Valerie Palmer M.Ed, NCC’s Post

The other day, I was watching a rerun of Abbot Elementary and I saw this clip: https://lnkd.in/evGkTe6t If you’re like me and you skip videos, here’s the quick and dirty summary: It’s the end of the school year and Ava Coleman, the principal of Abbot Elementary, gets an email with a video she made for herself at the beginning of last school year. In her video, she congratulates herself for accomplishing all the plans she made during the summer. What makes the clip so funny is how wildly ambitious her plans were (i.e. read 400 books and learn Mandarin) compared to her current reality at the end of the school year. But we do the exact same thing every year don’t we? We make all these plans for all the things we plan on accomplishing this year -- get discipline under control, raise test scores, get a handle on the data, get into 3 classrooms per day… It all sounds great in the summer. However,  the reality is we probably won’t accomplish everything we’ve planned (I know, I’m a ray of sunshine aren’t I?) But here’s why that’s actually a good thing. Most of the plans we make in the summer involve stuff that sounds nice, but will have very little impact on our goals (kinda like Ava wanting to learn Mandarin). In the summer, we’re wildly optimistic about all the things we want to do. It all sounds good and worthy. But will it actually make a difference? That’s the real question. Now you might be thinking, of course it will! It’s research-based. It’s best practice. The school down the street did it last year and it worked for them. I’m writing my dissertation on it But, is everything you’re planning what your school needs to be doing right now? You see, after working with thousands of principals over the last 18 years, I have noticed something really important. There’s really only ONE problem you need to be solving at any given time. One. Sure, you might be facing a lot of challenges right now. But how many times have we attacked several challenges at once and walked away burned out, frustrated, overwhelmed, and yet STILL no better off than we were before? That’s because when everything is important, nothing is. You don’t need a bunch of fancy plans for this year to be different. You need focus. You need to figure out what is the ONE problem you need to solve that would make all your other problems and challenges either go away, or become significantly less of a problem. Sounds easier said than done? I’ll reveal the secret – and better yet, how you can install it in your school in just 1 short week – next Tuesday. #SchoolLeadership #EducationalLeadership #PrincipalLife #AssistantPrincipal #SchoolImprovement #EducationMatters #InnovativeLeadership #K12Education #FutureOfEducation #SchoolLeader #Principal #SchoolPrincipal #ProfessionalDevelopment #LikeABuilder 

I don’t often post on LinkedIn, but this message feels too important to stay silent. I came across this ad from Sandy Hook Promise and it struck me deeply—not just as a parent, but as a marketer. The juxtaposition of new school supplies and the terror of gun violence challenges our usual perceptions, twisting what we expect for a new school year and forces us to confront an unsettling reality. It’s unsettling but necessary. Even if you don’t have children, this ad forces us to confront a new perspective, one that challenges our assumptions and asks us to reflect deeply on the crisis at hand. We need to discuss not only the powerful way this story is told but also the difficult reality it portrays and how we, as a society, can move toward solutions. It’s a hard watch, but it’s a conversation we must have. As a marketing professional, it’s difficult for me to accept that we need ads like this to make people realize the urgency of changing our laws and society. Having my child experience lockdown drills and wondering if this will be her reality is insanity. I champion Sandy Hook Promise for boldly taking on this controversial message. https://lnkd.in/eV2Zutwf

I completely agree that every second is valuable. While it can be disheartening when time slips away and our plans get disrupted, it's important to recognize that uncertainties are a part of any process. When these challenges begin to repeat, they can feel overwhelming, but they also offer an opportunity for us to adapt and improve our strategies moving forward. Let's focus on finding solutions and making the most of the time we have!

Deciding on college is about so much more than just picking a school to attend. Problem is, in many cases, neither the student nor the parents are given the knowledge to make sure all bases are covered and the process is done right. In this episode, I spoke with Kelly MacLean who has years of experience in guiding families through the process so that your student doesn't just graduate college, but is academically and financially prepared to hit the ground running when starting college and once they have graduated. Listen now: https://bit.ly/3QzyGZJ

Video is everything. For schools, it’s the key to standing out from the crowd. It’s not just about showcasing facilities; it’s about telling a story that connects with parents and students on a deeper level. Video gives schools the power to highlight what makes them unique, offering a real glimpse into the culture, the values, and the opportunities that set them apart. When schools use video, they’re not just informing—they’re building trust and inspiring families to take that next step

FLIP THE SCRIPT! It’s not uncommon for people to recount negative memories from their own time as middle schoolers. Popularized in movies and television for its awkwardness, we often forget the incredible opportunity these years represent. Why is that? AMLE sat down with middle school administrators from around the world to better understand why middle school sometimes comes with a negative connotation—and what we can do about it. #flipthescript #melm #middlegrades #opportunity #engagement #learning #joyfullearning   https://lnkd.in/dbtDJst8

Professional learning should not be delivered--it is not a Fed Ex package.

This new study from EdWeek Market Brief keeps repeating one of my biggest pet peeves in the #professionaldevelopment landscape. In a survey on "in person" and "virtual" #pd, they keep using the verb "delivered" to describe a professional development experience. You can't "deliver" development. It isn't a package. It's an ongoing, iterative process. Anybody who is "delivering" #professionallearning to #schools isn't worth the time or money. It doesn't matter if it's in person or virtual. https://lnkd.in/gc2XVPd2 #schoolleadership #schoolleaders #educationalleadership Sibme

Have you heard of summer melt? It's a thing! Executive Director, Alex Dailey of OneGoal sat down with Fox26 Houston to explain just what it is and how it can be avoided. This phenomenon happens when recent high school graduates intend to go to college in the fall, but don't because of other barriers. #mywhyagency #marketingagency #pragency #marketingstrategies #publicrelationslife #missiondriven #marketingindustry