The Blog

Strong leadership is the foundation of every successful school. Principals, assistant principals, and instructional coaches guide instructional priorities, nurture teacher growth, and create a culture where both numeracy and literacy thrive. When school leaders receive targeted leadership coaching, they gain the skills and systems needed to drive student achievement in both mathematics and literacy. Why Leadership Coaching Matters Even the most dedicated school leaders can’t

Restorative practices only work when adults lead by example first. If we want schools to be spaces where students feel safe, connected, and accountable, we must first build that same culture among the adults. 

The recent changes to Indiana’s 3rd grade retention law are prompting important conversations between schools and families.

Through the activities below we’ll learn how to reconnect to ourselves and how to guide organizations to do the same. Whether you are seeking connection to self or leading a team who could benefit from a unified purpose, please read on to learn how to identify our own values, how to collaboratively operationalize an organization’s values, and how these activities might empower us. As a special addition for my educators and parents out there, I’ve also included some tips for w

Principals play a pivotal role in supporting their teachers during this critical time, preventing burnout, and fostering a strong sense of teamwork. In this blog, we will explore several strategies principals can employ in December to connect with their teachers and create a sense of unity.

In the world of education, the well-being and motivation of teachers and staff play a crucial role in the overall success of our schools. A positive and supportive atmosphere can significantly impact the quality of education and the happiness of educators. It’s no secret that motivated and appreciated teachers are more likely to go the extra mile to create a thriving learning environment for their students. That’s why, at INcompassing Education, we are thrilled to introduce o

Just when we thought education was one of the most stressful jobs on the planet, BOOM, it got more stressful. Educators are reporting record high levels of job dissatisfaction and we are experiencing the effects of a large number of teachers leaving the classroom. Teachers seem to be scrutinized more than ever before (And that’s saying something!). Of course, there are factors that we cannot control that take place outside of the classroom. However, there are 5 things you ca

Working closely with students who have endured trauma can have a profound impact on the mental and physical health of educators. This type of work can lead to secondary traumatic stress, empathic distress, and even burnout. Recognizing and addressing this impact while integrating supportive strategies into the workplace is not only crucial for the well-being of these dedicated professionals but also for boosting morale, increasing job satisfaction, and ultimately enhancing pr

In the realm of education, one of the greatest challenges faced by teachers, parents, and students alike is student apathy. Apathy can manifest in various ways, such as lack of interest, disengagement, or a general feeling of indifference towards academic pursuits. However, overcoming student apathy is not an insurmountable task.

Let’s face it. Recruiting, hiring, on-boarding, and training new teachers is time consuming, expensive, and exhausting. Schools with a high turnover rate struggle to maintain a healthy culture. Additionally, the inconsistency in staff leads to gaps in programming, curriculum, and common language and understanding across the building. Teacher retention should be at the top of our to-do list as educational leaders. To help you achieve this goal, we’ve put together some top tips

As school leaders, there are many things that are added to our plate in a school year. Some are delegated to us by district leaders while...

According to the research, instructional coaching has proven to be the most effective type of professional development. The professional relationship between the coach and the teacher allows for maximum growth, a deep understanding of the classroom teacher and students, modeling of best practices, and consistent support. 

Check out my free one hour session to gain a better understanding of the importance of a solid MTSS foundation and leave with a plethora of resources to support your efforts no matter where you are in building your school’s or district’s system! All of the resources mentioned in the video are linked below.  Click here or on the image below to access the video!

As leaders during these difficult times, it can be hard to attract, hire, and retain great teachers. One way to do this is by creating a strong mentoring program at your school.  Teachers want to feel valued, connected, and supported with the difficult work they do every day. Teachers who are new to your school, both new educators and veterans alike, need a high level of support. Providing the right support can ensure that they are successful and remain valuable members

Employability skills are a set of skills outside of technical or academic competencies that are desired by potential employers and considered imperative to being a successful employee and team member. This set of skills might include things like: communication, teamwork, initiative, problem solving, planning and organizing, self-management, and more. You may have heard them referred to as “soft-skills.”

As you begin your career, mentors are invaluable. They help you stumble through all that you do not know when you start. They are there to listen to your ideas, without judgement. They share thoughts and ideas that help you figure out exactly what you need to be doing. They support you by sharing their materials, ideas, errors they have made in the past, suggestions, and what has worked well for them over the years.

As one school year comes to an end, another is soon to begin! First things first, filling vacancies with the hope that the upcoming school year will begin with a full staff. In an effort to create as smooth a transition as possible for students and staff, it is imperative that a plan is in place to support all of the newcomers whether they are fresh out of college or simply transitioning from another district.

As a school leader, there are many loose ends that you will want to tie up at the end of the school year. This is a great time to pause and reflect on the past year. You will want to review the data you’ve collected on the programs, interventions, and initiatives you’ve implemented. This is a great time to write your strategic plan for next school year complete with your end-of-year data, key milestones, SMART goals, and monthly metrics. Below you will find an easy-to-follow

Let’s face it, most people hate meetings and that is because most meetings are a waste of time. No matter how much a leader may want a meeting to be productive, most meetings fall short. In this blog, I will outline how you can design and facilitate effective meetings that your team actually looks forward to!

I was recently asked to come have a conversation with the staff at a non-profit agency about managing personal stress as they continue their great work of supporting their community. It turns out their CEO, very in tune to the stress of her employees, had decided to mandate paid self-care days. Can you imagine? Each employee was to take one day off every two weeks, paid, without using their saved personal days, to combat the stress of the intense workload they’ve been carryin