With less than three weeks remaining in the school year students are eagerly looking forward to the more relaxing days of summer. For many students summer offers the opportunity to enjoy more time with friends, a different sleep routine, and outdoor activities. We all have wonderful summer memories – from summer vacations to catching fireflies » Read More
Leave a commentThere are many voices in education today talking about school choice. In Ohio, we have been debating vouchers, choice, and charter schools for years. The emerging virtual and blended learning instructional models have created additional opportunities for choice. Parents and students have a plethora of choices available for educational options. As a public school superintendent, » Read More
Leave a commentWhen we began the Nook Pilot Project at LMS we knew it would be a learning experience – and we were right. We are embarking on a new era in education; digital devices are here to stay. We are all consumers of information and the way we access information is changing rapidly. This pilot project » Read More
Leave a comment“Cell phone owners are getting younger and younger. According to a new study, 83 percent of middle schoolers, 39 percent of fifth-graders, and 20 percent of third-graders have a mobile device,” reports CNET.[1] In addition, the same study reports that 90% of the same third grade students are online. These findings are similar, if not » Read More
Leave a commentIn a recent study underwritten by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation evidence was collected comparing human graders and computer scoring of student essays. “The demonstration showed conclusively that automated essay scoring systems are fast, accurate, and cost effective,” said Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Open Education Solutions, which provides consulting serves related to digital » Read More
Leave a commentIn his 2011 book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, Nobel Prize winning psychologist and economist Daniel Kahneman discusses the role of “optimists” in society. Kahneman states, “Optimists are normally cheerful and happy . . . they are resilient in adapting to failures and hardships.”[1] Today, more than ever, we need more optimists in education. We need » Read More
Leave a commentOver the past several weeks State Superintendent Stan Heffner and Ohio Governor John Kasich have been actively discussing a new rating system for Ohio’s report card system. The proposal includes changing the current rating system – based on categories such as Excellent, Effective, Continuous Improvement, Academic Watch, and Academic Emergency – to a new letter » Read More
Leave a commentAs a school Superintendent, communications is one of my key job functions. There are a myriad of required and expected forms of communications; we have newsletters, press releases, and web pages to share information about our district. These traditional tools have paved the way for social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook. As a » Read More
Leave a commentThe New York Times recently reported that the Encyclopedia Britannica is going out of print.[1] In the article, Jorge Cauz, the president of the company is quoted as saying, “It’s a rite of passage in a new era. Some people will feel sad about it and nostalgic about it. But we have a better tool » Read More
Leave a commentDuring the month of February I had the distinct pleasure of scheduling a lunch in each of our buildings. As the district’s educational leader these conversations were invaluable as we work together to provide the best possible educational opportunities for Loveland’s children. Our teachers and other building-level educators do an exceptional job working with students » Read More
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