Brian M. Stack's School Leadership Blog

This article was written originally for MultiBriefs Education . I’ll admit it, as a school administrator the pandemic has given me some new vocabulary to incorporate into my daily professional life. First it was social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE). Then we added contact tracing and mask debates. Now, a new concept has emerged this fall: Microschooling or pandemic pods. Pods are popping up all over the country as families try to cope with fluid school models while maintaining their ability to work and/or keep their kids safe if they do not feel comfortable with the school’s plan. But, are these pods a band aid fix to the challenges the pandemic has presented to schools, or might they be the wave of the future? In t his July 2020 New York Times article , Melinda Moyer was one of the first to report on this new trend. Moyer wrote, “parents around the country have started organizing ‘pandemic pods,’ or home schooling pods, for the fall, in which groups of three to

  This article was written originally for MultiBriefs Education . With the uncertainty of the pandemic for months to come, it is apparent that schools will find themselves on a perpetual hiring cycle to keep positions in classrooms and other programs filled, including both regular and substitute positions. What should a principal look for in a new hire? What should new hires expect from a school in this “new normal?” Here are some questions a school leader should consider when making hiring decisions for their school.   ●       Does this candidate believe in the school’s mission, vision, values, and goals?   From as early as the job posting itself, the school should make it very clear what its mission, vision, values, and goals are, and how a potential new hire is expected to uphold and contribute to the school’s philosophy. For example, if a school believes in “learning for all,” then it should be apparent that the new hire shares this vision. A principal should ask question