Leader 2 Leader

Earl Johnson, Principal, Matzanas High School, Diversity Committee member For years educational professionals have been trying to close the achievement gap. The achievement gap, which exists between Caucasians and African Americans, Caucasians and Hispanics, Economically Disadvantaged and the Non-Economically Disadvantaged, Students with Disabilities and Students without Disabilities, and English Language Learners and Non-English Language learners. Through the years, there have been improvements; however, the achievement gap still exists. There have been several types of reforms put in place including the addition of preschool,There has been a slight change over the past 50 years; however, the achievement gap disparity still has educational professionals wondering how to mitigate that allusive gap. Before I continue, I would like to pose a question. If your doctor diagnosed you with a broken femur bone, and he prescribed over the counter aspirin, will the aspirin heal ...

Brent Brummett Principal, Ransom Middle School, Escambia County FASSP President Connection with students is very important, acceptance of students is just as important, and d ecisions made for students is supreme.   This month we celebrate Mid Level Education Month.  I have spent over half my career in middle schools as a teacher, assistant principal and principal.  Here are a few things I have learned along the way.  Connection with students: Recently a principal friend of mine went to step in as the lead administrator for a school when both administrators for that school had to be off campus.  As he walked down the hall a student asked him, “Are you our principal?" Middle school students are all about connection. As the leader of a middle school it is very important that students know you, see you, and respect you. This can be strategic. Here are a number of ways that I have accomplished this. 1.        Go to ...

  Drew Chiodo Assistant Principal, Pacetti Bay Middle School, St. Johns County How hard can it be to change the world?  As a young, wide-eyed teacher, fresh out of Teach For America institutes, and convinced of the simplicity of the public education system through documentaries like “Waiting for Superman,” I stood in my first classroom knowing that I could fix everything in five to 10 years.  I thought that I could teach for five years, earn a master’s degree, become a principal and then who knows- maybe become the supreme chancellor for education in the land of “Do as I say.”  It all made sense in my mind and then I ran into the biggest challenge…. Challenge is a bad word…. I ran into one of the greatest gifts of my life: students. There I stood, as a 21-year-old know-it-all, in front of high school sophomores and it was my responsibility to listen to them, care for them, and give them the tools they needed to be successful, not just in my intensive math ...

Steve Frazier , Principal of Silver Trail Middle School; Past-President of Florida Association of Secondary School Principals (FASSP); South Region Director of Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA); Executive Director of Florida League of Middle Schools (FLMS) Daniela Fatout , Administrative Support at Silver Trail Middle School “A Professional Learning Community is a collaboration of teachers, administrators, parents, and students, who work together to seek out best practices, test them in the classroom, continuously improve processes, and focus on results.” (Rick DuFour, 2002) The Vision Silver Trail Middle School’s mission is to provide a safe, progressive, stimulating learning environment that enables students to reach their fullest potential as responsible, productive citizens in a diverse society.  Silver Trail Middle School is an integral part of its community and focuses on developing and implementing programs that will fit the diverse nee...