-
Creating Innovators
What does it mean to be an innovative school? This is a question we have been wrestling with in relation to both EAB’s mission statement reference to innovation and our responsibility to offer a consequential educational program that keeps pace with societal changes. The answer to this question will depend on the context of the…
-
Our Cultural Mosaic
Brazil’s Carnival commemorations not only represent a time for celebration, rest, and travel, but also highlight an important feature of Brazil’s rich cultural heritage. It is this heritage, framed within the context of a greater global perspective, that reminds us of the importance of culture and its correspondingly distinct and seemingly immeasurable variations. The privilege…
-
Importance of Play
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” It is not clear if Plato was applying these words to education but they are, nevertheless, apropos to our contemporary work in schools. With the focus on grades, curriculum coverage, and standardized testing in schools, there is…
-
Professional Learning Community
EAB’s mission statement ends with the phrase, “we cultivate … a strong foundation of academic excellence,“ which serves as a mantra to guide all programmatic decisions, pedagogical approaches, and professional development strategies. Arguably, the professional development component has the strongest correlation with academic excellence and student achievement. To that end, EAB has made a commitment…
-
The Power of Habit
The Power of Habit Did you know that we conduct 45% of our daily actions with little to no thought? Charles Duhigg, the author of The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, highlights extensive brain research that explains how nearly half of our actions are habitual and not necessarily…
-
Change is Not Optional
During this week’s AdvancED conference, Will Richardson, a leader in the area of social online learning networks and education, shared a thought provoking key note address. While the presentation associated with the talk may be difficult to follow out of context, there are striking photos and quotes that may be of interest and can be viewed through…
-
A Remarkable Legacy
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” ~ Nelson Mandela I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have lived in Swaziland from 1993-1995, traveled often to South Africa, and developed relationships with so many of the gracious and impassioned people from the region. Photos: Home in Swaziland; Drakensberg…
-
Kindness (Revisited)
GENTILEZA GERA GENTILEZA Last week’s ‘Kindness’ post generated a substantial number of responses, which has led to this follow up post focusing on two subjects: José Datrino and a colleague’s letter. Part I: José Datrino (Caveat: I am not an expert regarding José Datrino’s story and apologize in advance if there are any errors in…
-
The Importance of Arts Education
Anyone entering EAB’s auditorium on Friday morning was greeted by a resounding rush of energy and exhilaration, generated by students singing and dancing in their aisles to the music of a live New Orleans brass band. This was the scene last week when, through a series of serendipitous events, The Hot 8 Brass Band found its…
-
Kindness
During my morning arrival to campus earlier this week, I noticed the presence of a woman standing in front of the school carefully scrutinizing everyone entering EAB. Since I did not recognize the woman and with an obvious concern for security, I approached her and inquired about her presence at the school’s entrance. The woman’s…