Brian M. Stack's School Leadership Blog

This article was written originally for MultiBriefs Education . In an Education Week article last week, Alden S. Blodget asked why we (as educators) believe that speed reflects intelligence? Blodget reported an alarming upward trend he observed over three decades during his tenure as an assistant head of school of students and parents pushing for extended test time accommodations - for both school tests and standardized tests. He would receive diagnosis from families looking to get extended time added to their child’s education plan, and he wasn’t always convinced the diagnosis was accurate. Blodget writes, “A few conversations with a psychologist who offered families this diagnostic service confirmed my suspicions that not all of these diagnoses were legitimate. He explained the complexity and inexact science of arriving at a diagnosis and spoke of the pressure from parents whose goal was to obtain the recommendation for extended time. He recounted instances when he resisted ...

This article was written originally for MultiBriefs Education . In an Education Week article last month, author Madeline Will reported out on what happens when school's a battleground for transgender kids results in teachers learning to protect and affirm them. Will referenced research which “has found that compared to their non-transgender peers, transgender youth are more likely to miss school, have lower grades, and view their school climate negatively.” Will empowered teachers to take action in their classrooms to provide support, even in instances when schools cannot. Will writes, “Teachers can start by challenging gender norms in their classrooms and avoiding gendered language, such as calling students "boys and girls," she said. And she encourages teachers to create space in their classroom for students to share their pronouns.” For school principals looking for a place to start to address this issue at the school or district-level, read on. Sever...