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Accelerated Learning

Accelerated Learning vs. Remediation

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School Improvement

Navigating Recruitment and Retention With Jack and Jana Part III: A District Leader's Guide to Hiring

As the new year begins your school district may be attempting to get ahead of the curve and fill.

School Improvement

Navigating Recruitment and Retention With Jack and Jana Part II: The Gift of Strategy

As our journey reaches the six-month timeline, we are beginning to see recurring themes,.

School Improvement

Navigating Recruitment and Retention With Jack and Jana Part I: Setting Goals

With 65 combined years of educational experience, we are very excited for this new adventure of.

School Improvement

Teacher Recruiting Events: 7 Questions to Ask

The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted traditional approaches to how we interact and connect with each.

School Improvement

Steps That Administrators Can Take to Address Secondary Trauma Stress

The COVID-19 pandemic has left long-lasting impacts on educators and students alike. According to a.

Instructional Coaching

4 Reasons Leaders Should Engage in Executive Coaching

In the last decade, coaching initiatives across the globe have been recognized as a benefit to.

School Leadership

Using ESSER Funds to Prepare for a Transformative School Year

The COVID-19 pandemic has left elementary and secondary schools across the country in need of.

School Leadership

Supporting Teacher and Student Reintegration to School

This month, we recognize Mental Health Awareness month—a time to raise awareness around the reality.

School Leadership

A Focus on Environmental Justice Can Lead to Equitable Schools

In honor of Earth Day, we at Insight are reflecting on how environmental issues impact students,.

Professional Development

Principal Leadership: 3 Surprising Lessons from Jordan

This post is excerpted from the recent SmartBrief article entitled, "3 key insights gained in.

Professional Development

2 Key Questions to Guide Your PD for Principals

This post is excerpted from the recent eSchool News article How Our Leadership Academies Are.

Instructional Coaching

Maximize your instructional coaching program with 3 critical questions

In his recent blog post on Education Week, coaching trainer Peter DeWitt laid out 3 Reasons.

School Leadership

5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Launching Your Instructional Leadership Team

As my colleague Jason Stricker discussed in his blog post 3 Keys to Building Strong Instructional.

Professional Development

School Leaders: How to Achieve Instructional Breakthrough in Your Schools

If you’re like most district and school leaders, you started the school year with an excited staff.

School Leadership

Three Key Steps Districts Should Take in Addressing Unfinished Learning

The global pandemic shook schools and districts to their core in the last year. Educational.

School Leadership

Five Key Lessons Learned on Racial Equity in Schools

It’s almost impossible these days to read an education article, watch the news, look at social.

School Improvement

Supporting Students’ Learning at Home

As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate headlines, we need no reminder about the.

School Leadership

Recruiting Teachers of Color: Why It Starts With Being Intentional About Retention

In my work in supporting districts with building teacher recruitment and retention systems across.

School Improvement

5 Considerations to Develop an Equity-Focused Strategic Plan

It’s easy to say that equity is a priority for a district or an organization; what’s more difficult.

School Leadership

Four Key Lessons on Addressing Equity in Schools

It’s almost impossible these days to read an education article, watch the news, look at social.

Professional Development

Thank you, teachers: A few tweets from your former students at Insight

In honor of National Teacher Appreciation week, the Insight team would like to extend our.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

[Throwback Thursday] 5 ways to spot college and career readiness in classrooms

Throwback Thursday is our new weekly blog that opens up our vault and reshares some of our most.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

Assessments: Are educators ready? The new Toolkit from Reform Support Network

Great resources are hard to come by in education - particularly when it comes to assessment..

Professional Development

5 essential practices for giving teachers feedback and support by Education First

We've long understood that student achievement is tied to teacher quality. And now, it's becoming.

Professional Development

[Throwback Thursday] Five things to know about video in observation and evaluation

Throwback Thursday is our new weekly blog that opens up our vault and reshares some of our most.

#ThankATeacher: Gratitude for Our Teachers

Research tells us that there is no greater school-related impact on student achievement than the.

Instructional Coaching

What does great instructional coaching look like?

In recent years, instructional coaching has emerged as one of the most effective forms of.

EdTech Digest Awards: myCore and Insight founders selected as finalists

The finalists for the fourth annual EdTech Digest Awards Recognition Program honoring tools,.

Thank You, Teachers!

We are grateful for teachers every day, but this week is a special time to recognize their amazing.

Professional Development

ADVANCEfeedback™ wins new outstanding education technology product award from Tech & Learning

We are thrilled to share that ADVANCEfeedback™ has been recognized as a new outstanding educational.

Professional Development

What classroom video is really about: Our latest SmartBlog

As you've probably seen, Insight has been working closely with SmartBrief Education to share the.

Professional Development

Asking the right questions for teacher growth

As you’ve seen in some of my recent posts, we’re really excited about the results from the polls we.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

5 ways to spot college and career readiness in classrooms

When you walk into a classroom, how can you be sure that students are really on their way to being.

Professional Development

A Game Changer: Our latest report on classroom video available now

After months of research and development, I’m excited to announce the release of A game changer:.

School Leadership

Culture: The Invisible Umbrella of Effective Instructional Leadership Teams

In the Summer 2019 issue of the ASCD Educational Leadership (EL) magazine, I discuss the.

Instructional Coaching

Five Practices to Do Today for More Effective Instructional Coaching

How many of us current or former teachers would love the opportunity for a redo on those first one,.

School Leadership

Why Teacher Recruitment Needs to Change

Teachers have the largest in-school impact on student achievement. We also know that teacher.

Instructional Coaching

How a Nationwide Networked Improvement Community Seeks to Empower Educators

Insight is incredibly excited to announce a new partnership with five districts across four states.

Instructional Coaching

7 Reasons Why Districts Need to Invest in Principal Coaching

Research has been very clear. There is no greater school-related impact on student achievement than.

Instructional Coaching

How to Build a Successful Instructional Coaching Program

Dr. Atul Gawande, an acclaimed surgeon and research scientist, wrote in a 2011 New Yorker article,.

Instructional Coaching

Distributive Leadership: 5 Ways Principal Coaches Can Help Principals Execute

Principal coaches are a critical and essential support to principals. One trap that we have found.

Professional Development

3 Keys to Building Strong Instructional Leadership Teams

We know from supporting schools and districts across the nation for the last 17 years that some of.

Professional Development

The 5 Shifts Healthy PLCs Make

Since professional learning communities (PLCs) for teachers starting taking off in the 1990s, they.

School Leadership

Forget Singapore and Finland: For School Improvement Practices, Let’s Look Elsewhere

A few years ago, the height of elevated education discourse was centered around what we in the U.S..

Professional Development

4 Ways to Get the Most from Your Professional Development Dollars

This post is excerpted from the Education Week article entitled, “4 Ways to Maximize the ROI on.

Professional Development

4 keys for successful implementation of college- and career-ready standards

It's hard to believe that college- and career-ready standards (CCRS) were officially rolled out.

Together we can fuel great teaching

When Insight was founded, my mission was to create an organization that moved the needle on student.

School leaders: What to look for in ed tech before buying

As I shared in my last post, the first step in Insight’s product development process is engaging.

What School Leaders Need to Know About CCSS Implementation and Teacher Evaluation

The implementation of more rigorous teacher evaluation systems and Common Core State Standards.

Does video make classroom observation and feedback processes better and more meaningful?

When it comes to the use of video technology in observations, educators have had a lot of.

Launch of our sister company: Insight ADVANCE

Last month, we announced the launch of our new sister company, Insight ADVANCE. This is an exciting.

Why establishing common CCSS instructional practice expectations is paramount

A few of us from Insight just got back from a great week with our charter friends at the California.

Cameras in the Classroom: What One District is Doing It Right

We had a great time at the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders summer conference last week!

Professional Development

Recap: Why Video is Essential for All Educators in the Feedback Process

This post is excerpted from the recent Education Week article “Why Video Is Essential for All.

Professional Development

Top 3 blogs about video observation

Between groundbreaking new research, developments in technology, and policy reform, 2015 was a big.

Instructional Coaching

What you may have missed in 2015: Our top 3 blogs for school leaders

The turn of the calendar may only mark the unofficial halfway point of the school year, but this is.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

Race to the Top is over - What now? A new resource from Education First

In July 2015, Race to the Top (RTTT), a bold federal initiative that offered incentives to spur.

Professional Development

Welcome Don Rescigno to the Insight ADVANCE Team

We are thrilled to announce that Don Rescigno has joined our team as President of Insight ADVANCE.

Professional Development

Meeting the Challenge of College and Career Readiness

In October 2015, Insight had the fantastic honor of sponsoring a District Administration Leadership.

Instructional Coaching

[Throwback Thursday] What school leaders need now

Throwback Thursday blogs open up our vault and reshare some of our most popular content. Each week,.

Teacher Observation

State of the States: A new resource on educator effectiveness from NCTQ

Earlier this month, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) released its 2015 State of the.

Professional Development

3 Keys to Effective Principal Professional Development

As educators, we're always looking for what sets great schools apart from the others. While there.

School Leadership

Welcome Jason Culbertson and Angela Ritchie to the Insight Team

We are thrilled to announce two key additions to Insight's leadership team. Jason Culbertson and.

Professional Development

School Leaders: How effective is your feedback? 3 questions to ask

Great teachers matter. This is a fact that I don't think can be emphasized enough. Unfortunately,.

Professional Development

Rethinking observations: 3 reasons to focus on observers first

If you're a district or school leader, chances are you already understand the incredible potential.

Instructional Coaching

What school leaders need now - Our latest feature in Education Week

At this point, it's clear to all of us that great teachers lead to greater student achievement. And.

Professional Development

Harvard's Best Foot Forward Project: 5 new findings on video in teacher observation

As educators, we understand the importance of research to guide and shape practices. But it's.

Professional Development

What fuels great teaching? Learn more on June 24

During the 2013-14 school year, Harvard's Best Foot Forward Project began studying the impact of.

Instructional Coaching

The proven benefits of external observers in educator evaluations

Earlier this year, New York State made headlines by requiring - among other measures - two.

Professional Development

What educator effectiveness is really about

In many districts and schools throughout the country, observations are a source of frustration and.

Professional Development

3 reasons to join the conversation on classroom video

Classroom video - particularly its potential to promote educator growth - is a topic I've been.

Professional Development

3 Steps to Optimize Teacher Observations

In a new post, 3 reasons why your observations may be a waste of time, on Education Week's Finding.

Professional Development

We appreciate our teachers - A little love from the Insight Team

"A great teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart." - Author unknown

Professional Development

3 big benefits of video in teacher evaluation and professional development

Cameras are practically everywhere today. From walking through a parking lot to checking out at the.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

How the first Common Core state is seeing faster student gains

Kentucky has been in the news a lot in recent years when it comes to the Common Core State.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

What you need to know about CAOs: A new resource from Education Week

Chief Academic Officers (CAOs) - or Chief Innovation Officers, Assistant Superintendents for.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

Congratulations to EdWeek's 2015 Leaders to Learn From

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

What teachers need now: CCSS-aligned resources

It’s been over a year the since the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Scholastic conducted.

Professional Development

Five things to know about video in observation and evaluation

Every year, millions of dollars - and even more hours - are spent on observations and evaluations.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

Make educator effectiveness & CCRS matter: MASA conference highlights

It’s not everyday that I get to speak to a room full of some of the most experienced and.

Moving beyond instructional shifts: A new online course for educators

With the new challenge of implementing college-and career-readiness standards (CCRS), it’s more.

Instructional Coaching

How classroom video is turning around a district in Georgia

My last two posts highlighted some really significant data showing teachers’ and school leaders’.

Professional Development

4 reasons why school leaders want to use video in teacher observations

My first post with SmartBrief Education certainly caught a lot of attention and had people talking.

Video in observation and evaluation: Insight and SmartBrief dig in

Over the next few weeks, Insight and SmartBrief are teaming up to examine how educators are using.

Professional Development

Our take: The real issue behind the Common Core

When Jason Stricker and I founded Insight in 2000, our mission was clear and simple: to help.

Professional Development

Seizing the window of transition: Common Core and teacher evaluations

Professional Development

Listening: What sets our education product development apart

It’s clear that the demands on educators are increasing—while at the same time, the availability of.

Teacher Observation

Don't let "gotcha" get in the way of growth

If you had a chance to read some of my latest posts, hopefully you’ve noticed that Insight looks at.

Professional Development

Why teacher observation should be about growth, not "gotcha"

It’s safe to say most teachers (and school leaders for that matter) don’t look forward to.

Professional Development

3 Things School Leaders Should Know About CCSS and Educator Effectiveness

The implementation of more rigorous teacher evaluation systems and Common Core State Standards.

Common Core Implementation: A Marathon, Not a Sprint

A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting with several outstanding educators at the.

Understanding Common Core-Aligned Assessments - Resource from Education First

Though this school year is just coming to an end, chances are your school has already been busy.

Observations in Teacher Evaluation Systems: A Look at New Research

At Insight, we work in schools and classrooms across the country and see the impact of high quality.

Professional Development

Video in the Classroom: Capturing Teacher Growth on Camera

Though professional development is always at the forefront of most school leaders’ minds, it’s hard.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

myCore™ Wins a CODiE for Best Professional Learning Solution in Education

We are thrilled to announce that myCore™, our Common Core lesson planning and sharing platform,.

School Leadership

Making Time for Observation in Teacher Evaluation

It’s been almost two years since the Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of.

myCore wins top honors in 2014 EdTech Digest awards (plus is a SIIA CODiE finalist!)

We're thrilled to announce that Insight's cloud-based Common Core lesson planning and coaching.

Check it out: Insight's new growth-centered platform for managing observation & feedback process

We're thrilled to announce the launch of ADVANCEfeedback™, a platform for teachers and school.

California Charter School Conference - Here we come!

It's one of our favorite times of year. It's California education conference season! Last weekend,.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

7 Indicators of a High-Quality Transition to the Common Core

A few months ago, we partnered with the Aspen Institute, Student Achievement Partners, and Targeted.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

We're hiring! [A marketing coordinator, a finance manager and a few curriculum writers who know Common Core]

Insight is growing and we're hiring! We've got a number of exciting opportunities available and.

Professional Development

EdSurge Tech for Schools Summit - Here we come!

We're honored and excited to be one of 30 companies chosen to present at the EdSurge Tech for.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

Aligning Teacher Evaluation and the Common Core State Standards - Voice from the Field

Professional Development

Another lesson in implementing the CCSS: Remember this is new

Here's another lesson in our "Implementing the Common Core" series from Insight Education's Dr..

Professional Development

Implementing the Common Core: Support your teachers in multiple ways

Here's another lesson in our "Implementing the Common Core" series from Insight's Dr. Michael Moody.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

Common Core Transition Guides for School-Level Leaders & Teachers

The Aspen Institute, together with Education First, Insight Education Group, Student Achievement.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

Implementing the Common Core: Determine your curriculum

Last week, Insight's Dr. Michael Moody and Syracuse Superintendent Sharon Contreras led a.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

Implementing the Common Core: Set goals and monitor progress - frequently

Image courtesy of syracusecityschools.com We're excited to have a guest blog post today on.

Professional Development

Syracuse City School District: A Case Study in Teacher & School Leader Effectiveness

We're excited to partner again with Syracuse City School District (SCSD) for this upcoming school.

Instructional Coaching

The Role of Video in Teacher Observations: Are we ready? - Vote for us @SXSWEdu

Insight is headed to SXSWedu in March 2014 - and we'd love to do our really cool panel called "The.

Professional Development

Interview with Dr. Michael Moody: Good professional development, Common Core, and technology

Recently, Edtech Digest's Victor Rivero sat down with our very own Dr. Michael Moody, Insight's.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

NCSC13 Session: Aligning the Common Core State Standards, Teacher Evaluation and Effectiveness

Thanks to the many of you who attended our breakout session last week at the National Charter.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

Teacher Evaluation and the Common Core

It seems as if the only two things we are discussing in education circles these days are teacher.

Rabbit Holes...

WARNING, this is a rabbit hole we may not get out of in this blog entry.

Getting the biggest bang for our buck

Lengthen the school day. Extend the school year. Provide more extracurricular activities..

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

And the Oscar Goes to...Mrs. Olson!

I like watching movies. If I had a week to do absolutely nothing, I'd probably go to a movie at.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

A Tireless Teacher: Plan, Teach, Adjust, Repeat

The Department of Education caught some heat a week or so ago when the following Mao Zedong quote.

A Sense of Urgency

In a new blog post from the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, Andy Smarick writes:

Lessons from the Field

Last week, three of my colleagues and I presented at the California Charter School Association's.

To the teachers who take a stand

I was at five schools this week leading focus groups for teachers as we come to the end of their.

It's About the Questions!

If you’ve been in education for two days, you’ve probably come across tomes about effective.

Choreographing an Historic Dance

With Insight Education Group’s current Memphis City Schools partnership, we have been uniquely.

College-and Career-Ready Standards (CCRS)

The Promise of Common Core

Last week, I received one of the best notes that a teacher could wish for. A former student sent me.

What makes a teacher great?

What makes a great teacher? And how can we identify great teachers?

The Wonderful World of Ed Tech

It appears that teachers are in fact moving away from pen and paper or even Google Docs to plan.

Quiz Shows

The Jeopardy! Teen Tournament is in full swing. I'm surprised how often the guilty pleasure of.

Professional Development

Five SEL Strategies to Use in a COVID-19 Environment

How many of us current or former teachers would love the opportunity for a redo on those first one,.

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