Valerie von Frank

Ann Chafin, assistant state superintendent for the state of Maryland, shares how her state is building partnerships with families, community members, and stakeholders. Read how the Maryland Parent Advisory Council is helping the state reach its goal of increased family and community involvement.

Move beyond management: Coaching for school leaders translates into student improvement By Valerie von Frank Despite an intense focus on instructional coaching and teacher leadership, little attention is paid to principal coaching and its role in leadership development. Read how coaching for principals translates into student success and how it […]

Research-based practices forge strong family and community partnerships This newsletter was made possible with the generous support of MetLife Foundation. All articles available to the public.  

Chris Confer, an educational consultant and former mathematics and instructional coach, shares how taking on the stance of a researcher is one of the most effective strategies a coach can use.

Transatlantic teamwork: Teachers in Finland and Alberta, Canada, swap experience to fuel improvement By Valerie von Frank High schools in Finland and Canada have formed a collaborative partnership based on the hypothesis that the real work of reform occurs at the school level, not the system. Read how this project […]

Kim Conway, elementary literacy specialist with the Parma City (Ohio) School District, shares her districts new initiatives to ensure coaching and learning consistency in each building.

Experts agree: Conflict creates better teams

Build relationships in online communities By Valerie von Frank As the research supporting the benefits of online learning communities continues to grow, and technology makes it easier to connect with colleagues, educators find themselves challenged with creating and sustaining relationships across digital divides. Working in groups face-to-face can be challenging […]

Beverly Chavis, district coach for the Duval County Public Schools (Fla.), shares her techniques for creating a comfortable and collaborative atmosphere that gets teachers talking.

Professional learning playback: Build substance and collaboration through video analysis By Valerie von Frank Research has shown that video helps teachers develop their thinking about what happens in their classrooms. Read how June Jordan School for Equity, a small high school in San Francisco, is using video to significantly improve […]