Caston Binger

 " Attracting and hiring great school personnel is one of the most important drivers of a well-functioning school building, a building that must prepare diverse students with complex needs to participate in today’s knowledge-driven economy." - Caston Binger Recruiting and hiring excellent educators is especially urgent in schools serving concentrations of diverse students, because teacher attrition disproportionately impacts their schools . While there are many techniques to recruiting and hiring top talent, below are several recruitment and hiring practices I would embrace as school leader:  Recruitment Practices Rely on our reputation :  First and foremost, I believe the most powerful recruitment tool a school could utilize is the school's reputation itself. When the entire school community works collaboratively to create a diverse and rich learning environment, the school's reputation precedes itself.  Schools that are known for their academic achievements and exc...

" Having the ability to communicate is one key factor in being an effective building leader.  Especially today, when communication channels are rapidly increasing and the need for connectivity between the principal and their school community is in high demand." - Caston Binger Effective communication by a principal is a definitive cornerstone to a school’s success.   The principal's position requires one to write often and effectively.  Being responsible for communicating with all constituents demands a principal to present clear and concise messaging.  Using various channels of communication allows a leader to increase the likelihood that the school community will have access to pertinent information. There are various methods I would use to connect with all stakeholders. As principal, I’ll always use public meetings and events as opportunities to communicate with the school, the community and political entities.  These opportunities would also allow...

Parent involvement in education correlates with higher academic performance and school improvement. “When schools and families work together to support learning, students tend to earn higher grades, attend school more regularly, stay in school longer, and enroll in higher level programs” - Caston Binger For these reasons, it is critical for the building leader to engage families to involve them in the educational process. To do so, I would approach the situation in a variety of ways: Welcome family members to the school: Post welcoming signs in hallways that direct families to a staff member who will make sure their needs are met.   Invite family members to eat lunch with their children.   Invite family members to visit their children’s classrooms during instructional time when a new concept or resource is introduced so that they can experience what the children are doing firsthand.   Have staff personally distribute leaflets in the community concerning sch...

  Responding to the level of diversity in schools is more important than ever. But all too often, our education system reinforces the same inequalities it was designed to overcome. Collectively, the school community is responsible for promoting equity to help remove barriers so all students can succeed. When students in need have equitable access to resources, the entire school community thrives. - Caston Binger Below are several implementation strategies I would incorporate to support equitable access for our students. Be flexible with online learning Remote and hybrid learning have dramatically highlighted existing inequalities among students when it comes to internet access, food security, family situations and more.  Working with families to meet individual needs is essential. Being flexible can make a world of difference in creating an equitable learning environment. Whether students are looking after younger siblings so parents can work, working at a part-time job or un...