/AASA’s Schools of Thought blog is dedicated to sharing practical resources, innovative ideas and effective practices in public education leadership.Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentRegular BloggersTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechJeff FeuchtBarbara SargentStaffing, HR & Talent DevelopmentKerri B. StrokaSchool Climate & CultureTim DawkinsPromise Keeper - The Public Education PromiseEarly LearningRuben AurelioCommunity & Family EngagementCurriculum & AssessmentJeremy S. OwohCollege- Career- and Life-ReadinessBoard RelationsAl LewisAccess & OpportunityaccessopportunityequityinclusiondiversityCarol D. BirksPrevious BloggersDistrict & School OperationsMeasure What MattersMarco Taylorurn:uuid:e75a4317-59f1-48e9-b216-f00b2c1b874a/resources/blog/actual-ai-two-challenges-to-kick-off-a-year-of-actual-ai Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentRegular BloggersTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechJeff FeuchtA column sharing real AI use cases that superintendents and district office leaders can put to work the same week they read about them.Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:49:25 Zurn:uuid:6f3ec276-ddd3-4261-8cbe-812d219ec8c2/resources/blog/the-promise-of-a-new-year-helping-principals-set-goals-that-matter Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentRegular BloggersBarbara SargentStaffing, HR & Talent DevelopmentTips on a successful school year through actively coaching principals with goals connected to district priorities.Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:19:28 Zurn:uuid:61ecd2f6-d7f7-4cae-8e99-11c220bfae04/resources/blog/the-promise-of-hope-is-kept-by-the-adults-we-lead Schools of Thought BlogKerri B. StrokaSchool Climate & CultureLeadership DevelopmentRegular BloggersA school leader's back-to-school reflections on hope as a leadership practice.Tue, 01 Sep 2026 19:51:23 Zurn:uuid:13188faa-cdc3-429f-8b57-a99c2ef903aa/resources/blog/we-lose-nothing-by-being-hopeful Tim DawkinsSchools of Thought BlogSchool Climate & CulturePromise Keeper - The Public Education Promise'We lose nothing by being hopeful.' One district leader's mantra for staying grounded in the promise of public education.Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:37:27 Zurn:uuid:627c5a33-f4a9-4de4-bf77-8f0572998453/resources/blog/building-early-learning-systems Schools of Thought BlogEarly LearningA practical look at how districts fold early childhood goals into annual strategic planning to build systems that last.Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:00:08 Zurn:uuid:87a1b43a-23a5-4454-ac67-e942dd3da40b/resources/blog/the-burden-of-stewardship Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentRuben AurelioSchool Climate & CultureCommunity & Family EngagementPromise Keeper - The Public Education PromiseLeadership isn't measured by how well we avoid difficult decisions. It's measured by whether we have the courage to make them with honesty, compassion, and integrity.Tue, 25 Aug 2026 17:44:58 Zurn:uuid:cfe09de9-1409-48b6-895d-d1b2f7961077/resources/blog/making-summer-count-effective-data-use-helps-wake-county-build-strong-summer-programs Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentCurriculum & AssessmentHow a five-week summer program moved beyond remediation to become a research-backed catalyst for closing achievement gaps and accelerating student growth.Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:47:11 Zurn:uuid:0784eaa4-2af3-43b4-8f89-e58b701dd2d0/resources/blog/hope-has-a-purpose-to-prepare-every-scholar-for-college-career-and-life Schools of Thought BlogPromise Keeper - The Public Education PromiseJeremy S. OwohLeadership DevelopmentCollege- Career- and Life-ReadinessStrong schools build stronger communities. See how one superintendent turns investment in education into economic and civic gains.Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:53:32 Zurn:uuid:a756c750-cb95-445d-9cc2-f9aa197be884/resources/blog/building-the-story-together-structures-that-keep-superintendents-and-school-boards-aligned Schools of Thought BlogBoard RelationsLearn how 2x2 conversations and clear structures help superintendents keep school boards aligned, prepared, and focused on students.Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:03:13 Zurn:uuid:a1184227-1025-41aa-9325-f981d9b27547/resources/blog/the-future-of-a-community-is-built-in-its-public-schools Schools of Thought BlogPromise Keeper - The Public Education PromiseCommunity & Family EngagementAl LewisStrong schools build stronger communities. See how one superintendent turns investment in education into economic and civic gains.Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:02:11 Zurn:uuid:05ea6271-fba6-4987-8640-ffa9c250e031/resources/blog/hope-needs-an-operating-system Schools of Thought BlogPromise Keeper - The Public Education PromiseSchool Climate & CultureCollege- Career- and Life-ReadinessCarol D. BirksA superintendent shares a 3-part framework for turning declared hope into durable district infrastructure. Plus 4 questions every leader should ask.Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:00:55 Zurn:uuid:fd4f761e-e054-42e4-ae49-403ed59f6adc/resources/blog/systems-that-hold-when-pressure-spikes Schools of Thought BlogMeasure What MattersSchool Climate & CultureLeadership DevelopmentMarco TaylorMeasuring what matters is not about reducing students to numbers. It is about refusing to lead on assumptions alone.Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:45:47 Zurn:uuid:07e2dcc2-04a7-4e21-ab33-1f897e9b38cb/resources/blog/building-the-story-together-board-trust Schools of Thought BlogBoard RelationsPractical advice for superintendents on building trust with school boards: know their priorities, find your champions, and lead with shared purpose.Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:39:55 Zurn:uuid:d383d982-2a7e-44e4-a692-00aa7c73098a/resources/blog/from-initiative-to-culture-belonging-as-the-heartbeat-of-school-leadership Schools of Thought BlogAccess & OpportunityaccessopportunityequityinclusiondiversityWhen every student feels seen and valued, culture changes. Discover how superintendents move from one-time programs to lasting, inclusive school communities.Fri, 31 Jul 2026 10:00:06 Zurn:uuid:3268245d-45c4-4f14-be82-9a8ffaa99d4a/resources/blog/student-leaders-help-launch-national-conversation-on-ai-in-education Schools of Thought BlogTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechStudent leaders, educators, and school system leaders from across the country gathered to kick off the America’s Youth AI Festival, with a media availability highlighting the AI Student Senate. Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:34:50 Zurn:uuid:1bae1c85-c6bd-4449-8ba4-b17e1378498f/resources/blog/student-senators-begin-crafting-national-ai-policy Schools of Thought BlogTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechStudent leaders from across the country spent Saturday collaborating, debating, and building the framework for what will become the first student-led national AI Policy for K-12 public schools during the opening day of the America’s Youth AI Festival.Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:34:08 Zurn:uuid:9b590c51-7ff2-48fc-8cb0-fba8a5de9183/resources/blog/students-approve-national-ai-policy-america's-youth-ai-festival Schools of Thought BlogTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechStudents from all 50 states approved a first-of-its-kind set of national policy recommendations for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in K-12 education at the inaugural America's Youth AI Festival.Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:33:38 Zurn:uuid:9dc10fb5-7dc6-42a4-adf7-43f8d7cfeb6f/resources/blog/what-happens-when-11-school-districts-decide-to-learn-together Schools of Thought BlogEarly LearningHow 11 Omaha-area superintendents built a unified early childhood strategy through a decade of trust, unanimous votes, and public commitment — and what it took to make collaboration stick.Tue, 28 Jul 2026 20:00:17 Zurn:uuid:ad91d4cc-824d-4c16-bb37-0404150bb5ed/resources/blog/the-last-chapter-shapes-the-first School Climate & CultureSchools of Thought BlogPrevious BloggersCulture is cumulative. Read how district leaders build school culture year-round, and why how you end the year matters most.Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:29:05 Zurn:uuid:a55d8bc0-bb4f-4960-9eb5-1e1da230ad30/resources/blog/balancing-the-urgent-and-the-essential Schools of Thought BlogDistrict & School OperationsLeadership DevelopmentCarol D. BirksHow one superintendent balances urgency and sustainability by leading at the pace of grace.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:18:06 Zurn:uuid:0d8cd334-4a7a-4ff3-b44f-74c49b39bd5b/resources/blog/connection-before-content-the-architecture-of-belonging Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentAccess & OpportunityaccessopportunityequityinclusiondiversitySchool Climate & CultureCarol D. BirksBelonging is not a soft idea, nor is it a side initiative to address after the "real work" is done; it is part of the real work.Fri, 01 May 2026 16:00:26 Zurn:uuid:4cab78e2-673f-4194-9f75-3ca1acb2f265/resources/blog/from-spark-to-system-why-ai-demands-an-aligned-educational-landscape-not-just-adoption Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechCarol D. BirksIf we want AI to serve learning rather than simply land as another tool, we have to design conditions, not slogans.Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:47:34 Zurn:uuid:bb922d1c-fa8e-4677-b5b4-7dc35c2a2e90/resources/blog/leading-at-the-edge-of-change-ai Schools of Thought BlogTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechCarol D. BirksAI's educational impact depends on leaders using it purposefully to solve specific problems like teacher workload and personalized learning, not as another disconnected initiative.Fri, 19 Dec 2025 23:50:16 Zurn:uuid:15c8ac34-dc0b-4f15-8278-3d72c1b3f396/resources/blog/the-4-day-school-week-an-insider's-view Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentPrevious BloggersDistrict & School OperationsIn 1998, the Corbett School District in Oregon began discussing the idea of a 4-day school week to save money.Tue, 18 Nov 2025 19:06:08 Zurn:uuid:88c2ed74-6341-4007-95b3-fc57e779fccb/resources/blog/leading-through-fragility-why-compassion-and-excellence-go-together Schools of Thought BlogLeadership DevelopmentAccess & OpportunityaccessopportunityequityinclusiondiversityCarol D. BirksReflections on leadership rooted in empathy.Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:09:51 Z