Schools of Thought Blog/91ÖÆÆ¬â€™s Schools of Thought blog is dedicated to sharing practical resources, innovative ideas and effective practices in public education leadership.Schools of Thought BlogAccess & OpportunityaccessopportunityequityinclusiondiversityTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechEarly LearningLeadership DevelopmentSchool Climate & CultureCommunity & Family EngagementCurriculum & AssessmentPromise Keeper - The Public Education PromiseDistrict & School OperationsCollege- Career- and Life-ReadinessRegular Blogger FY26Advocacy & PolicyCommunications & Public RelationsPortrait of a GraduateDistrict ServicesPublic Education PromiseReal Skills for Real LifeBranding & CommunicationsStaffing, HR & Talent DevelopmentMeasure What MattersEdLeader PromiseAttract, Hire, Retain & Reward the Best Peopleurn:uuid:d383d982-2a7e-44e4-a692-00aa7c73098a/resources/blog/from-initiative-to-culture-belonging-as-the-heartbeat-of-school-leadership Schools of Thought BlogAccess & OpportunityaccessopportunityequityinclusiondiversityFrom Initiative to Culture: Belonging as the Heartbeat of School LeadershipWhen every student feels seen and valued, culture changes. Discover how superintendents move from one-time programs to lasting, inclusive school communities.Fri, 31 Jul 2026 10:00:06 Zurn:uuid:3268245d-45c4-4f14-be82-9a8ffaa99d4a/resources/blog/student-leaders-help-launch-national-conversation-on-ai-in-education Schools of Thought BlogTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechStudent Leaders Help Launch National Conversation on AI in Education at America’s Youth AI FestivalStudent leaders, educators, and school system leaders from across the country gathered to kick off the America’s Youth AI Festival, with a media availability highlighting the AI Student Senate. Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:34:50 Zurn:uuid:1bae1c85-c6bd-4449-8ba4-b17e1378498f/resources/blog/student-senators-begin-crafting-national-ai-policy Schools of Thought BlogTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechStudent Senators Begin Crafting AI Policy During America's Youth AI FestivalStudent leaders from across the country spent Saturday collaborating, debating, and building the framework for what will become the first student-led national AI Policy for K-12 public schools during the opening day of the America’s Youth AI Festival.Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:34:08 Zurn:uuid:9b590c51-7ff2-48fc-8cb0-fba8a5de9183/resources/blog/students-approve-national-ai-policy-america's-youth-ai-festival Schools of Thought BlogTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechStudents from All 50 States Approve AI Policy Recommendations at America's Youth AI FestivalStudents from all 50 states approved a first-of-its-kind set of national policy recommendations for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in K-12 education at the inaugural America's Youth AI Festival.Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:33:38 Zurn:uuid:9dc10fb5-7dc6-42a4-adf7-43f8d7cfeb6f/resources/blog/what-happens-when-11-school-districts-decide-to-learn-together Schools of Thought BlogEarly LearningWhat Happens When 11 School Districts Decide to Learn Together?How 11 Omaha-area superintendents built a unified early childhood strategy through a decade of trust, unanimous votes, and public commitment — and what it took to make collaboration stick.Tue, 28 Jul 2026 20:00:17 Zurn:uuid:f016ad10-0a69-45a9-a41e-a98df2398aef/resources/blog/building-a-strong-cultural-bedrock Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentSchool Climate & CultureCommunity & Family EngagementBuilding a Strong Cultural BedrockHow one school district uses stakeholder surveys to build trust and drive real improvements — from expanded parent engagement days to new translation services and early childhood programs.Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:04:41 Zurn:uuid:b7863d97-2c5d-49ee-bd4d-5d3c517faec2/resources/blog/learning-is-not-optional-reimagining-advisory-periods Schools of Thought BlogSchool Climate & CultureLeadership DevelopmentLearning Is Not Optional: Reimagining Advisory PeriodsHow one high school turned advisory into a weekly engagement period that builds student ownership and teacher collaboration.Fri, 24 Jul 2026 17:08:18 Zurn:uuid:937dd122-7275-4775-b6c5-5c40248728e7/resources/blog/purpose-planning-and-partnership-elevating-summer-learning-in-allentown Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentCurriculum & AssessmentPurpose, Planning, and Partnership: Elevating Summer Learning in AllentownHow a five-week summer program moved beyond remediation to become a research-backed catalyst for closing achievement gaps and accelerating student growth.Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:00:06 Zurn:uuid:928bd880-a753-4785-a5db-767741a5df61/resources/blog/dreaming-bigger-jasper-city-schools-summer-learning Schools of Thought BlogDistrict & School OperationsCollege- Career- and Life-ReadinessDreaming Bigger: How Jasper City Schools Reimagined Summer LearningJasper City Schools and the Alabama State Department of Education are showing what can happen when summer learning is reimagined as an opportunity rather than an obligation.Thu, 25 Jun 2026 05:00:05 Zurn:uuid:4f104377-c994-4f22-a51d-fa338b4c47c5/resources/blog/building-a-strong-community-a-plan-to-respond-to-student-needs Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentRegular Blogger FY26Curriculum & AssessmentDistrict & School OperationsBuilding a Strong Community: A Plan to Respond to Student NeedsHow Oxford School District is using rounding conversations, real-time data, and whole-community collaboration to move students from the lowest quartile to higher ground.Fri, 19 Jun 2026 04:00:27 Zurn:uuid:32c9110f-a925-4eef-a794-19e6c6cee834/resources/blog/the-superintendent-district-fit Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentWhen the Superintendent-District Fit Isn't RightWhen the fit isn't right, it's not failure. A superintendent shares lessons on leadership, resilience, and building your network.Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:58:37 Zurn:uuid:53f88ad3-9100-4b65-b294-6343f667e429/resources/blog/why-teacher-leadership-matters Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentWhy Teacher Leadership Matters for Lasting School ImprovementDiscover how Oak Ridge Schools used teacher leaders and a 'Grows to Glows' framework to boost math fluency district-wide.Mon, 15 Jun 2026 22:00:01 Zurn:uuid:ad91d4cc-824d-4c16-bb37-0404150bb5ed/resources/blog/the-last-chapter-shapes-the-first Regular Blogger FY26School Climate & CultureSchools of Thought BlogThe Last Chapter Shapes the First: Why Ending Strong MattersCulture is cumulative. Read how district leaders build school culture year-round, and why how you end the year matters most.Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:29:05 Zurn:uuid:74edcb6f-4e32-4443-854c-99981eac98fb/resources/blog/bring-back-the-80s-summer Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentRegular Blogger FY26Bring Back the 80s SummerOne superintendent's case for why reclaiming unstructured, screen-free summers isn't just good parenting advice — it's a leadership responsibility.Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:19:22 Zurn:uuid:bbd7b9d4-dc0e-4afc-97db-2b4e8443a157/resources/blog/seat-at-the-table-voice-in-the-room-making-the-ex-officio-role-count Schools of Thought BlogSchool Climate & CultureAdvocacy & PolicyLeadership DevelopmentSeat at the Table, Voice in the Room: Making the Ex-Officio Role CountHow Questar III BOCES turned a state mandate into a meaningful opportunity — giving student ex-officio board members a genuine voice in governance, not just a seat at the table.Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:20:58 Zurn:uuid:a55d8bc0-bb4f-4960-9eb5-1e1da230ad30/resources/blog/balancing-the-urgent-and-the-essential Schools of Thought BlogRegular Blogger FY26District & School OperationsLeadership DevelopmentBalancing the Urgent and the Essential: A Blueprint for Systemic ChangeHow one superintendent balances urgency and sustainability by leading at the pace of grace.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:18:06 Zurn:uuid:85717c73-4a96-4365-908a-5ad16e8fb985/resources/blog/mentor-whole-person Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentThe Mentor Who Saw the Whole PersonDiscover how 91ÖÆÆ¬'s Urban Superintendents Academy with Howard University builds student-centered school district leaders.Wed, 27 May 2026 17:29:53 Zurn:uuid:d4d24e66-7a57-4735-8f19-24863ce4df89/resources/blog/leadership-reflection-and-the-space-between-practice-and-voice Schools of Thought BlogCommunications & Public RelationsLeadership, Reflection, and the Space Between Practice and VoiceReflections on a year of writing, leading, and learning - and why thoughtfulness may be education's most essential discipline.Wed, 27 May 2026 17:10:12 Zurn:uuid:59292667-5171-4c74-a01b-5c2ba63cbf08/resources/blog/mentor-sessions-dana-monogue Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentMentor Sessions: Q&A with Dana MonogueA Wisconsin superintendent shares the 9 skills leaders need to thrive, and why every superintendent needs a mentor to stay grounded.Wed, 20 May 2026 13:51:59 Zurn:uuid:03631ce7-f46c-426b-a9f8-df257cf3cc4c/resources/blog/your-department-isnt-broken-its-taxed Schools of Thought BlogStaffing, HR & Talent DevelopmentYour Department Isn't Broken. It's Taxed.What if special education staffing shortages are actually a systems problem? One leader's framework for diagnosing the real issue.Tue, 19 May 2026 21:31:56 Zurn:uuid:9f05fba2-b097-4654-b204-f8c9e0d9979e/resources/blog/when-story-becomes-strategy Schools of Thought BlogCollege- Career- and Life-ReadinessCommunications & Public RelationsPortrait of a GraduateDistrict ServicesPublic Education PromiseReal Skills for Real LifeBranding & CommunicationsWhen Story Becomes Strategy: How Willoughby-Eastlake Brought Its Portrait of a Graduate to LifeHow one Ohio district used storytelling to bring its Portrait of a Graduate to life across classrooms and community.Fri, 15 May 2026 20:35:29 Zurn:uuid:148a1b93-0b7d-433d-8807-75f40e71c923/resources/blog/building-systems-that-reward-growth--lessons-from-henrico-county Schools of Thought BlogPublic Education PromiseEdLeader PromiseAttract, Hire, Retain & Reward the Best PeopleStaffing, HR & Talent DevelopmentPromise Keeper - The Public Education PromiseBuilding Systems That Reward Growth: Lessons from Henrico CountyWhat happens when professional learning becomes a system and growth is recognized, rewarded, and tied directly to purpose?Thu, 07 May 2026 16:13:41 Zurn:uuid:79e1099d-3efc-4fc5-828e-872233ea1c21/resources/blog/purposeful-play-early-childhood Schools of Thought BlogRegular Blogger FY26Early LearningPublic Education PromiseReal Skills for Real LifePromise Keeper - The Public Education PromisePurposeful Play: Not Just for Early ChildhoodPurposeful play isn't just for early childhood. See how Gorham schools use it to build durable skills at every grade level.Wed, 06 May 2026 21:21:28 Zurn:uuid:a6d9ad16-d575-464d-9548-5ace7a96e127/resources/blog/how-ephrata-measures-what-matters-for-student-success Schools of Thought BlogPublic Education PromiseMeasure What MattersCurriculum & AssessmentEdLeader PromisePromise Keeper - The Public Education PromiseHow Ephrata Measures What Matters for Student SuccessA community’s vision reshaped the way students learn and grow.Mon, 04 May 2026 17:22:08 Zurn:uuid:1283861b-142e-44a6-a7ed-95a36373ea66/resources/blog/what-we-learn-in-the-fire-emerging-into-the-light Schools of Thought BlogPromise Keeper - The Public Education PromiseLeadership DevelopmentWhat We Learn in the Fire: Emerging into the LightA seasoned educational leader shares how career setbacks become a transformative "crucible" that teaches essential lessons about resilient, authentic leadership.Fri, 22 Aug 2025 05:00:02 Z