The Problem With Education Is Faster Horses

There is an apocryphal quote attributed to Henry Ford that goes, “If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they would have told me a faster horse.”1 It’s the kind of thing “disruptors” like to say as it reinforces their sense of being visionaries able to see what their critics can’t. So how is one to tell what is truly innovative thinking? A good starting point is to consider how well the current solutions and paradigms are working. What will be argued here is that education is now at a point where improvements within the existing framework are seeing diminishing returns. Education needs to leap forward, and our current horses are not up to the challenge.
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iTTi/Your Agora Partnership

Wednesday September 23rd, 2020
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Financial MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS OF THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

School leaders take on a colossal amount of responsibilities. One of the most important duties among those — financial management. However, many school leaders struggle with grasping the scope of their responsibilities and liabilities when it comes to accounting and finance. In fact, there was a recent study showing that a worrying majority of principals and administrators lacked financial literacy and a basic knowledge of bookkeeping.
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School Budgets Made Simple: A Crash Course

The purpose of a school budget is straightforward — to create and implement a financial plan, which will support appropriate funding for all programs benefiting the students. We all know that the school budget has a deeper impact than simply keeping the school afloat. Through the pathway of best school budget practices, students will receive learning experiences of utmost quality and carry this knowledge into adult life. Despite its importance, the task of writing a budget may seem extremely daunting. That is why we at Your Agora broke down the complicated school budgeting process to a digestible guide.
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How to Avoid Principal Burnout

Burnout has become an epidemic among educators of all school levels. A school leader’s professional world consists of overwhelming responsibilities, information perplexities, and emotional anxiety. It’s no wonder that the issue of burnout has long been cited as the reason so many educators leave the profession. How can we combat the feelings of exhaustion, despair and a sense of helplessness that result in such high turnover rates in our schools?
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Surprising Truth About Turning Around Failing Schools

Why are schools failing? Before we explore school improvement strategies, it’s crucial to understand why so many schools fail. Aside from mismanagement and the socioeconomic status of the school and its students, many of the issues begin directly in the classroom. According to an academic journal article in JSTOR, schools fail for a number of reasons that occur in the classroom. The author identifies six factors of critical importance that cause low school performance:
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The Best School Administrator Resources of 2018

During the busy school year, many school administrators may find it difficult to find the time for professional development or networking. However, for the benefit of the school and its students, it’s crucial that education professionals have the time for learning opportunities, to pursue professional topics they are passionate about or to engage in meaningful conversation with other professionals in the field.
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School Finance Series: Better Ways to Spend Your School’s Money

Surprisingly, researchers have long debated the influence of school funding and investments on student achievement. At the same time, a number of studies over the decades confirmed that schools show great improvement with increased funding and appropriate investments from that funding. However, one question still stands: where can the money go that will have the best outcomes for students?
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List of 10 Best School Management Software Solutions

What Is School Management Software? School management software, which encompasses various aspects of management, allows schools to automate many tasks of running an institution. The varying management software packages offer a wide range of functions, from scheduling to student performance tracking. It may help schools improve communication, offer a better analysis of student performance, and allow an increased transparency with the parents.
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5 Fundamentals of School Leadership That Works

In educational research regarding modern school reform, the improvement of school leadership ranked high on the list of priorities. A 2010 survey of school administrators, policymakers and school owners revealed that the quality of school leaders is one of the most pressing matters among issues in education. While the quality of instructors stood above all others, school leadership outstripped issues such as high drop out rates, STEM integration, and college and workforce preparation.
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