A school is much more than a collection of individual classrooms. Fostering a collaborative and learning-oriented culture can improve teachers' and students' success. In model classrooms, teachers who have participated in professional learning open their classroom doors and agree to have others observe as they work to integrate the targeted new…

This plan builds on a record of proven success. DoDEA has become the top-performing school system in the country, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. But success is not a finish line--it's a foundation. DoDEA now faces a new set of challenges and opportunities that demand both clarity and boldness. Students are growing…

The Building Equitable Learning Environments (BELE) network is a diverse collaborative of organizations working together to advance equity in education. The BELE Network research and learning team, and are responsible for documenting the network learnings, which are grounded in seven "Essential Actions" and reflected in shared annual…

How do faculty developers orient their new faculty to the available university services, networking opportunities, and the requirements for teaching, research, and service? What examples exist to help faculty developers facilitate professional development opportunities in convenient and flexible learning environments? After the traditional…

The term "neurodivergence" refers to the variation in the human brain regarding socialization preferences, learning, attention, mood, and other mental skills that differ from the societal standards and norms. Every day, schools encounter students whose neurodivergent experiences shape how they communicate, engage, and learn. Sometimes,…

This column is devoted to the top ten issues that parents face in educating their gifted children in school settings. VanTassel-Baska describes how parents in partnering with others can collaborate with their child's teacher, the school, and administrators. The author encourages parents to advocate for advanced curriculum, a variety of high school…

Current reports highlight the status of the teaching profession is at a 50-year low, noting sobering statistics about low teacher morale, the loss of professional prestige, lack of student interest to pursue teaching, and increased percentages of teachers thinking about leaving (Marken & Agrawal, 2022; Mission Square Research Institute, 2021;…

Resources for Teachers is part of the "Supporting LGBTQIA+ Communities at School" series. This series identifies strategies, action items, and resources to build relationships and advocacy with LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and communities. This guide discusses how teachers can help foster a sense of acceptance that can lead to greater…

In 1946, the Department of Defense charged the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) to provide a high-quality education for military-connected students domestically and overseas. Today, DoDEA operates 160 schools in eight districts in eleven foreign countries, seven states, and two territories and enrolls more than 66,000 students, and…

This article is a condensed version of the author's research which explores the relationship between imaginative play and creativity in education, and examines the structures, approaches, benefits, and obstacles surrounding the topic of imaginative play and creativity. The photo collection is a reflection on the ponderings throughout the author's…

School principals are currently looking for ways to enhance their effectiveness as leaders by improving their instructional leadership. As the duties of principals expand, they are no longer the expert on what happens in the classroom and must find new ways to help their teachers grow and improve student learning. Instructional leadership includes…

Continuing professional development (CPD) within a low resourced education environment necessitates context specific and needs-driven learning, particularly in Physical Education (PE) where personal and systemic barriers impede negatively on teachers and children's educational experiences. This paper provides evidence-based guidelines as to how an…

Educators and school administration are tasked with creating schools that support and affirm LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) students and families. This study explores a high school in a conservative community as one parent attempts to advocate for their transgender child and other LGBTQ+-identifying students. Although…

Anti-blackness precludes Black people from being viewed as rights-bearing individuals and justifies the degradation of Black people, Black history, and Black culture. In this conceptual article, we suggest that (1) anti-blackness is trauma-inducing, (2) schools are often the first sites where Black students encounter anti-blackness and subsequent…

High-poverty schools need more resources and teaching specialists--not more blame and stigma. Bruce Hansen taught in schools labeled "bad" and schools labeled "good." Those experiences have caused him to reflect on the stark inequities between schools with different socioeconomic statuses and the harmful effects of such labels…