I took this picture years ago… and the message still holds up. The sticky notes say it best. One says, “Still work on post-its so it can change!” The other just says, “Reading + Math MAP data.” That’s what a good system should do. It holds the work in place, but it ALSO lets the […]
Keep the important thing the most important thing. Read More »
I’ve been watching The Diplomat, ok fine, watching & mostly yelling at Hal Wyler and wondering why on earth Kate keeps putting up with him, when it hit me. Something about Kate’s story feels strangely familiar. Not the international crises. Not the fancy dinners. Definitely not the British estate. Not the sassy PM. The job.
The job I wasn’t sure I could do… Read More »
The ISTE conversation that everyone was having…is the same one districts will be having soon: should we buy this AI tool, or that AI tool? I think we’re skipping the harder question. Not what to buy. What to stop using. Here’s what a few years of leading technology in a growing district taught me: AI
The hardest technology decision isn’t what to buy…it’s what to stop using… Read More »
Five years ago, we moved to our little piece of East Texas. Not long after we unpacked (okay, probably WHILE we were still unpacking), my husband and daughter planted 1,100 baby pine trees on our property. Eleven. Hundred. Trees. And y’all… calling them “trees” was generous. They were sticks. Scraggly, knee-high sticks that looked less
Leadership grows before it shows Read More »
I love a checklist. A calendar. A way to SEE, obnoxiously, what my goals and plans are… It also helps others see what I’m thinking and help hold me accountable, What if you had a calendar like this that helped prepare YOU for the next school year/quarter? Ideas to add? Read one leadership book (need
Great culture doesn’t start in August: A Summer Challenge for School Leaders! Read More »
One of the unexpected gifts of this season has been the opportunity to pause long enough to ask a question I haven’t had much time to consider over the past decade: What are the parts of my work that bring me the most joy? (IYKYK, it’s never servers and switches! gulp!) Like many educators, I’ve
Refreshing, reflection, and looking ahead… Read More »
After 25 years in public education, Amber Teamann reflects on leadership, growth, and transition while launching her consulting work and continuing to support leaders through Lead with Appreciation.
What’s next: Leading with clarity and appreciation Read More »
Hot take for 2026: If you’re frustrated with AI results, it’s probably not the tool. It’s the way we’re asking it to help. A lot of educators and leaders have been using AI like a faster Google search or a quick fix button. And when that’s the approach, the output feels shallow, generic, or just
Using AI like a leader, not a search engine Read More »
One of the first conversations I had when taking this position five years ago was with our newly hired network engineer. It had come time to renew the licensing and assigning of voicemail mailboxes for teacherss. There were lots of technical words that didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, but the overall
Walkabout Wednesdays: The moment you realize a principal is running your tech team… Read More »
We just completed a most glorious fall break. I had several speaking engagements leading up to the break and it was a great reconnection to educators who are SEEKING opportunities to learn and to be better. Even if it means, gulp, changing. We know in education and professional development, the learning journey is never easy,
Learning gems: principles for all on what good learning looks like! Read More »