Jennifer Howell

Chief Academic Officer, Tift County Schools

[Reads with Ravi @readswithravi]

A reminder from Atomic Habits by James Clear:

[Book Briefs @BookBriefsHQ]

Life's trade-offs hit the same: pick the grind that builds you.

[The Center for Literacy & Learning @cll_teach]

Strong literacy starts with a print-rich environment.

Books, labels, signs, student work, and culturally relevant texts help children understand that print has meaning.

Small changes can make a big impact. 💙

#CLLEarlyLiteracyChecklist #EarlyLiteracy #LiteracyMatters

[Emily Paschall @EmilyAPaschall]

Stop calling them “SPED kids.”

Students are students first.

Having an IEP doesn’t change that. It doesn’t lower expectations, and it doesn’t mean we stop problem solving at Tier 1 and Tier 2. Strong core instruction still matters every single day.

The goal is always growth and independence. That only happens when students are supported across all tiers, not separated by a label.

And language matters.

They are not “SPED kids.”
They are students first, each with unique needs we’re responsible for meeting.

That difference matters. It shows up in how we teach, how we support, and how we see them.

[Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness @coachajkings]

If you want to become a better leader, stop talking about leadership and adopt this mindset:

[Danny Steele @SteeleThoughts]

I spent ten years as an assistant principal—some of the hardest and most rewarding years of my career.

And if there’s ever a month that highlights just how critical that role is… it’s April.

Testing season.
Packed activity calendars.
Rising energy levels across the building.

It’s a lot.

And right in the middle of it all are assistant principals—steady, present, and essential.

Teachers experience the daily wins of the classroom—the moments that remind them why they teach.

Principals often stand in the spotlight, representing the school and celebrating its success.

But assistant principals?

They work behind the scenes.

They take on the work others can’t—or won’t:

Discipline and difficult conversations
Parent meetings
Scheduling issues and last-minute coverage
The countless logistics that keep a school running

They are problem-solvers in constant motion.

They are the ones who:

Support a teacher dealing with challenging behavior
Step in when a student is being bullied
Cover a class when no substitute shows up
Listen to frustrated teachers with patience and empathy
Make sure a child without lunch still gets to eat
Stay late for the student who missed the bus
Stand beside teachers in tough parent conferences
Walk the halls, creating calm through their presence

The work isn’t glamorous.
It often goes unnoticed.
And too often, it’s taken for granted.

But it matters.

Assistant principals are the reason schools hold together when things get hard. They do whatever it takes so teachers can teach and students can learn.

I see it.
I appreciate it.
And I hope they know the difference they make.

Because they don’t just support the work…

They make the work possible.

Assistant principals are the backbone of our schools—true unsung heroes.

#APWeek
#AssistantPrincipalWeek

[Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness @coachajkings]

Coach K said, "In order to get better, you change limits."

"When you change limits, you're going to look bad and you're going to fail."

Growth requires discomfort and a willingness to get outside your comfort zone.

It requires intentionality, self-awareness, and a deep commitment to growth.

[Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness @coachajkings]

@SportPsychTips Discipline over motivation.

Nick Saban said, "Doing what you're supposed to do, when you're supposed to do it, the way it's supposed to get done."
• It means choosing commitment over comfort.
• It means consistency in your habits.
• It means being mentally tough.

[Jason Kennedy | Stop Teaching & Design Learning! @letsquitteachin]

Ever wish you had a thought partner sitting beside you while planning — one who could instantly help you design quick, meaningful Checks for Understanding (CfUs) that actually change your teaching in real time?

That’s exactly what this new CfU OptionsTool does.
It helps you plan lessons that see student thinking as it happens not weeks later through marking.
By answering just three prompts—
1. Grade level
2. Learning target
3. When you’ll check (Before, During, or After instruction)

You’ll instantly receive:
3–5 tailored CfU ideas for your lesson phase
Each with clear purposes, ready-to-use student prompts, and practical teacher moves
Plus branching next steps (reteach, clarify, or extend) based on what you find

No fluff, no jargon. Just actionable, research-aligned tools to make your learners’ thinking visible and your teaching adaptive.

Here’s what it looks like in action:
“Before instruction” → Baseline prompts to surface prior knowledge
“During instruction” → Misconception probes to adjust mid-lesson
“After instruction” → Application and reflection checks to close the loop

So instead of wondering “Did they get it?”  you’ll know exactly what they’ve understood, how they’re thinking, and what to do next.

If you’re ready to make every lesson more responsive, the CfU Options Tool today.

ChatGPT and Google Gem Versions

Enjoy and most importantly SHARE!!!

https://t.co/03hiAIvmjJ

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

The best assistant coaches are culture builders.

They reinforce the standard when no one is watching.

They coach the last player on the bench like a star.

They lead without needing the spotlight.

Championship programs are built on their shoulders.

[Jonathan Alsheimer @mr_Alsheimer]

RELATIONSHIPS MATTER: How we respond to kids in their successes and failures can impact their self-talk, self-esteem, and motivation.

Every child deserves an advocate ❤️ who will push them while also providing the support to push forward and to get back up when they fall.

[HighFive @HighFiveK12]

Regulated adults help co-regulate students. That calm voice. That steady presence. That moment you paused instead of reacting. It matters more than you know.

[Todd Whitaker @ToddWhitaker]

It doesn’t work that way.

[Brad Weinstein @WeinsteinEdu]

We will never change behaviors with one conversation. Change takes time. Change takes patience. Change takes support. 🧡

[𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 @DrBradJohnson]

Some days, they may get on your last nerve. But remember, they're just children trying to figure out life. So love them means to care for them, encourage them and help them to become their best.

[Jason Kennedy | Stop Teaching & Design Learning! @letsquitteachin]

When do we know we've changed?

When all the "best practices" become just a part of what we do every day for learning.

Practices made permanent by collectively committing to the culture.

In other words, this is what we do because this is who we are.