AASPA Blog

Written by Jesse Roy, Education Strategy Director with PowerSchool. With costs rising, many districts are contending with budgets that represent...

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For Immediate ReleaseMay 8, 2025Contact: Theresa Bordenave (Durbin), 202-224-8181 DURBIN, SMITH, SCHNEIDER, STEVENS INTRODUCE BILL TO ADDRESS...

Published annually, Best Practices explores school districts' “best practices” on one current topic. For 2025, articles will tackle...

Winning Strategies to Retain K-12 Educators and Administrators and Help Them Grow Insights on positive work culture and retention from...

How to Recruit and Hire Diverse Teachers By Katina Bookard, Ed.D. Here are two truths about having a diverse teaching staff: No. 1: It’ll...

There’s Still Time to Nominate! Help Recognize Excellence in School...

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Get ready for summer with professional development from the comfort of your home - at your own pace! We’re excited to offer...

2024-2025 AASPA Award & Recognition Nominations Nominate your colleagues, districts and affiliates for international recognition through AASPA!...

In an effort to provide our members with resources and information vital to their success, AASPA is pleased to offer a new member benefit focused...

Conceding DEIfeat: OCR Backtracks With New Guidance on Title VI On Saturday, March 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for...

Across the country, teacher turnover rates are improving slowly, but teacher burnout remains a persistent challenge. Educator burnout can impact...

As Clear Concepts’ Practice Leader for HR Technology, let me begin by saying I love my job! Working with a firm whose only clients are public...

U.S. Department of Education Cuts Over $600 Million in Divisive Teacher Training...

AASPA acknowledges that many of our members find it challenging to navigate the new administration's surge of significant and sometimes...

2025 February-April Compass Magazine Published three times a year, AASPA’s Compass magazine features articles, news and association...

Recent executive actions on education civil rights— including those purporting to restrict affirmative action and diversity, equity, and...

Teacher burnout and staffing shortages are growing challenges in K-12 education. Discover how data-driven recruitment tools can streamline hiring...

A short order from a federal trial court in Kentucky sent shockwaves through the education community today by vacating the 2024 Title IX rule. As...

It’s the problem that keeps every school administrator awake at night. The nationwide teacher shortage has left our public schools scrambling...

My First AASPA Conference: A Memorable Experience in Seattle, WA Attending the AASPA (American Association of School Personnel Administrators)...

Making the decision to add or change technology in your district is a big deal, and likely means big changes to your employees’ day to day. In...

Stay a Step Ahead: Using Data to Minimize Teacher and Staff Absences Teacher and staff absenteeism is a significant challenge for school...

Did you know, cumulatively, students spend nearly a full year with substitutes from Kindergarten to 12th grade? Did you also know that 44% of...

School districts everywhere are facing a shortage of substitute teachers, and your district is likely experiencing it too. The recent COVID-19...

To: AASPA Membership From: Leigh Ann Blackmore, Chair, Constitution & Bylaws Please find attached proposed amendments to the AASPA Constitution...

AASPA’s Compass magazine features articles, news and association information of interest to AASPA members. It is published three times per...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lily Coash-Johnson lily@aaspa.org 913.327.1222 American Association of School Personnel Administrators...

Visit Raise the Bar: Boldly Improve Learning Conditions to read more about the specific strategies outlined here, connect to resources, and...

The first year of teaching is an uphill climb. As new teachers learn the ropes, they also need to connect with colleagues and adapt to the culture...

Everyone has a coach these days. People have life coaches, nutrition coaches, and executive coaches. So, it's no surprise to see schools turning to...

Implementing the Revised Fair Labor Standard Act Rules New U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rules establishing the salary threshold for exemption...

Published annually, Best Practices explores school districts' “best practices” on one current topic. For 2024, articles will tackle the...

Connection and Speed Let’s talk about connection and speed. At first glance, you might be thinking about your internet connection and whether...

In the ongoing pursuit of talent, organizations are constantly seeking ways to stand out from the crowd. One potent part of this process is the...

What is your definition of equity? We asked the question this year at the 2024 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit hosted in Dallas, TX. See what...

TITLE IX REGULATIONS Last week, the Department of Education released its final regulations under Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the...

Navigating the Impostor Phenomenon: A challenge that could potentially affect the motivation of administrators of color to lead in education In the...

As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education case, it is crucial for those of us in human resources leadership...

When discussing the current state of education with administrators, one theme consistently predominates: the national teacher shortage crisis and...

Education professionals come to work to make a difference – technology should support them in that mission, not get in the way. Mitchell...

With nearly half of K12 workers feeling the burn of job-related stress, it’s clear that our educators and school staff are facing...

New teachers often report that clinical practice (AKA field experiences or student teaching) was the most impactful part of their preparation. The...

Is there a teacher (or other school staff) who influenced who you've become? When we ask people this question the vast majority of them are...

The promise of technology to fundamentally change how we teach and meet the diverse needs of all students has yet to be fully realized. A recently...

Servant leadership is a key component of educational leadership. Servant leadership is a key component of any type of leadership. It should be in...

Education is evolving for the better. Join us in leading the charge into the future. Students deserve to go back to school and gain a...

How many of us have stepped into a new role in HR and found it exciting, you just can’t wait to hit the ground running or [insert your own...

I can hardly believe we’re so close to Conference. I wanted to share some valuable tips and tricks to make sure you get the absolute most out...

“Habituating oneself to careful listening from the heart is essential for leaders. It conveys a functional benefit,reliably leading to a...

Empowering Others, Empowering Myself: A Teacher's Story of Transitioning from the Whiteboard to Onboarding May 2021 was a month that will forever...

We know the educator shortage is a national crisis. To promote conversations across traditional silos, the American Association of School Personnel...

We are big believers in using affordable technology to improve efficiency, ensure compliance, and ultimately help school system HR departments...

The old adage “People are your most important asset” turns out to be wrong. People are not your most important asset. The right people...

Contemplating How to Use AI in HR Artificial intelligence has been slowly helping Human Resources teams to automate processes and procedures,...

Imagine this: it is your first day at a new substitute teaching assignment. The school is one you have never stepped foot in, you have never met any...

This article originally appeared on the PowerSchool blog as “Improving the Teacher Recruitment Process.” It features insights from...

5 Reasons to Automate HR Tasks in 2023 One thing we’ve learned during our 20+ years of working exclusively with school districts is that HR...

Plagued by unprecedented challenges, and ever-changing educational landscapes, it’s no wonder that school districtsare struggling to recruit...

Easing the Stress of the Staffing Process By Jeff McHugh Working in education is never easy, but February is an especially tough month. Educators...

We are all aware that difficult employees can have a negative impact on the work environment. Often, difficult behaviors will result in decreased...

This article originally appeared on the PowerSchool blog as “Using The Danielson Group’s Framework for Teaching (FFT) to Improve...

As I begin my seventh year as an HR professional, I cannot help but wonder what I have done to movethe needle with regard to equity. There is...

Dr. Lisa Andrejko, Director of Education Solutions at PowerSchool, has more than 30 years of K-12 experience as an educator and superintendent....

As Human Resource professionals we are required to know what behaviors are acceptable at work and what behaviors cross the line. The problem is we...

In an effort to provide our members with resources and information vital to their success, AASPA is pleased to work with the US Department of...

As we shift into “Back to School” mode, Team Torace can support planning initiatives. This series offers tips and insight from our...

In most professions, if there are shortages, wages increase. In most professions, there is a single accreditor for those seeking to go into the...

OPINION: Building high-quality teacher residency programs is the right strategy for growing and supporting an effective, diverse teacher workforce;...

Dr. Lisa Andrejko, Director of Education Solutions at PowerSchool, drew on her more than 30 years of K-12 experience as an educator and...

AN ILLINOIS DISTRICT SPEAKS ON THE TEACHER RETENTION/RECRUITMENT CHALLENGE… Human Resources Deputy Superintendent at North Shore District...

Even before the pandemic, the country struggled with a critical teacher shortage that left more than 100,000 classrooms staffed by those not fully...

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF EDUCATORS IN 2022 :AASPA Executive Director Kelly Coash-Johnson and Dr. Cathy Donovan , Director of Elementary Human...

HR Practices of Top-Performing K-12 Districts Revealed in Annual K-12 HR Survey PowerSchool recently released the results of their annual K-12...

AASPA's Executive Director Kelly Coash-Johnson joined Education Talk Radio to discuss the National Educator Shortage. Listen Now! ...

The special skills, qualities, and behaviors of effective paraeducators. Kathleen Adolt-Silva, EdD | Kelly Education As school...

Our continued work in supporting teachers and staff in the Human Resources (HR) Department is hugely grounded in fully understanding and supporting...

For aspiring Human Resources (HR) professionals, I encourage you to continue to pursue your dream. Being an HR administrator is a rewarding...

Assigning elementary teachers to teach only their best subjects, also known as “teacher specialization,” holds a lot of appeal—but...

The AASPA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee is embarking on a series of book studies and invites all AASPA members to participate. Our...

EDUCATORS for America Act We are excited to share that AASPA has signed on as a supporting organization of the EDUCATORS...

This is the first of three blogs exploring the state of teacher shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic and evidence-based solutions for addressing...

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – December 7, 2021 — “The educator shortage is not a new issue in the world of education,” says American...

Developing the Leader within You by John Maxwell Book Review Brian Taylor, Executive Director of Human Resources, West Islip Union Free School...

As we enter the month of November, pausing for reflection feels incredibly important. Without a doubt, the past two years have been a trying time...

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Using Instagram for Recruiting Recruiting and hiring top talent has long been a priority of many HR professionals. In today’s digital age,...

COVID-19 has forced school systems to exercise organizational agility and implement new practices and changes at an accelerated speed and volume...

By: Sydney Mattia, student at the University of Central Florida and HR Intern for Auburn-Washburn USD 437 My name is Sydney Mattia and I am a...

When it comes to paying for college there are various ways to help you pay for college, such as grants, scholarships, savings, and federal student...

The Survey This Spring Auburn-Washburn USD 437 conducted a survey of 147 college and university students that were approaching graduation and...

The implication of state-set boundaries for the validity of teaching licenses creates natural barriers for any teacher who wishes to consider moving...

The Dynamic World of Education The last year has been a tumultuous time for the world of education. School closures due to COVID-19, virtual...

This past year the pandemic pushed all of us responsible for education talent management and culture to focus on the essentials: ensuring our people...

As with many school districts, the process of recruiting, hiring and managing substitute teachers and paraprofessionals had become an overwhelming...

As we approach a year of learning disruption at the hands of COVID-19, students across the country are still not where they need to be academically....

Looking ahead to the 2021/22 school year, we see one North Star guiding school staffing: educators across America are irreplaceable. Fatigued...

When we talk about education, it is important to make a distinction between equity and equality. Equality would mean allocating the same level of...

I had no plans to become a teacher. Sure, I liked kids, I had been a camp counselor, and I always knew I would do something to serve the public...

For decades, school districts across the U.S. have been struggling to do more with less: Budget constraints are established top-down at the state...

Sourcing Through Networking Webster’s (2021) defines networking as “An interconnected or interrelated chain, group, or system.”...

A2020­-2021 AASPA Award Nominations Nominate your colleagues, districts and affiliates for international recognition through AASPA! You can...

If ever there was a time to bring together a diverse set of stakeholders to help identify their most urgent needs and weigh in on spending...

Take Time for You: Self-Care Action Plans for Educators by Dr. Tina Boogren is a straightforward approach to making self-care a priority for...

Fun fact #1:I “accidently” came upon this thin, purple, hard-back book, Through the Cracks, (Sollman, Emmons, & Paolini, 1994),...

Even prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, school systems were already facing a serious crisis, the national teacher shortage. In the most recent Gallup...

COVID-19 has exposed antiquated systems and structures in our education system. As we accelerate into a new normal that includes a much heavier...

The health and wellbeing of our school workforce is top priority as we look at reopening schools and having our teachers back in classrooms. On...

Below is a listing of our webinars for 2021. AASPA webinars are a great way to get last minute professional development and provided crucial...

A national teacher shortage continues, confirmed by our 2020 PowerSchool TalentIndex Research Report. We just released this...

Life is all about perspective. On March 12, 2019 our students were participating in learning, preparing for state exams, and fully engaging in their...

I've worked in the entertainment, nonprofit, and the financial industry, and nothing has been quite as daunting, intimidating, and yet as exciting...

“92% of respondents reported that a positive recommendation from a friend, family member, or someone they trust is the biggest influence on...

As I sit here in September listening to holiday music, (see #1 below), I am reflecting on all that has happened in our country and schools since...

A Brief Overview of the Landscape of Teacher Education In recent years, the field of education has been fighting an uphill battle, faced with...

"A timely read of school administrators leading districts in uncharted times, Leading for Results Transforming Teaching, Learning, and...

The utilization of our school workforce is top priority these days as we look at reopening schools this year. AASPA recognizes the importance of...

The global pandemic has thrust teachers out of their comfort zone of face-to-face teaching into the digital realm where many lack the experience and...

"Out of all of the books I have read, Nine Minutes on Monday by James Robbins is the most simple and practical coaching manual on moving from...

American Association of School Personnel Administrators News Release U.S. Department Issues Revised FMLA Notices and Certification Forms The...

"How to Be An Antiracist helped me to understand how the ethnic and racial divide in the educator workforce was a direct result of racist policies...

AASPA recognizes the concerns of school personnel administrators with regards to the recent developments and spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and...

I completed a project for my boss who was interested in seeing how we could improve our careers website. I evaluated and scored different school...

As people around the world and in our communities come together to protest and demand the end to racial injustices, we wanted to take a moment to...

With all the changes associated with COVID-19 and the guidelines that have been set by the CDC as well as county health departments, we recognize...

This week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an updated set of documents that outline guidelines on how to begin the...

Understandably, the sudden closure of schools has been both immeasurably difficult and confusing for students and adults alike. The first priority...

On March 19, a friend sent me this prayer posted by the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville. It resonated deeply in my soul and intensified the social...

How will the developments of the COVID-19 crisis affect the future of recruitment and retention in PK-12? A Brief Overview of the Landscape of...

Communication during this crisis has become even more critical than normal. The K-12 public education system is very much an in-person and on-site...

AASPA has received many questions from school systems about the effect the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has on managing FMLA leaves. Here are some...

As the workforce and educational institutions prepare for more changes due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), schools can work to put practical measures in...

Is eLearning the answer? In the face of snow days, emergencies and yes, deadly virus outbreaks, eLearning offers to keep students on track, and the...

By Kate Walsh For many districts, recruiting and retaining quality STEM teachers feels like an uphill battle with insufficient solutions. Yet for...

Got some spare time? Watch this brief tutorial on the new Member Compass. Find out just how easy it is to manage your AASPA membership.

By Sam Stetcher I have noticed a tendency to call teachers superheroes and it’s been bothering me lately. If you are one of those people...

By: Kimberly Freeman A Three-Layered Mentoring Approach That Works In the spring of 2008, I walked through customs in Lahore, Pakistan, desperately...

By Joey Waters and Jeanette Wojcik A single teacher will come into contact with hundreds, if not potentially thousands, of young hearts and minds....