Hi everyone,
It’s been a good week. I had to take a day off for a slew of appointments, and my family and I got out to a pumpkin patch afterward on a Tuesday afternoon. Hardly another soul in sight. It was awesome.
If you missed it, I sent out the results of the recent admin survey on AI and tech. It seemed to be well received, largely because you all showed up and filled it out. Thanks!
Also, just a day after publishing, we already have quite a few votes for sending out a collection of resources provided by you all.
So, my humble ask is this:
If your district has a solid AI policy, please, please take a moment to reply here and shoot me the link. I’ll do the work of compiling and sending them back out.
Much appreciated.
I hope you all enjoy this week’s video. It’s a bit long, but entertaining. A bit lighter than our usual fare. And the Emailable PD this week is a topic I’m particularly passionate about. I hope you find it helpful.
That’s all for now. Hug your families!
Mike
Weekly Video
Use in staff newsletters, encouraging emails, etc.
Possible Caption: May all of your students have this level of persistence.
Vote below, and we’ll track your favorite videos in our archive.
Looking for a past video. Check our archive.
Weekly Quote
"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable."
Christopher Reeve
Weekly Staff/Student Discussion Question
Use in a staff meeting, student discussion, ask your own kids … see what happens!
Question: What is something you’ve done in the last 24 hours that made someone’s life better?
Note: I think people believe this will be a shaming question because, “What if I ask someone and they don’t have anything to share?” I very rarely find this to be the case. Instead, you learn that a lot of people (especially students) do very selfless things all the time and would never “brag” about it. Give them the opportunity to be recognized. It’s magical.
Weekly Emailable PD
Use in staff newsletters, emailable PD messages, etc.
Suggested Email Body:
This week’s resource focuses on how caring relationships can help students build resilience. When students feel safe enough to share what they’re facing, school can become a place to find support and take a next step.
The challenge is responding in ways that build trust and student agency. Listening without rushing to fix, recognizing the challenge without defining the student by it, and following up can help students feel supported while keeping expectations clear.
These slides offer practical ways to strengthen connection. By listening with curiosity, offering manageable choices, and making connection part of the routine, teachers can help students feel seen, supported, and ready to keep moving forward.
