Texas state govt recently made some big, positive investments in teachers & evidence-based programs—but we also must ensure all taxpayer dollars going to our public schools are focused on teaching & learning; not fighting ideologically-driven, often manufactured culture wars that cost millions. Extrapolating from our broader national study, I offer perspective on the potential financial implications for Texans if schools are weaponized for costly culture wars @statesman @MomsAGAbbott @RYHTexas @TexasAFT statesman.com/opinion/column…

🚨 Check out our new mixed methods study in Educational Review: "Conditions for continuity: how school working conditions shape teacher retention and job satisfaction" As we were designing this study, we noticed that surveys often provided insight into specific teacher working conditions associated with job satisfaction and retention--but they were limited in the extent to which they answered HOW and WHY teacher working conditions are linked to job satisfaction and retention. This mixed methods study uses both surveys of teachers AND leverages teacher voice to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that contribute to teachers’ decisions to stay in or leave their position Here is a link to a free copy of the study (available to the first 50 takers!) tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.…

So proud of recent @UTKnoxville doc program grad on the publication of her timely, important op-ed @EdWeekOpinion 🤓🔥— especially relevant here in Texas as communities continue to recover from devastating flood edweek.org/leadership/opinio…

Since 2019-20, Memphis-Shelby County (TN) public schools has had four different superintendents -- Joris Ray, Toni Williams (interim), Marie Feagins, & now Roderick Richmond (interim). @ldtestino @DailyMemphian is truly one of the very best education journalists that I have ever read/worked with -- she has covered every aspect & angle of these transitions. For her latest piece, I chatted with Laura about considerations related to 1️⃣ timing & 2️⃣ rollout of a new supt search within this context of churn🤓 "Leaving a year buffer after a contentious leadership turnover is common, White said. Simply time of calm may attract some more people” to apply for the job, she said. But because of how long searches can take at large districts, White said MSCS board members should plan to chart a path and timeline forward soon if they want someone in place a year from now when Richmond’s contract ends. Being a school superintendent is an increasingly political job, White’s research has shown, and there’s more evidence explaining how stressful it can be. The position often calls on the expertise of people who have built their careers around teaching and learning. Being thrust into board dynamics and politics can be a stark change, White said, and one that makes many superintendents feel lonely." See full article here 🔽 lnkd.in/gVQ6keQC

As large ticket $ items of public dollars, superintendent compensation and contract buyouts often generate public scrutiny. However, several factors deserve consideration by journalists, school boards, and advocacy organizations interested in this topic. Grateful for the opportunity to chat with Kate Ryan @WTOP about this situation in the DC-area (article 🔗👇🏼) -- and below are a few high-level considerations 🤓 wtop.com/maryland/2025/07/wh…

Stellar new piece summarizing the latest @AASAHQ Salary & Benefits survey covering superintendent demographics, salaries, experience, etc. by @educationweek newsroom interim @JIgbonoba 🤓🔥 edweek.org/leadership/women-…

This is perhaps one of the most memorable experiences in my professional career🥹 A few months ago, I interviewed my dad about what he's learned over his nearly 40 years as a locally elected school board member in my Michigan hometown. The @HaveYouHeardPod podcast just released the episode where that interview is featured❤️ What is my dad's advice to school board members: 1⃣ "Keep kids at the center of every decision - that is why we are here." 2⃣ "Be a good listener - listen more than you speak." 3⃣ "Be strong enough to express your views, but humble enough to consider others; and open enough to change your views to achieve the decision that centers kids." 4⃣ "Have thick skin. You aren't going to please everyone & you have to be okay with that." 5⃣ Don't run if it's just about a personal agenda Check out the full episode here: bit.ly/4lmUoNW @AASAHQ @NSBAPublicEd @MASB

Excited to join this amazing group of NY women school administrators tomorrow to share research on women in leadership and navigating policy and political spaces🤓

Lone Star Governance (LSG) is an unproven school board governance reform that the TEA has mandated many TX public school districts adopt--often at a price tag of $60k+. LSG purports to improve student outcomes -- but districts forced to adopt LSG are now facing state intervention bc of a lack of progress on improving student outcomes. As a former school board member, one thing is clear to me: this is pocket-lining for well-connected consultants, disguised as reform—wasting taxpayer $$ and doing nothing for Texas kids. @DrDeMatt @tasbnews @RYHTexas @TexasAFT @ZephCapo statesman.com/story/opinion/…