Giant #3 Shirley Hord
Since Shirley’s passing in 2019, I have been reflecting on her influence on my professional life. Long before we ever met, in the 80s, I was using her work, with Gene Hall, as a principal and as a staff developer. I taught Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) for years in classes […]
Shoulders of Giants
Art: Giant #2 “if I have seen further [than others], it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” 1675 letter by Isaac Newton: Another reason I am still and will continue to be in education is Art Costa. I am grateful for his guidance and support which continues to this […]
Marney My Mentor
“if I have seen further [than others], it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” 1675 letter by Isaac Newton: The reason I am still in, and will continue to be in education is Marney Wamsley. Why this happened, I do not know. I am grateful that it did. Here […]
Disrupting the Teacher Opportunity Gap
Disrupting the Teacher Opportunity Gap by Jon Saphier A Book for Educational Leaders This is a book about the complicated and multi-faceted work of improving teaching expertise, because the expertise of individual teachers is the most powerful variable we have – by far — for improving student results. So what […]
Stan Slap Presents
Learning Omnivores is Re-Igniting and Re-Uniting our Learning Opportunities with Stan Slap as our kick off presenter. It promises to be thought provoking and informative. Contact Bill Sommers at sommersb4@gmail.com for questions. Cost: $95.00 payable to William Sommers. CEUs or BOSA renewal units for attending Register by Wednesday, February 7th. […]
Responding to Resistance
Do you want to learn ways to deal with conflict. I am doing a four, two-hour sessions for SWMetro288 on zoom, Tuesdays late February and early March. You can’t control what happens to you many times. You can learn effective response strategies to neutralize and/or change the outcomes.Bill Sommers PD-2 […]
Bill’s Next Top Ten
Bill’s Second Ten of Must Reads Wisdom of the Bullfrog – Admiral William McRaven Here are two quotes that really got my attention. “No Plan Survives First Contact with the Enemy.” “A Shepherd Should Smell Like His Sheep.” Pope Francis The book has many good ideas about teamwork, creativity, and […]
Top Ten Books – 2023
Bill’s Top Ten Books of 2023 “Leaders are Readers” Richard Sheridan Chief Joy Officer CAVEAT: These books are in no particular order of preference. They all have illuminated my thinking, added to my repertoire of strategies, and have helped me focus on what is important and preferable. As a result […]
5 3 1 WHY Resilience Project
“It Is Not the Strongest of the Species that Survives but the Most Adaptable” Charles Darwin Objective The 5 3 1 WHY Resilience project was created to address concerns about student wellness. Students’ current environment includes a post-pandemic effect, increased use of drugs/vaping and alcohol, national suicide crisis, and in-school […]
Student & Principal: Habits of Mind
Reciprocal Learning Student & Principal The following essay is a conversation and comparison of three “Habits of Mind” between a high school student and a high school principal. High School Student My name is Matt Trussell, and I am finishing my junior year in high school. As a high school […]