Welcome to the Long Beach Portal

The Holder Backer

Someone who thinks something but who doesn’t say it  for a variety of reasons.

The Ambiguoist

Dont be ambigous with your words. It’s not helpful. It’s better to be direct than to be flowery. and that goes for both praise and corrective feedback.

The Excuser

A leader who makes excuses for teacher and or student performance.

The Generalist

Don’t be a generalist as a leader or you’ll cancel any attempt at being candid. Candor requires specificity. The Generalist never says anything specific anough to install pride or require a specific change.

The Avoider

Don’t be a leader who avoids problems. Leadership requires a voice, and when we keep quiet or allow others to silence an issue. we concede to a continuation of the issue.

The Smoother Overer

Don’t be a leader who tends to smooth things over whenever conflict arises without a meaningful resolution.

The Opposer

Don’t be a leader who barks and orders, resists every idea, and creates dissention. Candor requires an arrangement through professional dialuogue.

The Osmosist

Leaders can’t make assumptions. Period.

The Easy-Inner

Never ease into a difficult conversation. Beating around the bush trying to bait someone into an admission doesn’t work.

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Additional Resources from The School House 302

Season 6, Episode 10 of the FocusED School Leadership Podcast with Guest Vicky Essebag

    Developing Stronger Relationships with Vicky Essebag   This is Season 6, Episode 10 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Vicky Essebag; we discuss the concept of “relationspaces,” building stronger bonds with people, personal growth…and so much more.  ...

Season 6, Episode 9 of the FocusED School Leadership Podcast with Guest Nason Lollar

Promoting Educator Professionalism with Nason Lollar   This is Season 6, Episode 9 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Nason Lollar; we discuss educator professional conduct, human resources, managing and sustaining a positive culture, school leadership…and so...

Season 6, Episode 8 of the FocusED School Leadership Podcast with Guest Christina Hidek

Successfully Managing Parent and Community Groups with Christina Hidek   This is Season 6, Episode 8 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Christina Hidek; we discuss parent-teacher organization, managing community expectations, building relationships with key...

Season 6, Episode 7 of the FocusED School Leadership Podcast with Guest Shawn Dilly

Schools for this Century and Beyond with Shawn Dilly   This is Season 6, Episode 7 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Shawn Dilly; we discuss future-ready students, human skills, AI, global dexterity…and so much more....

Season 6, Episode 6 of the FocusED School Leadership Podcast with Guest Peter Cookson

Communities of Strength with Peter Cookson   This is Season 6, Episode 6 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Peter Cookson; we discuss community leadership, supporting students in poverty, school culture…and so much more....

Season 6, Episode 5 of the FocusED School Leadership Podcast with Guest Kate Koch

Unsupervised Leadership with Kate Koch   This is Season 6, Episode 5 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Kate Koch; we discuss women in leadership positions, mentorship, balance at work…and so much more....

Season 6, Episode 4 of the FocusED School Leadership Podcast with Guest Ben Farrell

Educating for Our Students’ Futures with Ben Farrell   This is Season 6, Episode 4 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Ben Farrell; we discuss what it means to prepare students for the future, an entrepreneurial focus in schools, competency-based, allowing...

Season 6, Episode 3 of the FocusED School Leadership Podcast with Guest Nathan Tanner

The Unconquerable Leader with Nathan Tanner   This is Season 6, Episode 3 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Nathan Tanner; we discuss what it means to be an unconquerable leader…and so much more. ______________________________________________________________...

Season 6, Episode 2 of the FocusED School Leadership Podcast with Guest Lauren Kaufman

The Leader Inside with Lauren Kaufman   This is Season 6, Episode 2 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Lauren Kaufman; we discuss what it means to be your authentic self at work, growth strategies, the power of a mentor, great books to read…and so much more....

Season 6, Episode 1 of the FocusED School Leadership Podcast with Guest Jason Kennedy

    Let’s Stop Teaching with Jason Kennedy     This is Season 6, Episode 1 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Jason Kennedy; we discuss what it means to truly be an instructional leader, how to design quality learning environments, why teachers need to focus...
Riptides and School Leadership: Parallels in Power and Peril

Riptides and School Leadership: Parallels in Power and Peril

In this episode of the Leading Better and Growing Faster podcast for school leaders, Joe and T.J. discuss how school leaders can effectively manage the riptides found in everyday school leadership. Imagine a calm beach day, preferably Savage Ditch, Delaware, where you...

Amanda Holdsworth: Telling Your School’s Story #OneThingSeries

Amanda Holdsworth: Telling Your School’s Story #OneThingSeries

Stop trying to be everything to everyone. Know your area of expertise and stick to it. ~ Dr. Holdsworth    About Amanda Holdsworth Dr. Amanda Holdsworth, APR, is the founder of Holdsworth Communications, a PR and enrollment marketing agency in the education...

Browse Our Book Collection

Candid and Compassionate Feedback

Too often educational leaders are caught in a “culture of nice,” finding it difficult to give their teachers and staff critical feedback to improve their practice. This important book helps leaders become both candid and compassionate, unrelenting and supportive, and demanding yet caring.

Retention for a Change

More often than not, generic solutions used to boost teacher retention are failing (i.e. increased salary, better working conditions, lack of induction support). Low teacher retention rates in schools negatively impact student achievement for all the students in a school, not just those in a new teacher’s classroom.

Passionate Leadership

An inspiring call to action for teachers and principals around the world to recommit to passionately serving children, building the communities children deserve, and celebrating our successes. The authors of this book examine what it takes to be a passionate leader and take courageous actions which lead to student growth and success. 

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