In our small district, we don’t have a curriculum director or resources to bring in an outside source to provide professional development for all staff. But as the school leader, it’s critical that I learn the standards myself and learn from other districts that are further along with implementation.

On Twitter, my best resource, I’ve connected with a variety of principals, curriculum directors, and instructional coaches from other districts and states who have helped me learn about available resources. I’ve had several Skype chats with the leaders of districts that are further along in implementation, and I continue to gain resources and ideas from them.

Administrators have a lonely job being the only one in their buildings. But you’re not alone—your network can expand online to include a wealth of great people with great ideas.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

• Recommended Common Core Resources from NAESP
  www.naesp.org/common-core-state-standards-resources

• What Principals Need to Know About Teaching and Learning Mathematics
  http://bit.ly/NMpKL3

• The University of Arizona’s Progressions for the Common Core Math Standards
  http://bit.ly/NP9juJ

• The Teaching Channel’s Videos on the Common Core
  http://bit.ly/SQmQWp

• The Hunt Institute’s Common Core Videos
  http://bit.ly/LJanmI

Jessica Johnson, Principal
Dodgeland Elementary School, Juneau, Wisconsin
http://principalj.blogspot.com/

Your comments are always welcome, so send us an email at publications@naesp.org to let us know what you think about this issue.

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