This episode of Field Trip looks at highlights from the inaugural edition of “K-12 Lens,” an annual survey report from the Frontline Research & Learning Institute.

Rebecca Strott, Vice President of Market Intelligence for research firm C+C, looks at the highlights from the survey, and explores the pressing challenges and emerging opportunities within K-12. From staffing challenges and strategies for retention to concerns around student mental health and cybersecurity to the integration of AI into education, listen as we consider the current state and future possibilities for K-12.

Timeline

00:00 - Introduction

00:25 - Exploring the "K-12 Lens" Survey with Rebecca Strott

01:46 - Deep Dive into Hiring and Staffing Challenges

04:39 - The Importance of Professional Development for Retention

06:00 - Addressing Student Mental Health in Schools

10:55 - Navigating Technology and Cybersecurity in Education

13:45 - The Future of Education: AI, Funding, and Data Analytics

18:40 - Interdepartmental Relationships and the Impact on School Operations

21:03 - Conclusion and Resources

Dig Deeper

K-12 Lens: Access the full report for a more detailed look at the data.

Diving into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) in K-12 education, with a focus on its implications for educators, administrators, and students! Dr. Ellen Agnello, a former classroom teacher turned consultant and researcher, shares insights from her recent study on AI's integration into schools, addressing teachers' and administrators' perceptions, the potential uses of AI for learning and administrative tasks, and the challenges involved in adopting this technology.

We also highlight:

Key differences in comfort and attitude between teachers and administrators regarding AI

The role of AI in enhancing teaching practices and professional development

The importance of AI literacy and the need to balance technological advancements with the intrinsic value of interpersonal learning experiences

What the future of AI in education may hold

Timeline

00:00 - Introduction to AI in Education: Perspectives and Potential

00:49 - From Classroom to AI Research

03:44 - Surveying Educators on AI: Insights and Surprises

07:45 - AI Detection Tools and Teacher Concerns

09:19 - Navigating the AI Spectrum in Schools

11:15 - Demystifying AI for Educators

13:57 - AI's Practical Applications in the Classroom

22:09 - Expanding AI Use Beyond the Classroom

25:17 - Looking Ahead: The Future of AI in Education

Related Resource:

The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 Professional Development: AI has been everywhere in the news, and education is no exception. This blog post dives into AI’s place in education now and in the future.

In this episode of Field Trip, we dive into the crucial role of parent involvement in special education. Dr. Kristen Williams, Executive Director for Disability Services in the San Antonio Independent School District, shares her extensive experience and passionate insights into the dynamics of educational support and parent engagement. With over three decades in special education, Dr. Williams offers practical advice for schools and educators on fostering positive, proactive relationships with families.

We'll uncover:

• The Importance of Parent Involvement: No one knows and loves a child more than their parents. How can schools leverage this for better educational outcomes?

• Strategies for Positive Engagement: Innovative approaches and best practices for engaging parents in their children's education, moving beyond traditional methods to create a supportive and inclusive environment.

• Real-Life Success Stories: How intentional actions and policies have led to significant improvements in parent participation.

Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone interested in the field of education, this is a must-listen for anyone looking to make a difference in the lives of children with special needs.

Timeline

00:00 - Introduction: The Importance of Parental Involvement in Special Education

00:48 - The Role of Parents in Special Education

01:59 - Strategies for Positive and Proactive Parent Involvement

02:37 - Building Parent Capacity and Encouraging Participation

04:32 - The Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)

05:14 - Effective Communication with Parents

07:12 - Empowering Parents through Education and Advocacy

09:17 - Conclusion: The Lasting Impact of Parent Involvement

In this 4th and final episode of our series on workforce oversight, Frontline Education’s Mitch Welch and Dr. Sundie Dahlkamp, Executive Director of Business Services at Pearland Independent School District, explore the intricacies of employee data visibility.

Good data matters. Here is why position history is so key to making HR decisions in school districts.

Takeaways:

• The Importance of Position History: Without a solid grasp of position history, the quality of employee data is compromised. Mitch and Sundie consider the challenge in tracking the historical data of positions versus the employees in those positions.

• Data Visibility and Accountability: It’s not just for internal management, but also for external accountability. Community stakeholders may want to see how positions are managed and utilized over time, underscoring the need for transparent and accessible position history data.

• Challenges in Position History: Sundie explores the challenges in tracking the creation, approval, and deactivation of positions. Position history is crucial for leadership transitions, as it preserves institutional knowledge that could be lost with staff turnover.

• The Impact on Decision Making: Good position history data is vital for making informed decisions regarding vacancies and budget allocations. Understanding the history of a position can lead to better decisions about which positions to fill.

Timeline

00:00 - Introduction

01:17 - The Importance of Employee Data Visibility

02:19 - The Challenge of Position History

04:33 - The Importance of Position History for Decision Making

06:13 - The Role of Position History in Employee Retention

07:52 - Tracking Position History

11:00 - Conclusion

Related Resources

• Template: Position Management and Control Plan

• Blog: Effective Dating & Conditional Workflows in Position Management

• Podcast: K-12’s Balancing Act of Workforce Oversight

• Podcast: Mastering the Art of Managing Positions

• Podcast: Position Management: How to Empower Your Principals

Welcome to the third episode in a short series on workforce oversight in school districts! Once again, we welcome Frontline Education’s Mitch Welch and Dr. Sundie Dahlkamp, Executive Director of Business Services at Pearland Independent School District.

This conversation is all about empowering principals. With the right processes, workflows, and technology, you can enable them to make changes to staff positions seamlessly and efficiently and ensure that any changes are communicated back to the central office. This leads to greater principal involvement and autonomy, fostering a culture of buy-in and collaboration in making personnel decisions.

They explore:

• The innovative transition from paper to digital: Sundie describes the shift from a manual, paper-based process to a sophisticated digital system, leading to a seamless, paperless workflow that empowers campus-level autonomy.

• Autonomy at the campus level: By entrusting campus principals with the authority to manage positions, including hiring and adjustments, districts can foster a sense of ownership and expedite the decision-making process.

• Creating a Culture of Success: Creating a process that prevents errors and allows for informed decision-making can help school districts not only streamline administrative tasks but also build a culture where staff feel supported and empowered. The system's success lies in its ability to promote dialogue and reflection, leading to a positive work environment and a collective focus on the district's goals.

Timeline

00:00 - Introduction

00:00 - The Importance of Principal Involvement

02:42 - The Journey from Manual to Digital Processes

04:50 - Empowering Principals with Autonomy

06:47 - The Role of Compliance and Control in Position Management

09:56 - The Impact of Effective Position Management

10:49 - Conclusion and Next Steps

Related Resources

• eBook: Position Management Playbook for School Districts: How implementing a position management plan strengthens district-wide efficiency for HR, IT, Finance and Payroll.

• Case Study: From Stacks of Paper to an HR Management System: Why the Iron County School District Human Resources Department chose Frontline HRMS, and how they’re using the system to bring all employee information into one place, save time on contract renewals and forms, and make reporting a breeze.

“Position management” may not win the award for Most Exciting Phrase anytime soon, but it’s a vital concept in education — and has a real impact on employees. In this episode of Field Trip, we delve into the importance and mechanisms of position management (and position vacancies) in school districts. Dr. Sundie Dahlkamp, the Executive Director of Human Resource Services at Pearland Independent School District, and Frontline Education’s Mitch Welch explore the concept of position management and control, focusing on creativity, flexibility, effective communication, and strategic decision-making, all while ensuring accountability on the expenditure.

The conversation highlights the necessity of balancing management and control in human resources and the role of technology in facilitating effective communication and information visibility. Mitch and Sundie also tackle:

• Financial accountability and why position management is crucial for school districts to justify expenditures, especially when such a high percentage of the budget is allocated to employee salaries.

• Strategic forecasting in HR and why the ability to project future needs based on enrollment trends is vital for sustainable school district management.

• The balance between the central office and building administrators. There’s a delicate balance to maintain between position control at the central office level and creative management by individual supervisors and principals.

Timeline

00:00 - Introduction

01:09 - Defining Position Management and Control

04:53 - The Importance of Effective Dating System

07:31 - Balancing Management and Control

08:55 - Using Technology for Communication

10:00 - Conclusion and Preview of Next Episode

10:23 - Closing

Related Resources

• Blog: Effective Dating & Conditional Workflows in Position Management

• Infographic: Position Management & Control in School Districts

• eBook: Position Management Playbook for School Districts

• Case Study: A Better HR System to Serve Employees: Why Whitehall-Coplay School District uses Frontline to manage recruiting and hiring, onboarding, employee records, benefits, position management, professional learning, employee absences, and time tracking.

This episode of Field Trip is the first in a four-episode series about workforce oversight in K-12, with Mitch Welch from Frontline Education and Dr. Sundie Dahlkamp, Executive Director of Human Resource Services at Pearland Independent School District. Mitch and Sundie delve into workforce oversight and its importance and continued evolution in education.

They also contrast the implications of workforce oversight with workforce insight, highlighting the need for both in achieving efficient data-driven decision making. Stay tuned for a deep dive into how these concepts shape K-12 education, and why striking the balance between hard data and human elements is crucial in school administration.

00:00 Introduction

01:02 Understanding Workforce Oversight

02:22 The Challenges of Workforce Oversight in Education

06:13 The Importance of Workforce Insight

08:33 Balancing Oversight and Insight in Education

10:26 Closing Remarks and Next Episode Preview

Dig Deeper:

Here are some helpful related resources!

• Podcast: Making School Happen: School HR helps make education possible — and it’s a lot easier with connected software systems and processes. Here’s how one district is making it happen.

• An HR Management System to Help You Fight the Teacher Shortage: Attract the right fit now with retention-first recruiting and a system to make it happen.

In this conversation with Dr. Maria Vasquez, the Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, Florida, we discuss the enrollment trends across the country. Dr. Vasquez delves into how these changing demographics affect schools, particularly aspects such as budgets, staffing, and infrastructure.

She presents an informed view of this trend from her district's perspective, highlighting an upward trend in enrollment, the challenges and benefits of this growth, and the strategies OCPS takes to attract families to the public school system. She also details the impact of Florida's expanded voucher program and potential repercussions on public education funding. Finally, the conversation wraps with possible solutions to staffing challenges and their ongoing efforts for improvement.

00:00 - Introduction to Enrollment Challenges

01:18 - Welcome Dr. Maria Vasquez: Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools

01:40 - The Impact of Enrollment Growth on Orange County Public Schools

02:35 - Challenges and Opportunities of Rapid Enrollment Growth

04:32 - Attracting Families to Public Schools

07:00 - The Impact of Voucher Programs on Public Schools

09:56 - Addressing Staffing Challenges and Redistricting in Growing Schools

11:39 - Innovative Recruitment and Retention Strategies for Teachers

13:15 - Closing Remarks and Future Plans

13:34 - Podcast Closing and Acknowledgements

‘Tis the season: as we approach the end of the year, families are preparing to gather over festive meals, students will head home for winter break... and department heads in schools everywhere will joyfully begin to put together their budgets for the next school year.

For K-12 IT professionals, that not only means keeping accurate tabs on the devices in your schools, it also means making the case for a technology budget that the Finance department can get behind. In this episode of Field Trip, Frontline’s podcast for leaders in education, resident asset management expert AnnaMaria Gallozzi joins us to look at how Technology departments can set themselves up for success in the next budgeting season and ensure students and staff have access to the tools they need for teaching and learning.

We explore:

• Pitfalls to avoid during budgeting season

• How to make the case to Finance for your technology budget

• Short-term and long-term timing considerations

• The single biggest thing you can do to position yourself for success in the coming year

Dig Deeper:

• Case Study: Faster Device Collection and Distribution, Increased Accountability, and Less Asset Loss — How South Huntington School District manages and tracks devices and makes better financial decisions with Frontline’s Asset Management.

• 5 Ways Collaboration Between Tech and Finance Departments Can Create an Impact

Sam Kirk is the Director of Finance and Operations at Armstrong School District in western Pennsylvania. As industry has dwindled, student enrollment in the district has taken a hit as well.

In this episode of Field Trip, Sam shares his experience grappling with the financial realities these things bring to the district, and how they’ve started a new cyber school to compete for students that may otherwise have left. Plus, he shares how he’s creating transparency around district finances to keep the community informed and in agreement — even when it makes consolidating schools.

Listen now to hear:

• How Sam uses data to educate community members, gain buy-in, and have productive conversations about emotional issues like school closures

• Why starting a cyber school was key for supporting the district’s bottom line

• How the Finance Department approaches staffing decisions when enrollment drops

For more on enrollment and data analytics:

• Better understand enrollment shifts with location-based data: How Frontline’s Location Analytics can provide a better picture of enrollment at the district and building levels.
• Video: Business Analytics at Mansfield Independent School District: How the Associate Superintendent of Business and Finance explores enrollment history, per-student cost vs. academic outcomes, and school budgets over time.

In Hanover County Public Schools, there's a shift happening... something bubbling up from deep within the Curriculum & Instruction Department. Something exciting.

In the past, teachers would complete their professional learning requirements in large part by participating in mandated sessions for two days every August. “The problem is,” says Dr. Steve Castle, Director of Professional Learning and Leadership Development, “it felt forced, and it felt like there’s no choice in this, and teachers were given the things that were required.”

So, for the past several years, Dr. Castle and Chris Biagiarelli, Instructional Technology Project Coordinator, have been on a mission to change the culture around professional learning — so teachers select the learning opportunities that will most help them in the classroom. In this podcast, we ask them how they’re making that happen.

Listen to this 14-minute conversation and hear:

• The steps they’ve taken (and continue to take) to change mindsets around professional learning within the district

• Why the right technology is crucial to making this change

• What they’ve learned, and what they would change if they were starting this journey all over again

Don’t stop there!

Be sure to check out these resources about professional learning and supporting teacher growth and voice and choice:

• [Case Study] Culture Change: Moving Toward Teacher-driven Professional Learning — How Hanover County Public Schools uses Frontline Professional Growth to offer teachers a voice in their learning and bid farewell to a ‘check the boxes’ mentality.

• Effective Professional Learning Strategies (that Actually Work) — A look at the national landscape of professional development, best practices for an effective professional development program, resources for getting started, and more.