Blogs

I have followed certain blogs for a few years, as time has permitted.  I find them to be a very useful tool for a district leader.  The superintendent at our school district writes a weekly email that he sends to all district employees and school board members.  The emails started after Hurricane Ike as a way for everyone to be kept informed of what was going on at “home” while we were spread out in many different locations.  At the time, he would email everyone daily with updates on what was going on.  These emails are now sent every Sunday night.  He informs everyone of district-wide events and any student or faculty accomplishments for the week.  He also keeps us updated on deaths, births, weddings, or any other events occurring in our faculty and staff.  I believe he could write a blog in the place of sending the weekly emails.  This would allow many more stakeholders in our district to have access to events occurring in our district.  A blog could also be used to discuss relevant issues in public education.  In this way, teachers who are not able to attend workshops due to budgetary constraints could have a way to stay informed and educated on current issues.  Book studies are another way that a district leader could use blogs.  The superintendent could suggest a book to be read, designate when certain chapters should be read, and then write a blog on the section everyone is reading.  This would allow the stakeholders reading the book a way to comment on their thoughts in the blog.