Comments on: G-Town Superintendent Responds to Blog Challenge http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/ Superintendent of Schools writes about learning and school management in rural Western New York. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:30:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Not So Distant Future » Flashing back–web tools for administrators http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-5051 Not So Distant Future » Flashing back–web tools for administrators Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:50:31 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/#comment-5051 [...] still classic conversation among administrators about blogging from G-Town [...] [...] still classic conversation among administrators about blogging from G-Town [...]

]]> By: Charles Rinaldi http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-4145 Charles Rinaldi Thu, 31 May 2007 19:19:06 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/#comment-4145 I am the superintendent Kim Moritz "called out" for failing to blog. At this very moment I am in a room with two dozen other areas supers learning about the ever-expanding potential for technology learning tools. As I sat through the morning sessions I began to realize that I may be an impediment to progress. Due to my worries for student safety, I have refused to unblock and unfilter access to net resources. Due to my reticence, I have failed to invite comments and communicate our message and mission to a wider blog audience. Because I don't know how to use a wikis, I have failed to promote the use in our high schools. We have all heard the old saying; "lead, follow or get out of the way." Well, it is time for me to do all three. I will lead where I am competent, follow when I need to learn and get out of the way when someone has a good idea. To all of those who wrote to support the notion of a super's blog, please accept my note of thanks. Consider the "calling out" by Moritz effective. I will commit to initiating a blog as soon as next week. Like Kim, Gowanda needs an advocate who can share the good news that is G-Town. And to the NYS Regent who this morning denigrated low peforming schools on the local radio, I invite you to visit our schools and see for yourself that it is possible to be 91st and still do right by children. I am the superintendent Kim Moritz “called out” for failing to blog. At this very moment I am in a room with two dozen other areas supers learning about the ever-expanding potential for technology learning tools. As I sat through the morning sessions I began to realize that I may be an impediment to progress. Due to my worries for student safety, I have refused to unblock and unfilter access to net resources. Due to my reticence, I have failed to invite comments and communicate our message and mission to a wider blog audience. Because I don’t know how to use a wikis, I have failed to promote the use in our high schools. We have all heard the old saying; “lead, follow or get out of the way.” Well, it is time for me to do all three. I will lead where I am competent, follow when I need to learn and get out of the way when someone has a good idea. To all of those who wrote to support the notion of a super’s blog, please accept my note of thanks. Consider the “calling out” by Moritz effective. I will commit to initiating a blog as soon as next week. Like Kim, Gowanda needs an advocate who can share the good news that is G-Town.

And to the NYS Regent who this morning denigrated low peforming schools on the local radio, I invite you to visit our schools and see for yourself that it is possible to be 91st and still do right by children.

]]> By: alicemercer http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-4136 alicemercer Mon, 28 May 2007 04:53:54 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/#comment-4136 Dear Superintendent Rinaldi, I appreciate that given your position you are probably giving an enormous amount of time and energy to your job, and you are probably spending a lot of time on communication and public dialogue. I'm going to suggest ways you <i>might</i> add blogging to your communications portfolio without adding time. First, look at replacing some (not all) of the communication you are doing in other forums (newsletters, public access) with blogging. You would need to be ruthless about your time to make sure blogging wasn't becoming a time sucker. Since I'm not well balanced in my time, I will suggest looking at: www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2007/04/secrets_of_succ.html. These are secrets of success from Scott McLeod seems to be well organized. Also, blog with my classroom, and that demands control to protect my students from others (mostly spammers at this point), and themselves. There is a wonderful tool for doing this, it's comment moderation. People may leave comments, you don't have to post them. I started blogging without comments, which is another option that others have suggested. I appreciate the consideration that you have given this, and I understand your concerns. I just think they can be addressed. Hope to see you in the blogosphere! Dear Superintendent Rinaldi,

I appreciate that given your position you are probably giving an enormous amount of time and energy to your job, and you are probably spending a lot of time on communication and public dialogue. I’m going to suggest ways you might add blogging to your communications portfolio without adding time. First, look at replacing some (not all) of the communication you are doing in other forums (newsletters, public access) with blogging. You would need to be ruthless about your time to make sure blogging wasn’t becoming a time sucker. Since I’m not well balanced in my time, I will suggest looking at: http://www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2007/04/secrets_of_succ.html. These are secrets of success from Scott McLeod seems to be well organized.

Also, blog with my classroom, and that demands control to protect my students from others (mostly spammers at this point), and themselves. There is a wonderful tool for doing this, it’s comment moderation. People may leave comments, you don’t have to post them. I started blogging without comments, which is another option that others have suggested.

I appreciate the consideration that you have given this, and I understand your concerns. I just think they can be addressed. Hope to see you in the blogosphere!

]]> By: 21st Century Skills http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-4131 21st Century Skills Wed, 23 May 2007 02:56:44 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/#comment-4131 <strong>Quentin D'Souza at Toondoo...</strong> Not only do we have proof that administrators can blog, but now we know they can "toon" as well. Quentin D'Souza - Featured Dooer!... Quentin D’Souza at Toondoo…

Not only do we have proof that administrators can blog, but now we know they can “toon” as well.

Quentin D’Souza – Featured Dooer!…

]]> By: 21st Century Skills http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-4125 21st Century Skills Mon, 21 May 2007 02:26:01 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/#comment-4125 <strong>Why Don't School Directors Blog? part 2...</strong> A response by the School Director (superintendent) to Kim Moritz's challenge. Quite sensible and eloquent really. Superintendent Rinaldi gives many reasons for not entering the blogosphere. But what of the principals that wont (refuse to) even us.... Why Don’t School Directors Blog? part 2…

A response by the School Director (superintendent) to Kim Moritz’s challenge.
Quite sensible and eloquent really.

Superintendent Rinaldi gives many reasons for not entering the blogosphere. But what of the principals that wont (refuse to) even us….

]]> By: Rich http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-4112 Rich Sat, 19 May 2007 15:10:56 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/#comment-4112 Your superintendent raises good issues about the challenges of blogging, but fails to even begin to expand on any of the "benefits of using blogs to spread the superintendent’s message" that he pondered. To choose to not blog because of possible challenges is to major on the minors. Indeed, the advantages of blogging outweigh the negatives, in my opinion. Your suggestion that he appear as a guest blogger on your own blog might provide a good compromise. Your superintendent raises good issues about the challenges of blogging, but fails to even begin to expand on any of the “benefits of using blogs to spread the superintendent’s message” that he pondered. To choose to not blog because of possible challenges is to major on the minors. Indeed, the advantages of blogging outweigh the negatives, in my opinion.

Your suggestion that he appear as a guest blogger on your own blog might provide a good compromise.

]]> By: Terry Holliday http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-4111 Terry Holliday Sat, 19 May 2007 13:46:38 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/#comment-4111 I have been amazed at the response to my blog. It has helped convey the district initiatives, help staff and community better understand me as a leader and individual, and has helped recruit teachers and leaders to our school system. I do not have a response type blog. What I have set up is an e-mail directly to me that I can then review the readers comments and post as appropriate since my blog does in a sense represent the school district. Bottom line - the blog is the most effective and most efficient communication tool that I now have as superintendent. I have been amazed at the response to my blog. It has helped convey the district initiatives, help staff and community better understand me as a leader and individual, and has helped recruit teachers and leaders to our school system. I do not have a response type blog. What I have set up is an e-mail directly to me that I can then review the readers comments and post as appropriate since my blog does in a sense represent the school district. Bottom line – the blog is the most effective and most efficient communication tool that I now have as superintendent.

]]> By: Scott McLeod http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-4107 Scott McLeod Sat, 19 May 2007 03:04:36 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/#comment-4107 Okay, I've asked some blogging superintendents to respond here: http://tinyurl.com/2rrb8h Hopefully some will answer my plea for a few words! Okay, I’ve asked some blogging superintendents to respond here:

http://tinyurl.com/2rrb8h

Hopefully some will answer my plea for a few words!

]]> By: Melissa http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-4100 Melissa Thu, 17 May 2007 20:46:14 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/#comment-4100 I think that you have so much to offer! I have seen sites from some superintendents that don't necessarily invite comments, but rather share updates with the community. Although I think that many would say that is not a blog that we all know and use these days, I would say that it serves the purpose. Blogs are supposed to extend conversation. Your work certainly does extend conversation within your community. If you write about issues that are distinct to the district or even do what you do best and explain to all of us the idiosyncrasies of state initiatives and budget planning, then you certainly can keep all of us well-informed and talking about what matters when it comes to kids and community members. I like your idea of being a guest. What about being Kim's "guest" quarterly to help spread the word of what is going on at the state levels and how it impacts your work when running a district? I think that you have so much to offer! I have seen sites from some superintendents that don’t necessarily invite comments, but rather share updates with the community. Although I think that many would say that is not a blog that we all know and use these days, I would say that it serves the purpose. Blogs are supposed to extend conversation. Your work certainly does extend conversation within your community. If you write about issues that are distinct to the district or even do what you do best and explain to all of us the idiosyncrasies of state initiatives and budget planning, then you certainly can keep all of us well-informed and talking about what matters when it comes to kids and community members. I like your idea of being a guest. What about being Kim’s “guest” quarterly to help spread the word of what is going on at the state levels and how it impacts your work when running a district?

]]> By: Jeremiah Patterson http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-4099 Jeremiah Patterson Thu, 17 May 2007 19:53:23 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/g-town-superintendent-responds-to-blog-challenge/#comment-4099 My superintendent has begun emailing to a listserve of parents, sometimes inviting comments (although I am certain he gets feedback after each instance). This is, essentially, blogging. My advice: don't get hung up on the semantics; it's about the sense of community you engender when you are transparent in (some of) your decision making processes. Just as a school board has a closed session, not everything is appropriate for a forum. My superintendent has begun emailing to a listserve of parents, sometimes inviting comments (although I am certain he gets feedback after each instance). This is, essentially, blogging.

My advice: don’t get hung up on the semantics; it’s about the sense of community you engender when you are transparent in (some of) your decision making processes. Just as a school board has a closed session, not everything is appropriate for a forum.

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