Judgement or Talent – Harry Potter and Leadership
“It is our choices Harry that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.“ Albus Dumbledore Very often in my career I have been in situations where I watch normally talented and capable people...
View ArticleWhat (How) do you think? – Metacognition and Smarter Meetings
Have you ever gone to present something to someone and thought “I wonder what X will think about this?” As a district leader, I have often found myself in a situation where people want to know “what I...
View ArticleWomen on Leadership – Quotes
I am learning to use Adobe’s After Effects as I prepare for a presentation on leadership. I decided to have a portion of the project focus on quotes by women. I hope that you enjoy this first attempt...
View ArticleSize and Complexity – Challenges in Each Setting
Big schools, small schools, big districts, small districts, urban settings and rural settings – what are the challenges of scale and what leadership skills does it take to be successful in any setting?...
View ArticleJust because we can doesn’t mean we should
Many times technology pushes the boundaries of our comfort levels. Where are the moral and ethical lines when it comes to current capabilities we possess? I came across a product that I wanted to...
View ArticleTeachers are researchers – every single day
Another research proposal crosses my desk. It is a good question, interesting, well thought out but I am again reminded about the disconnect that exists between academic research and the practice that...
View ArticleOn the Shoulders of Giants – Celebrating our Past, Building our Future
On the 5th of February, 1676, Sir Isaac Newton penned a letter to Robert Hooke. In the letter, Newton wrote “if I have seen further, it is by standing on ye shoulders of giants.” The wonderful quote...
View ArticleWhat do Letter Grades have to do with Performance?
The school year has begun. In a few quick months, across British Columbia parents will receive report cards indicating how their children are progressing in their learning. In many cases, these report...
View ArticleGroupthink and the cautions of quick consensus
I find myself at another meeting. One of the many I attend in any given week. The topic on the table is a series of questions asking our collective advice. It’s a strategy and structure that I...
View ArticleThe Arts and Mentorship
As Tara shuffles into the room, I greet her. Her eyes are fixed on the floor, the corners of her mouth are down and it’s clear that she is not in a good place. I ask her to sit, offer water and in...
View ArticleWhat is your status in the organization?
Do you sit in a cubicle at work? Do you have an office? If you are a teacher do you have a “homeroom” or a desk or are you forced to live life on a cart towing your materials from one class to the...
View ArticleGovernance Matters – Plan to be Strategic
It is fall of 2018 and our public municipal elections are underway across British Columbia. These elections, when the dust settles, determine not only the shape of municipal governments, but most...
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