Heath Morrison’s Blog
School District Bond Elections – Reflections From a Successful Campaign in a Difficult Year for Bonds
In the May 2022 Texas uniform election, 124 school districts across the state asked voters to approve bond elections for various capital projects. Of the 124 districts that called for bond elections, there were a total of 205 ballot propositions. Despite the varying...
Addressing the challenges confronting the teacher profession
The first week of May is designated Teacher Appreciation Week. Across the country, schools and communities will celebrate their teachers in numerous unique and wonderful ways. However, this annual recognition is somewhat overshadowed this year by the reports coming...
Being Proactive Rather Than Reactive When Working with Policy Makers
It seems every year, school districts across the country are having to deal with new policies, laws and regulations from either the federal or state policy makers, or often, both. This was true before COVID, and the sheer number of additional pieces of legislation,...
Nationwide Challenges Continue to Test the Resolve of School Superintendents
I recently attended The School Superintendent Association’s (AASA) national conference and had the opportunity to interact and engage superintendents from across the country. Some have served for several years in their current roles, while others were newer to the...
Your Academic Calendar Development Should be a Process, Not an Event
Each year by the spring, school districts have typically released their approved academic calendar for the upcoming school year. The release of the new academic calendar is an event that is highly anticipated by families and district staff as it provides information...
A Decade of Reflection: Is A Call to Action Needed For Public Education
Ten years ago this month I had the honor of being selected as the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Superintendent of the Year. At the time, I was the youngest in both age and tenure to ever receive this humbling distinction. This honor...
School Leadership Tips Through The Continued Challenges Confronting Public Education
Over the summer, as school districts were preparing to re-open campuses and welcome back students for the 2021-22 school year, there was widespread optimism across the country that this school year would be less challenging than 2020-21, which was significantly...
Recognizing School Board Trustees
Each year, school districts across the country take the month of January to recognize the work and dedication of school board trustees. In school districts in Texas, and most other districts across the country, trustees serve in elected volunteer positions. School...
How A Community-Driven Strategic Plan Can Produce Strong Stakeholder Support And Improve Academic Outcomes
A strong, community-driven process for the development of a school district strategic plan is critical towards increasing academic achievement for all students and building a strong network of stakeholder support for schools. In October 2020, just a few months after I...
The Importance of Meaningful Engagement with School District Stakeholders
For school district leaders, establishing a strong culture of collaboration with stakeholders through meaningful engagement and communication is critical to building trust within your community. During a time when many local education issues are receiving national...