Breaking Down Barriers: How EOS is Revolutionizing the AP Recruitment Process
Did you know that some groups of students are often overlooked for enrollment in advanced high school courses? It's true! Wouldn’t it be nice to have the tools and resources needed to identify these students, understand their barriers, and create an action plan to increase enrollment and close opportunity gaps? That’s where Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) comes in. Watch this 2-Minute Video to learn what EOS is all about. We believe that every…
Celebrating Commencement Without Commencing a Lawsuit: A Guide to Graduation
Cue the “Pomp and Circumstance” – it is almost graduation season! In coordinating these momentous occasions, school officials should nevertheless proceed with caution, as seemingly small decisions can have significant legal consequences. Follow these guidelines to ensure that the festivities proceed smoothly and lawfully. 1. Student’s Right to a Diploma Graduating seniors may act out as they approach the end of their high school careers, especially in the form of senior pranks.…
It’s Official: You Have the Next Wave of Student Officials in Your Building
Every year, there is a new wave of juniors and seniors in your building that are looking for part-time jobs. Difficult schedules and mediocre wages probably don’t appeal to many of them so how about something different? The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) is looking for the next wave of athletic officials and your upperclassmen might just be the solution! MHSAA allows juniors and seniors who become registered officials to help…
Going Digital: How the PSAT and SAT are Changing Part 2
The Michigan School Testing Conference (MSTC23) held annually in February had a lot of heavy hitters and big conversations (my nerd card is out on heavy display after that sentence). None were as highly anticipated as the session on Thursday, Feb. 16 with Ted Gardella on the changes coming for the Fall of 2023 and Spring of 2024, the 23-24 Test Administration. This spring, the 22-23 Test Administration, is business as usual,…
The Secret is in the Sauce: How the Romeo HS Academies are Rethinking the Ways Schools Support Student Growth and Development
As a Principal in Southeast Michigan, Career planning and Career and Technical Education (CTE) options for students were always important. As a hub of the global automotive industry, of the military industrial complex, and in a region buttressed by aeronautics and space manufacturing and all of the other industries that support them, CTE is king. What I did not think about as a teacher and didn’t understand until I became a Principal…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Secondary Schools: Threat or Opportunity
The Matrix franchise is one of the most popular in film history. Prolific use of its metaphors and scenes has become a trope in and of itself. None is more widely used than Morpheus asking Neo to make the choice between taking the Red Pill or the Blue Pill. Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides both the core threat and a means of salvation in the film. You might think the same drama is…
SWATTING Follow Up – From the Michigan State Police
Recently, several school districts in Michigan were subjected to “swatting” calls, falsely warning of the presence of an active shooter. The practice of swatting is defined as a form of harassment to deceive an emergency service provider into sending a police and emergency service response team to a specific location. The practice is disruptive and wastes valuable law enforcement and school resources. In light of recent events, the Michigan State Police Office…
An Administrator’s Quick Guide to Complying with the IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires school districts to identify, evaluate, and offer a free appropriate public education to students with disabilities who need specialized instruction and related services. Most students who receive special education do so on local school campuses and spend some part of their day in general education classrooms. As a result, school administrators play a vital role in ensuring IDEA compliance. The IDEA requires school districts…
West Bloomfield MS is the Future of Teaching and Learning
Opening a new school rarely goes smoothly. You certainly wouldn't know that if you visited West Bloomfield Middle School (WBMS). Principal Amy Hughes, APs Lisa Graff and Jermaine Evans, their team of teachers, counselors and expert educators, with the support of a visionary board of education and supportive superintendent have built a place where learning was truly at the heart of its design. It is not perfect, and they'll be the…
Communication Competency – Part 4: Navigating Crisis Communication
My first year as a comprehensive high school principal was a series of unexpected challenges to manage. Some were about student language and school mascots, others were about perception of change as I took over from a long-standing and beloved Principal, but none were as complete as a long beautiful day in the spring, the Friday before Mother’s Day, when four students, one from each of our comprehensive high schools got into…