Building a New Kind of Leadership in Philadelphia Public Schools

"The days of the principal as the lone instructional leader are over," says John DeFlaminis, executive director of the Penn Center for Educational Leadership. "We no longer believe that one administrator can serve as the only instructional leader for an entire school without the substantial participation of other educators."

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"Non-traditional" Students are the Norm in GSE / TFA Partnership

First-time teacher Wilson Boyd had an assignment in one of Philadelphia's most troubled high schools: Olney West, a place so marked by violence and academic failure that the district had hired an ex-Marine to restore order there.

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Professional Development in Aceh After the Tsunami

"Before the tsunami, there were 17 classes with 40 children in each class," explains Kathy Schultz, "and afterwards, eight classes with about 20 children."

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It all depends on who you ask

Pelon (the tall guy with the glasses) and Cricket are two of the "Homies" created by LA artist David Gonzales, based on characters that he observed in his neighborhood. Homies represent social types typically found in places with a longstanding Latino presence, and each comes with a life story. Pelon, for instance, is "basically a hustler," Gonzales explains "...always selling hot merchandise." But Cricket is more nerd than gangster.

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Innovative Head Start curriculum creates resourceful and resilient learners

Head Start teacher Janet Lucky was struggling to open a thick envelope of classroom materials one morning. Her students, ages 3 to 5, knew just what to do. "Don't get frustrated, Mrs. Lucky," they advised. "Go get some scissors."

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