Common App’s Post

Happy Monday- How are you today? If you want to stay up-to-date with us, follow our Page. Our FREE newsletter goes out each Wednesday and discusses relevant issues and solutions for leaders in Early Childhood Education from the perspective of our leader and industry expert, Jen!

Under Superintendent Kirk Shrum's leadership, @visaliausd is addressing its unique challenges head-on, transforming education in one of California's most impoverished counties. Discover how Visalia USD is making literacy and math proficiency a priority for a brighter future. 📚🌟 🔗 Watch the full interview and explore more insights from leading superintendents at leadership-voices.com. #LeadershipVoices

Come by our poster session on Monday to see how student voice and engagement powers academic achievement!

As I reflect on my journey, I am reminded of the transformative impact so many mentors have had on shaping who I am today. As such, I was truly elated to share my enthusiasm about the USC Mentorship Hub!!! American columnist, John Crosby, said “Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” You can become engaged as a mentor, mentee, or both by visiting mentorshiphub.sc.edu!

Here at The Eric Liddell 100 our three core values are passion, compassion, and integrity. We believe that any individual can make a positive impact on the world If they approach the challenges they face with passion, compassion, and integrity. Our aim is to celebrate Eric Liddell globally, for his exceptional life, values and achievements. Our ambitious aims are being achieved through the creation of three workstreams covering educational, sporting and cultural developments. Our Educational workstream is the development of physical and online resources to support learning in schools, universities, and adult learning. Our Sporting and Physical Activity workstream is promoting the legacy of Eric Liddell’s sporting success through participation, engagement, fun and competition across multiple disciplines. Lastly, the Cultural workstream includes the creation of an Eric Liddell Exhibition and other cultural celebrations in keeping with his legacy. #LegacyLeadership #GlobalConnections #ValuesDriven #EducateInspireAchieve #LeadershipLegacy

Discussions about charter schools in Oakland are difficult enough but are made even more challenging because so many of of the schools' names start with the same two letters. I understand why so many charter schools choose names starting with "A"—Aspire, ASCEND, ARISE, AIA, etc.—it's the same marketing instinct that gives us Aardvark Laser Engraving in Oakland: just another way to juice yourself in the rankings because so many lists are sorted alphabetically. But why so many "L" names--Lodestar, Leadership, LWL, Latitude, Lighthouse... it's so easy to mix them up! Kudos to Francophone, BayTech, Downtown Charter and Yu Ming for choosing names that start with unique letters of the alphabet.

This time of year, school and district leaders are straddling two realities- one that closes out the current school year strong and another that prepares for the upcoming school year with all the opportunities that brings. ANet is hosting its final webinar of the school year on Tuesday, April 23, to support school and district leaders in reflecting, prioritizing, and accelerating their efforts in support of closing out this year and setting up next year. https://lnkd.in/eTCZGZX4

Walter M. Kimbrough's unapologetic critique of the U.S. News "Best College" rankings hits home. His two decades of advocating against a system that often prioritizes wealth and privilege over genuine educational impact warrant our undivided attention. I agree that we must challenge the relevance of these rankings while recognizing their limitations. Yes, like many, I too habitually check the rankings each year to see who's at the top (Go, Princeton University!) or how Spelman College fares among liberal arts colleges (#39 this year, but destined for the top 10, I'm convinced! 😊). However, my interest seldom revolves around an institution's ability to truly transform outcomes for marginalized communities. And that's disheartening. It's time we collectively reassess the metrics by which we judge educational institutions. How can we create a more comprehensive, inclusive, and equitable framework that authentically captures the essence of learning and personal growth? How do we measure a college's success in fostering critical thinking, nurturing creativity, and preparing students for the complexities of the real world? How can we shine a light on and reward institutions that engage and empower students who need higher education the most? In a rapidly evolving higher education landscape, we urgently need innovative ways to evaluate colleges that honor their distinct missions, values, and the diverse students they serve. This challenge is one we must embrace to ensure that every student's educational journey is valued and celebrated, irrespective of their background or the institution they choose. I'm reminded of Washington Monthly's reputation as an alternative to U.S. News, but truth be told, their rankings are strikingly similar. So, here's the question: Can we create a more just ranking system, or is the solution to bid farewell to rankings altogether? #HigherEd #CollegeRankings #EquityInEducation #WishfulThinking

Do Students’ Union Speak Weeks still work?   A noble question that I sought to answer – working extra hard last week to collect student voice in fun, informal ways.   Some of the activities had wonderful engagement, some had less.   We threw spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. At the Harper Adams Students' Union Student Voice Forum, students were invited to attend an in-person panel of Harper Adams University senior leadership and ask their own questions – uncensored. We created an open and welcoming environment that encouraged respectful dialogue and transparency. The questions were fantastic, the answers thorough and honest. Student attendance was low and so I begin the process of reflection.   How do I present the whole thing in a more student friendly way?   I'm now asking students how they would have done it better - with some amazing answers. (To no one’s surprise, social media is brought up a lot.)   One thing is certain, I am working with a group of engaged senior leaders who are willing to show up for our students. Professor Ken Sloan CPA FAHEP FRSA MIAgrE attended virtually, refusing to miss the event despite having covid.   We are in no shortage of committed leaders. For this I am grateful. #studentvoice #studentengagement

Improving and expanding social, emotional, and behavioral supports for students is at the top of this school year's to-do list for school and district leaders. We share three actions that can help district leaders make an immediate positive impact for students this school year while also positioning your district for future success, https://hubs.ly/Q0284tQ00