Blogs can be utilized by board members, superintendents and principals in numerous ways. First, blogs can be used to report announcements and the latest good news from the district. Sports-themed district blogs can report on games and tournament results. Special education blogs can report on upcoming special events and parent training opportunities. The school board president or superintendent can use a blog to report on the board meetings.
Blogs are also useful for superintendents or principals to privately write down the reflective thoughts they have as they contemplate district challenges. “Journals provide administrators with a tool for reflecting on their own thought processes.” (Dana, 2009, pg. 87) They can be used as an online journal – although privacy issues would definitely inhibit the ability to make it public.
If these leaders are engaged in action research, they can use their blogs to post reports, data, pictures, videos and opinions as they journey on their path to success. Dana gives four reasons for overcoming the constraints of time and resistance to engage in writing. First, it allows you to clarify your questions as you proceed through your research. Second, writing your thoughts down may encourage you to continue on when faced with obstacles. Third, journaling your research documents what you have done and allows you to share it with those that may benefit. And lastly, “a sense of accomplishment” when your project is completed will bring contentment. (pg. 149)
Public blogs or a closed community blog of other principals would have the added benefit of comments shared from those that have traveled the same path before. In addition, blogging by school leaders is a great example of a love of writing and can encourage others to do the same.
I cannot imagine a principal having a completely open blog. Just read any school article posted on Joe Smith’s Texas ISD webpage and scroll down to see the comments. It seems every Texas town has a group of about ten negative ninnies that live to post demeaning and inflammatory insults toward school leaders. Maybe when it’s your own blog you can delete those comments, or possibly you just put on a Teflon suit before you read them.
Dana, Nancy Fichman. (2009). Leading with Passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
www.texasisd.com Joe Smith’s website
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