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Creating Common Ground: Using Collaborative Problem Solving to Improve School Climate

By Susan J. Foster EbbsAssociate Professor, M.Ed. School Counseling at American Public University A positive school climate can foster the academic, emotional, social, career, and civic development of students. Ideally members of a school community work together to communicate and develop a set of values and expectations that ensures the growth and safety of every member and that everyone has a voice, responsibility, and accountability. Failure to ensure that this type of collaborative environment exists can cause a school community to fail to thrive, resulting in academic deficits, increased discipline concerns, lack of trust, and decreased communication.

Sandy Hook – a Metaphor for Redemption from Evil

By Charles W. Bindig, Ed.D. I was not surprised at the bravery and selfless abandon that the teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary School exhibited last Friday in the face of real evil. As a former principal and elementary teacher, one intuitively understands that you need to protect your students at all costs, and that the safety of the school is paramount.

Sandy Hook: A Principal’s Perspective on Mental Health Issues and Violence in Schools

By Dr. Charles Bindig Since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, I have been searching for a solution to the problem that all schools face: The potential for violence due to the exceptional vulnerability of the institution. As a previous elementary school principal, I spent many a day trying to manage irate parents and out-of-control students.