It seems obvious that learning should not stop when independent work begins. In too many cases, however, the tasks and the thinking required to complete independent assignments are limited to regurgitating knowledge. The work itself does not move students' learning forward. Students must master the procedural knowledge (the how) of applying…

This article presents a brief conversation with Denise Khaalid, the 2012 NASSP/Virco National Assistant Principal of the year. Khaalid shares the various responsibilities of being an assistant principal at South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, SC. She talks about her greatest accomplishments in her role as assistant principal for curriculum and…

Some courts have upheld school districts' decisions to discipline teachers for their behaviors outside of school if there was a connection back to the school. Specifically, many courts have adopted a nexus theory that suggests that a teacher's off-duty conduct might have a negative impact on his or her teaching effectiveness.…

Material resources, personalized support, time to collaborate, and strong principal leadership are necessary for making curricular and instructional shifts. The authors of this article share the lessons they learned about supporting implementation of the Common Core State Standards. They draw on interviews with teachers, as well as field notes…

Dwight Carter admits he was a novice at social networking when he was introduced to the 140-character world of Twitter in 2010. Now, three years later, the principal of Ohio's Gahanna Lincoln High School and one of three winners of the 2013 National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Digital Principal Award does not know what he…

Most professional educators are aware that every school should have an effective approach to harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) prevention in which every member of the school community participates. Regardless of the approach a school takes, all students and all staff members should be knowledgeable participants who have been trained to…

The answer to the question, Can evaluation improve teaching? is a qualified yes. Teacher evaluation has changed and the role of the principal has changed as well; the focus now is on evidence, not merely good judgment. With the right tools, systems, and support, it should be possible to help improve teaching performance and student learning…

Images can be powerful tools for change, but without compelling images of the future of education, everyone will be forced to use the images of the past. The problem is that schools can't be built on old images: they must reflect current best practices that infuse technology, relationships, background knowledge, culturally responsive texts, and…

A whirlwind of activity surrounds the topic of teaching and learning mathematics. The driving forces are a combination of changes in assessment and advances in technology that are being spurred on by the introduction of content in the Common Core State Standards for Mathematical Practice. Although the issues are certainly complex, the same forces…

This article presents an interview with Michael Foran, the 2012 MetLife/NASSP National High School Principal of the Year. In the interview, Mr. Foran explains what it means to be a school leader and how it has influenced his work at New Britain (CT) High School. He also describes the ways he is working toward getting all students at New Britain…

The Common Core wave has swept the country. The expectation is in place for a rapid implementation of both the curriculum and the assessments. The author visited schools across the country as an external evaluator to review their transition plans, and he was struck by the great unevenness of the preparation across districts and schools. What are…

Matthew R. Willis, an assistant principal at William C. Hinkley High School in Aurora, CO, is the 2013 NASSP/Virco National Assistant Principal of the Year. In this interview with "Principal Leadership," he is asked to relate what he believes are his largest accomplishments in his role as assistant principal at William C. Hinkley. He…

Writing instruction is central to the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. It is embedded across all curricula. Under the Common Core guidelines, students must produce writing that includes not only narrative and literary responses as part of the language arts curriculum but also argumentative and informative/explanatory texts in…

This article presents an interview with Michael Shepherd, the 2011 NASSP/Virco National Assistant Principal of the Year. In the interview, Shepherd shares how the role of assistant principal is defined at his school. He also talks about how he practices instructional leadership. He puts a strong emphasis on instructional leadership and…

Ready or not, educators in most states will soon be asked to implement online testing to meet NCLB or common core standards requirements or simply to make better use of student data and ensure that it is used to improve learning. All but five states--Virginia, Texas, Alaska, Nebraska, and Minnesota--have joined two consortia that will share $350…