Headteacher Gifts

'Ms. Peters, hold all calls. I'm busy implementing yet another hastily conceived and unproven education innovation.'

"I want you to know that the school board is very pleased with your efforts to make this new budget work."

'On the left, this year's reading scores. On the right, the same data digitally enhanced.'

'I know the kids don't like you and pick on you, but you have to go to school...you're the teacher.'

'Teaching, reading, writing, and arithmetic sounds like a good idea. Let me run it by an educational focus group.'

'My kindergarten class is using frozen waffles for stacking and building.'

'I hope that is not too much of an inconvenience for you, but I'm desperate to hold on to good teachers.'

'...'your gifted' son - could you remind me what those gifts were?'

'I make a formal teaching observation at the end of the term. If your students are still curious, then you're a good teacher.'

'I can eat a full lunch in five minutes and it takes you half an hour. That's why I'm the master teacher.'

'Well if you're sick of seeing me here, and I'm sick of coming in here,let's call a truce!'

"But enough about me, what's new with you?"

It's good to expand successful schools, but isn't there a danger of over-extending the catchment area.

'I give all my new teachers the same advice. Never minimize the transformative power of a smile attached to your words.'

'Long term I want student achievement to increase. Short time I want a cup of coffee and a biscotti.'

'My first day? I got to meet with the principal one on one.'

'You've heard of the teacher's pet. Well I'm the teacher's pet peeve.'

'My principal wants to see you about my principles.'

'I'm going to walk around the school - keep me under constant surveilance.'

"We're using analytics now for our teacher evaluations, and it seems your exit velocity at dismissal time is the highest in the school."

'No, you don't have fever. You have to go to school.'

'This is a tough school. The principal isn't intimidated by parents.'

'Take this back to the committee. Since this is a school I would like the mission statement to mention education.'

"Yes, Eric you do need to do a duty. You know as well as I do that every dog has its day."

"For the last time, I'm the Principal not the Warden."

"If the principal calls it's probably about my '15 minutes of fame'."

'You know I support diversity in our curriculum, but UFO studies?!'

'The board couldn't come up with a 'Plan-A'.'

'My advice to a first year teacher is to teach from the heart, not only from the book.'

'Her special Talent is sulking.'

'Ready for your performance review?'

'As I walk through the halls, I see teachers teaching and students learning and I say to myself, 'what wonderful school, what a wonderful world.''

School Budget Cuts

"My problem is, I can't tell a good example from a glaring example."

"Getting into a fight is one thing, but did you have to get into a class-clearing brawl?"