SWPR Group

ICYMI: Two out of three #K12 #educators don’t use #AI tools in their classrooms — even though these rapidly advancing tools can be utilized to streamline time-consuming processes within heavy workloads. Incorporating them would allow teachers to focus on the things that AI can’t do: building relationships with students, effectively implementing lessons, and facilitating meaningful learning.   For practical tips on getting started, check out the EdTech Digest piece “Face the Fear: How School Administrators Can Calm AI Anxiety and Lead a Tech-Driven Future” by Eric Sheninger, Founder and CEO of Aspire Change EDU, a collaborative consultancy providing personalized support to educational systems. https://lnkd.in/g4ps3AFQ   We appreciate our partnership with Follett Software for helping us keep abreast of #edtech and introducing us to industry leaders.   #EducationTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #Education #Leadership #Efficiency

Dr. Matthew Hicks has been superintendent at Northeastern Wayne Schools in Indiana for 5 years—which qualifies him as a seasoned veteran in a state where the average tenure for #superintendents is 2.7 years. In this episode of our Build Momentum for Education #podcast, co-hosts Sarah Williamson and Chad Bolser get to the heart of the challenges facing #K12 district #leadership and how Dr. Hicks has been able to navigate them successfully. https://lnkd.in/gZTSxQdv   Dr. Hicks points out that districts like his—small rural districts that serve less than 2,000 students—educate half the students in the U.S. In these very localized districts, it’s crucial to know the community personally, and Dr. Hicks shares his strategies and lessons learned, like when to speak up and when to honor the other voices in the room by just listening.   He also shares the challenges of being both a superintendent and a father in a small district where everyone knows everyone else. It’s a deeply personal episode, and we’re grateful to Dr. Hicks for his willingness to share his experiences toward the goal of humanizing the superintendency.   #BuildMomentum #Leadership #Superintendency #Communication #Learning

As a certified women-owned business, SWPR Group is honored to have provided editorial support for Amber Eaton’s op-ed “Elevating Female Leaders in K-12: Breaking the Glass Ceiling Was Just the First Step.”   Her guidance on the ways #K12 school districts and women in leadership can work together applies in any field: 1️⃣ Stand up against implicit biases and microaggressions. 2️⃣ Strike a better work-life balance for all. 3️⃣ Build up a network of support for female leaders.   You can do #3 by reading Amber’s full piece here: https://lnkd.in/geiV_M4a   #ThoughtLeadership #Education #FemaleLeaders #Collaboration #Equity Sarah Williamson WBENC  

When you sign on to be a superintendent in a small, rural #K12 school district where everyone knows everyone, it’s a commitment to a new level of public scrutiny for you and your family. Dr. Matthew Hicks has been navigating that scenario for five years at Northeastern Wayne Schools in Indiana. Here’s an example of his pragmatic approach—and a snapshot of the human side of the #superintendency.   Hear more from Dr. Hicks on our new episode of the Build Momentum for Education #podcast! https://lnkd.in/gZTSxQdv   #BuildMomentum #Superintendents #Leadership #Education Sarah Williamson Chad Bolser

Strategies and tools for managing #K12 district assets have evolved enormously in recent years, impacting everything from inventory tracking to budgeting strategies. It’s an exciting era … but as with any dramatic #edtech change, it can be overwhelming.   Three #education #leaders—Carl Hooker, Paul De La Cruz, and Monica K. Weaver—tackle asset management strategies in a new piece for ISTE titled “5 Tactics for Future-Proofing District-Wide Asset Management Systems.” Their recommendations include:   1. Investing in asset management software 2. Establishing interdepartmental cooperation 3. Appointing a dedicated asset manager 4. Creating inspection checkpoints 5. Looping in families via at-home support for school devices   Read more about each of those tactics at https://lnkd.in/g6cvSRtP.   We’re grateful to our partnership with Follett Software and the opportunity it gives us to raise the visibility of the behind-the-scenes work that operating a school district entails!     #EducationTechnology #AssetManagement #Responsiblity #Accountability #ThoughtLeadership

ICYMI: With so much buzz about the pros and cons of limiting phones and other personal electronic devices, here’s a look at what’s happening in Spokane Public Schools. Its transformative Engage IRL initiative encourages #K12 students to get off their devices by offering more than 300 clubs and sports.   Two years in, the initiative has shown impressive results in fostering #engagement and a sense of #belonging. Not only has student participation in extracurriculars nearly doubled, the district hasn’t experienced a day where attendance dipped below 90% since Engage IRL launched. “SPS students are happier, healthier, and less likely to reach for their smartphones,” writes Sean Duke, communications officer for the Washington State School Directors' Association in this eSchool News article: https://lnkd.in/gah2PGw7   It's such a privilege for SWPR Group to work with organizations like WSSDA and to help #education #leaders across the country stay informed on new approaches and best practices.   #Leadership #SEL #Learning #Community #CellPhoneBans

The work of keeping #K12 school facilities operating smoothly is often invisible to parents and the wider community—so we’re excited to shine the spotlight on the dedication of facilities management professionals by way of the online article “Five Ways Effective Facilities Management Can Shape Student Success.”   Shane Foster, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Follett Software, breaks down five ways districts can maintain a smooth and efficient school environment, ensuring the focus stays on student success. https://lnkd.in/gPhAhPYv   As curious creatives, we are endlessly appreciative to partners like Follett Software and publications like Facilities Manager Magazine from APPA - Leadership in Educational Facilities for helping build our knowledge about all that goes into creating efficient, future-ready school environments that prioritize fiscal responsibility and educational goals.   #Education #ThoughtLeadership #EdTech #StudentSuccess #FacilitiesManagement

“I am concerned that over the last few years, superintendents have increasingly been experiencing politicized attrition, and now are experiencing harassment, threats — are fearful for their lives — and it's really hard for me to be optimistic that those things will change for the better.” — Dr. Rachel White of The Superintendent Lab   In her role collecting data for the National Longitudinal Superintendent Database, Dr. White emphasizes to her research assistants that every single line in the data is a person who has feelings, has a family, wakes up in the morning and drinks a cup of coffee. In other words, she humanizes the role of the superintendent — and that makes her a perfect guest for Season 5 of our Build Momentum for Education #podcast.   Dr. White is the Founder and Lead Researcher at The Superintendent Lab, a hub for data, research, insights, and innovation on the public school district superintendency. She’s also the Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Texas at Austin.   Join our hosts Sarah Williamson and Chad Bolser for this forthright conversation about trends in #K12 #Education #Leadership — including the LeBron James effect, which Chad says will have him smiling for the rest of the season. https://lnkd.in/g7kTikYm   #BuildMomentum #Superintendents #Superintendency #Data #Research #Relationships #CommunityEngagement #StudentOutcomes  

Convenient, instantaneous payments have become deeply integrated into everyday life. As consumers, we rarely consider the behind-the-scenes processes that facilitate the flow of funds securely and seamlessly from purchaser to vendor. So we feel very fortunate to have collaborated on the ebook "Patterns and Trends in Live Agent and Agentless Payment Preferences" with our partners at Sycurio. https://lnkd.in/gdgTQfWJ   Together we discovered some surprising insights about payment preferences. Here’s an example: Older generations have witnessed incredible technological changes over their lifetimes. And despite their stodgy stereotype, many are fast adopters of new tools, gaining confidence in using digital solutions just as quickly as their younger counterparts.   We appreciate the opportunity to contribute toward greater awareness of payment #CX and #compliance solutions!   #DigitalPayments #CustomerExperience #DigitalSolutions #Payments

Dr. Rachel White of The Superintendent Lab doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to humanizing the role of #K12 #education #leadership. Hear the full conversation about the real-world experiences of #superintendents and learn more about her research on the newest episode of our Build Momentum for Education #podcast with Sarah Williamson and Chad Bolser! https://lnkd.in/g7kTikYm   #BuildMomentum #StudentOutcomes #EducationPolicy #Data #Research #ThoughtLeadership