Author Archives: sutterlearn

Reflecting on Transitioning

Posted on February 16, 2024 by sutterlearn

I was recently asked to write a reflection and advice for fellow school principals on the topic of transitioning away from the principalship…with a focus on encouragement and not “get out while you can,” which is what so many of … Continue reading →

Posted in Coaching, Leadership, Personal Essay | Leave a comment

Loving, Doing, Being

Posted on March 10, 2021 by sutterlearn

One year ago today my mom died. Two days later the world shut down for COVID. I haven’t posted here in a while, but as my dad has spent the year grieving in almost isolation and the funeral my mom … Continue reading →

Posted in Parenting, Personal Essay, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Looking Back For Grandma

Posted on January 7, 2018 by sutterlearn

Looking back it is much easier to make sense of life, or perhaps we just create meaning once we know.  Sometimes, we just struggle to make sense of things at all.  John Dewey said, “We don’t learn from experience, rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Parenting, Personal Essay | 1 Comment

Book Review: Leading with Focus

Posted on August 4, 2016 by sutterlearn

For the past five years in my career in education, I have promoted this concept of “do less better” in the face of multiple so-called requirements and initiatives that tend to distract us from doing any of them well.  Some … Continue reading →

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Book Review: On Your Mark

Posted on August 4, 2016 by sutterlearn

The district I serve in moved to “standards-based report cards” a few years before I arrived in 2007 and I can honestly say they have created heartburn and lively debate three times each year.  These have been revised and re-aligned … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Coaching, Leadership, Professional Learning Conceptions, School Reform, Teacher Leadership, Teachers | Leave a comment

I Get to Go to School

Posted on March 14, 2016 by sutterlearn

As I was feeling exhausted, frustrated, and futile the other day, I asked myself why I go to work.  In such desperate moments I can easily find myself answering first with many of the things I don’t go there for.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Coaching, Leadership, Students, Teacher Leadership, Teachers | Leave a comment

Brother Love and Lovely Dove

Posted on March 14, 2016 by sutterlearn

There’s a kid in my school who inspires me.  Work doesn’t always come easy for him, but he doesn’t stop trying.  He’s not very organized, but he doesn’t seem to care.  Life moves at a little slower pace; a pace … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Students | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Instructional Leader and the Brain

Posted on March 6, 2016 by sutterlearn

I’ve been poking in and out of this book for a few months now, interrupted by other reading.  The growing fields of cognitive and neuroscience have fascinated me, but the intersection of this research with practical application has been scattered … Continue reading →

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Technology Amuck

Posted on February 13, 2016 by sutterlearn

A young lady was recently telling me her woes about a boy she had a crush on.  The woe was this: he hadn’t “liked” a picture she posted of them earlier that day.  I asked her if his opinion was … Continue reading →

Posted in Parenting, Students, Technology | Leave a comment

Hey Stripes! Nice job.

Posted on January 31, 2016 by sutterlearn

For over 35 years, I avoided any interest in sports whatsoever. I literally would not stay in a room where a ball game was playing on a TV.  It just wasn’t part of me and I wasn’t missing out on … Continue reading →

Posted in Coaching, Leadership, Parenting | Leave a comment