Around this time last year I received what I thought was an odd request. Juliana Meehan, a teacher from a neighboring district, contacted me and asked if I would agree to mentor her as part of her training to become an administrator as part of the NJ EXCEL program. Now...

As the end of the school year draws near, the education reform rhetoric is heating up. This means states like New Jersey and New York are closer to implementing new teacher evaluation systems as a result of Race to the Top, NCLB waivers, and other mandates...

As we continue to advance in the digital age schools and districts are beginning to re-think pedagogy and learning environments by instituting either 1:1 device programs or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. In my opinion, schools that wish to create the most relevant and meaningful learning culture will go...

I have read some very thought-provoking posts and associated commentary over the past couple of weeks focusing on how particular educators use social media. What I have found interesting is the powerful opinions as to how one should use social media. I think it is great that so many people...

Recently my school was recognized as the "School of the Month" for November/December by eSchool News. The resulting article described New Milford High School's many accomplishments pertaining to the use of educational technology to enhance the teaching and learning process. We are extremely proud of the current culture...

This past month my family and I suffered a devastating loss as my grandmother passed away only a few weeks after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Abiding by her wishes not to inconvenience anyone, my parents arranged for friends and family to call an hour prior to the...

This summer I have made a commitment to reading more, and have chosen books that I think will help me become a better leader. A few weeks ago I finished Drive by Daniel Pink and am now halfway through Linchpin by Seth Godin. I highly recommend...

As society, education, and learners change so does the need to have educational leaders who embody a modern form of leadership. Modern leaders must establish a vision and implement a strategic process that creates a teaching and learning culture that provides students with essential skill sets (creativity, communication, collaboration, critical...

Education is currently at a crossroads as traditional methods and tools are changing as a result of advances in technology and learning theory. We are beginning to see some schools across the country take the lead in merging sound pedagogy with the effective integration of technology. These schools and educators,...

While attending the NSBA Annual Conference this past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend Sal Khan's keynote on Sunday. Khan is the creator of Khan Academy. He began his keynote by sharing a video montage of Khan Academy highlights and then presenting some impressive statistics on usage....

I recently attended a session at the 2012 NASSP Annual Conference facilitated by Dr. Gary Stager, a progressive educator whose work I have come to know over the past couple of years. Gary's message is one that resonates with me and many other educators who frequent digital spaces....

As we continue to move even further into the 21st century, technology becomes more embedded in all aspects of society. As a father, I see this firsthand with my son, who is in first grade. The gift he wanted the most this past Christmas was an iPod Touch, which Santa...

Ask yourself why you or someone you know chose a profession in education for a living. Is it because of the paycheck? Do you like the hours? Do the working conditions suit you? Is it because you couldn't decide on a major until halfway through your Bachelor's degree and figured...

It seems that no matter where you go or what you read these days someone is talking about the need for change in education. Whether it is the so-called reformers, federal government, respected researchers, or district and school leaders, cases are being made that change is necessary to better prepare...

Last month I was fortunate to attend a training session on the new Chromebook at Google's New York City offices. The Chromebook itself turned about to be an intriguing device that clearly has an upside as an educational tool in schools. It boots up in 8 seconds, has...

The other day I read an interesting article entitled "Why Schools Should Stop Banning Cell Phones, and Use Them For Learning." Up until this past year, the rule of thumb was that students could bring their phones to my school, but they could not be on, seen, or...

Cross-posted at Edutopia.

As the calendar turns to August school leaders across the country are meticulously planning for the upcoming year. This process has become more difficult as mounting challenges such as budget cuts and what seems like a relentless attack on the profession of education have taken...

School improvement efforts rely heavily on quality leadership. Educational leaders are tasked with establishing a collective vision for school improvement and initiating change to spur innovation, ensure student learning, and increase achievement. On July 13th I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. James Strong, from the College of...

It is a greater work to educate a child, in a true and larger sense of the word, than to rule a state - William Ellery Channing

Last week my school was fortunate to have the N.J. School Boards Association (NJSBA) visit to produce a live event called Learn@Lunch: Technology as an Engagement Tool. You can view the archive of the event.

A little over two years ago something like this would have never...