provides participants …
Making Family Engagement Equitable, Intentional, and Effective
Family engagement is a familiar practice in most schools. From parent-teacher conferences to volunteer events, schools regularly invite families into …
Monday Morning Wins: Staff Newsletters Support and Connect the School Community
When we expanded the implementation of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) at Ocean View High School, it quickly became clear that we needed more t…
How To Build a Culture of Mind, Heart, and Spirit: 4 Ways Leaders Can Support Their Team & School
Embedding school identity in instruction, setting positive expectations, and embracing meaningful change are just some of the educational practices An…
Principal’s Advisory Council: Develop Structures that Elevate Student Voice in Equitable Ways
What does it mean to give students a voice? Not just to speak, but to shape the school they’re part of? For us, it starts with the Principal Advisor…
Starting the New Year Connected: Strategies for Connecting With and Engaging All Students
During this January 11, 2023, Crowdsource Coffee, leaders discussed how to identify students who feel disconnected from their community. We brainstorm…
Exceptional Situations, Exceptional Students: Networks to Support Students in Intensive Circumstances
The academic and behavioral needs of most students are met through a continuum of support within a school. Some students, however, require out-of-syst…