conta.cc/4i9zeT3 School leaders are, by definition, influencers.  They have substantial and often subtle effects on the thinking and behavior of others.  There is a science to influence.  This RLG Leadership Note explores four principles of influence that can be learned and applied to the benefit of all who find themselves in positions of influence and school leadership.

conta.cc/4jujdJJ Now is prime time for supporting teachers through skillful classroom observation. This RLG Feedback & Coaching Note details 7 important practices for getting the most out brief, regular classroom observations.

Fun and rewarding to visit two successful schools in Sycamore Community Schools, OH today. Started the day observing and practicing feedback at Blue Ash Elementary School. Thanks for hosting Feedback & Coaching Lab today!

We witnessed inspired teaching today at Symmes ES in Sycamore Community Schools, OH. Thanks everyone for engaging in Feedback & Coaching Lab! Today’s focus: 30 Second Feedback and Craft Conversations.

Finished up the week this afternoon at Martha Layne Collins HS in Shelby County, KY. School and district level instructional leaders worked hard on observation, analysis, and feedback skills. Good work everyone! I’m proud to be on the team!

We saw engaging and productive instruction yesterday at East Middle School in Shelby Co., KY. Thanks principal Ryan Allan for opening your doors to Feedback & Coaching Lab!

Great morning of teacher observations and feedback practice at Heritage ES in Shelby Co., KY yesterday. Thanks principal Molly Smith for hosting us!

Many thanks to Principal Drew Robinson for hosting Feedback & Coaching Lab at Simpsonville ES (Shelby Co., Ky) this morning. We worked on themes, talents, and next level complements today!

It was a pleasure to provide some sessions for the KDE Continuous Improvement Summit today in Lexington. KY. Great group!

Feedback & Coaching Lab series underway in Sycamore Community Schools, OH. This is a talented group of educators dedicated to developing others!

Meeting with stakeholders this week across KY to gather design ideas for KY’s new principal leadership development program. Great session in Lexington today, Bowling Green yesterday, and Hazard tomorrow. Sharp ideas so far- many thanks!

Great article in the September, 2026 issue of Scientific American about how the human brain uses narrative to create structure and enhance memory… good read for all educators!

Thanks for the memories Tom! That was a few minutes ago. Go Sycamores!

conta.cc/3SVGB7S Full Circle School Leadership, a new offering from Rutherford Learning Group, is due for release in the Fall of ’26. Here’s a sample… Principles of Purposeful Delegation, from Chapter 8, Time and Life Management.  Make it a point to be a better delegator this school year- to the benefit of yourself and your school. “Leadership is often defined as getting work done through people. Servant leadership seeks to get people done through work.” Marcus Buckingham, 2004

conta.cc/4xptc7i We’re excited to introduce The Artisan Teacher Experience—an engaging online professional learning experience designed to help teachers move beyond simply reading about the Artisan Teacher Themes and begin putting them into practice.  The Artisan Teacher Experience gives teachers an opportunity to learn, reflect, apply, and grow as they explore the skills and behaviors that define highly effective teaching. The Artisan Teacher Experience can be used with individual teachers, leadership teams, school cohorts, or an entire district—creating a shared language around the craft of great teaching. It’s a great fit for: New teacher development PLCs and professional learning teams Instructional coaching Schoolwide professional development Teacher leadership programs District professional learning initiatives And because the Artisan Teacher Experience is online, teachers can work through it on their own schedule while schools and leaders continue the conversation throughout the year.  Already using The Artisan Teacher? This is the next step. If you’re interested in bringing The Artisan Teacher Experience to your teachers, simply send a message to [email protected] and let us know approximately how many educators you’d like to include.  We’ll show you what it could look like for your school or district.

It was a pleasure to work with Lyons Farm ES (Durham, NC Public Schools) staff yesterday on some Artisan Teacher ideas. Thank you principal Hopkins for your kind invitation!

conta.cc/4gyEYoH Now is the time to provide an Artisan Teacher Field Guide for each member of your faculty.  This investment supports each teacher’s individual strengths and provides the means for a faculty-wide focus on specific Artisan Teacher Themes that match a school’s unique improvement focus. Recommended focus areas for Fall, 2026:  Theme 6- Mid-Course Corrections (high effect size for students that are at or below grade level), Theme 12- Locale Memory (a proven learning accelerator), and Theme 21- Time and Timing (large effects on recall and transfer of new content).

I always look forward to working with this talented team from Nova Scotia! Thanks everyone for your engagement and positivity over the past two days of virtual professional learning!

Beautiful morning at Julia Green ES in Nashville! Thanks Dr. Davis for the kind invitation to work with your team today.