A keynote lesson from the Schools to Watch National Conference: Speak life into people. Hold high expectations. Stay consistent. Even my cat Graham made the point. 😂 Instructional innovation still has to stay human. See here: youtu.be/GHOS7JpAE-4?...

At Thompson Middle School, students didn't just complete projects. They identified problems, researched solutions, developed proposals, created physical models, practiced presentations, and prepared to defend their thinking before an audience. #PBLPlus #ProjectBasedLearning #Education #AILiteracy

Today I’m grateful for the privilege of raising my children, learning alongside them, & doing my best to lead by example. To all the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, mentors, & father figures—thank you for showing up, staying present, & helping shape the next generation. Happy Father’s Day.

One teacher changed my life. As a student, I kept asking: "When will I ever use this?" Years later, a tutor connected mathematics, computer science, and my love for video games in a way that finally made learning relevant. That moment changed everything. Story: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVeB...

Conflict isn't always about other people. Sometimes it's about: • Emotional reactivity • Weak boundaries • Sharing before healing The Emotional Acuity Framework™ was designed to help leaders navigate all 3. Part of my upcoming book, Leading Through Conflict. #Leadership #LeadingThroughConflict

A student saying "I don't care" doesn't always mean they lack motivation. Sometimes they haven't discovered what matters to them yet. That's why meaningful projects matter. Every student is interested in something. #PBLplus #PBL #Edusky

After 20+ years of visiting classrooms, I've found that effective core instruction is built on five foundational practices that consistently appear in strong teaching. #Edusky Read more here: www.edutopia.org/article/5-ke...

Relationships are like tennis. You hit the ball over the net, and they hit it back. How people respond. How they communicate. How they handle conflict. Their response tells you a lot. Not everyone earns access. 🎥 youtu.be/jIXo-PFXe3w?...

Most PBL is missing the structure that makes it work. Real PBL requires challenge, authenticity, collaboration, public products, project management, and reflection. Learn more here: www.edutopia.org/article/simp... #PBLplus #Education #InstructionalLeadership #JorgeDoesPBL #Edusky

One big instructional mistake schools make happens before lessons even begin. Before the initiative. Before the technology. Before the program. We stop asking: “What do students actually need?” #InstructionalInnovationPlus #InstructionalLeadership #Education #JorgeDoesPBL #Edusky

Reactive leadership creates unstable cultures. Strong leaders are not controlled by pressure, conflict, or emotion. They pause, regulate, and respond with intention. One of the core ideas explored in my “Leading Through Conflict” leadership series. #Leadership #EmotionallyIntelligentLeadership

Education is changing fast. AI alone will not transform learning. Strong instruction, emotionally intelligent leadership, and meaningful human connection still matter more than ever. Looking forward to speaking at ISTE + ASCD 2026. Learn more here: bit.ly/4dSk8Ps

Most students are already using AI. Many still don’t understand it. The Digital Education Council’s 2024 Global AI Student Survey found 58% of students report lacking sufficient AI knowledge and skills despite widespread AI use. youtube.com/shorts/Zs4RU... #Education #AILiteracy #PBLplus #EduSky

Had a great conversation with David Berner and Jeremy Mikla on the Integrate This Podcast discussing instructional leadership, AI literacy, project-based learning, and the future of learning. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIXo...

Discover 13 formative assessments you can use tomorrow! These quick, low-stakes checks give teachers immediate insight into student thinking—and with minimal setup they can provide lessons with a dynamic feedback loop. 🔁 #assessment #EduSky

An end-of-the-year reminder. 🧡

Had a great conversation with David Berner and Jeremy Mikla on the Integrate This Podcast discussing instructional leadership, AI literacy, project-based learning, and the future of learning. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIXo...

Today we honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Grateful for their sacrifice. Wishing everyone a meaningful Memorial Day.

People don’t hate your boundaries. They hate losing control. Research on emotional regulation (Gross, 1998) & Bowen’s differentiation theory both support the idea that emotionally healthy people can stay calm, connected, and clear without emotionally collapsing under pressure. #Leadership #EduSky

Even the youngest students need a brain break sometimes! These 3 silent activities are the perfect way to get students to calmly refocus their attention before learning continues. 🤫 #EduSky

Things I Wish [...] Knew by Rachelle Dene Poth Available here: bit.ly/thingsiwishedu #edchat #EduSky #teachers #Community #EduMatchAuthors #EduMatch

The last month of school can be the best time to try out new ideas. ✨ Spanish and STEAM teacher @rdene915.bsky.social explains how building a culture of risk has allowed her to experiment at the end of the year. #EduSky #TeacherPD

AI DOESN’T FIX BAD INSTRUCTION. Strong instructional design still matters most in the age of AI. Harvard Project Zero’s Visible Thinking research reinforces the importance of making student thinking observable through reflection, reasoning, and authentic tasks. #EduSky #AILiteracy #PBLplus

How Amanda centers student choice in an interdisciplinary project: https://edut.to/4dkqSFO

MOST SCHOOLS DON’T HAVE AN INSTRUCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM. Research from John Hattie’s Visible Learning work found collective teacher efficacy to be one of the strongest influences on student achievement.

STOP EXPLAINING YOUR BOUNDARIES. Maslach & Leiter’s burnout research showed that chronic interpersonal stress contributes heavily to emotional exhaustion. A lot of good people are drained because they keep explaining basic respect to people who already understood the line they crossed.

One of the biggest leadership mistakes in schools is constantly changing priorities before existing practices are fully supported and implemented. Research: RAND State of the Teacher Survey Deci & Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory Clarity + trust matter. www.edutopia.org/article/supp... #EduSky

YOUR GUT ISN’T JUST A FEELING. The Enteric Nervous System contains more than 100 million neurons communicating between the gut and brain through the vagus nerve. Research from Dr. Michael Gershon’s work on the “second brain” helped explain why intuition can feel so real physiologically.

ENGAGEMENT DRIVES ACHIEVEMENT. John Hattie’s Visible Learning research found teacher clarity and classroom discussion among the strongest influences on student learning. Students learn more deeply when they are actively engaged in rigorous instruction. #EduSky #InstructionalLeadership #Education

Honored to keynote the 2026 Ohio STEM Innovation Summit in Columbus this June. We’ll focus on practical STEM learning, AI literacy, student engagement, and future-ready instruction that actually works in classrooms. Learn more and register: osln.org/2026/02/anno... #STEMEducation #EduSky

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, mentors, and mother figures who lead with love, sacrifice, wisdom, and strength. Wishing you a beautiful and blessed Mother’s Day.

Research on cognitive overload and decision fatigue (Baumeister) shows excessive inputs reduce clarity and self-regulation. Too many people are consuming nonstop opinions and outsourcing permission instead of reconnecting with their own discernment. Listen: open.spotify.com/episode/0wC6... #EduSky

New leaders feel pressure to prove themselves fast. But research tells a different story. Trust develops through ability, integrity, and benevolence—not speed (Mayer, Davis & Schoorman, 1995). Listen first. Learn the system. Then lead. Episode: YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAEO... #EduSky

Most lessons don’t fail during work time—they fail before it. Tier 1 should: clear goal, model thinking, define expectations. Rosenshine (2012) showed modeling + guided practice are critical. Read more about Tier 1 here: www.edutopia.org/article/5-ke... #EduSky

Hard work alone doesn’t build skill. Consistency does. Ericsson (1993): Expert performance develops through deliberate, repeated practice—not one-time effort. Pattern holds across fields: practice → competence → confidence Most people stop too early. #EduSky

We taught growth mindset. Now it’s an AI mindset. Carol Dweck (2006): beliefs shape effort and performance. That hasn’t changed. But AI is changing how we think. Tools → collaboration Answers → questions Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulEQ... #EduSky

Some schools try to improve instruction without observing it. Research on effective teaching shows that visible learning and feedback loops (Hattie, 2009) are among the highest-impact practices. Short walks → pattern recognition → targeted PL. www.edutopia.org/article/usin... #EduSky

You’re not asking for too much. You’re asking for what you’ve finally seen modeled the right way. The responsibility is this: become what you’re seeking. Full episode: Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7ce6... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZSM... #EduSky

Accountability starts with curiosity, not consequences. 🔍 Psychological safety (Edmondson, 1999) is the #1 predictor of team success. It requires making it safe to say "I don't know." Don't penalize a lack of knowledge; penalize a lack of curiosity. #EduSky

New leaders want to act fast. But you don’t walk into a blank slate. You walk into a history. First 30 days? Listen. Full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAEO... #EduSky

In leadership, we have to distinguish between people who lack awareness and those who lack empathy. The NARC model (Back et al., 2013) shows that while some "selfish" people just want to be liked, others are driven by "rivalry". Levels 1-3 = Coaching. Levels 4-5 = Distance.

Stop treating differentiation as an add-on. 🛑 In my latest, I share a 6-step framework to help educators move toward Differentiation by Design. Clear hooks, explicit instruction, and intentional reflection. Read more: www.edutopia.org/article/diff... #EdSky #Education #InstructionalDesign

Leaders don’t lose trust in big moments. They lose it in small ones they overlook. “I didn’t mean it that way” doesn’t repair impact. How people feel around you does. Full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAEO... #EduSky #EduPod #Leadership

AI only works well for students who can think. Metacognition, problem-solving, evaluation—those come first. Otherwise, AI just replaces thinking instead of strengthening it. Read the article to learn more about the framework: bit.ly/4oDXeQ4

Many educators aren’t only focused on content—they’re building connection. Research shows relationships are one of the strongest influences on learning. No rapport = limited learning. Try this: Name one strength you see in a student or colleague—& say it to them. #EduSky #InstructionalLeadership

Your biggest flex is not talent—it is coachability. If you do not learn the lesson, you repeat it—just in a different place with different people. Watch or listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU4T... open.spotify.com/episode/3uvP... #EduSky #Leadership

AI in classrooms isn’t the innovation. Teaching students how to think with it is. Guide it. Create with it. Question its impact. That’s how we build future-ready learners. Framework: bit.ly/4oDXeQ4 #edusky

If students aren’t talking about the text, comprehension stays shallow. Reciprocal reading helps students build understanding together through structured roles. I included 3 downloadable versions for K–2, 3–5, and 6–12: www.edutopia.org/article/reci... #EduSky

Mindset isn’t a poster. It’s neuroscience. On the LLD Podcast, Stephanie Lugo explains how she integrates brain science into STEM so students understand how struggle rewires learning. Watch the full video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jnp... #edusky #InstructionalLeadership #PBL

We’re working on curating a list of the most essential voices in education right now, and we want your recommendations. 📣 Who are the “must-follow” accounts that fuel your practice?