Lindsay Berk

A cycle-based approach to district budgeting differentiates between operation and investment expenditures and tracks those expenditures for continuous improvement. Every winter, school and district leaders face the daunting task of developing a budget for the next school year.

All students can contribute to the development of knowledge. What can educators do to create an environment that empowers them to do so? Almost everyone has spent some time in a school and has fond memories of a favorite teacher and classroom, or conversely, wants to forget a school that made them feel rejected or unseen. Those of us who spend time in schools know that adults with power, such as teachers and administrators, have a great responsibility as we shape the lives of children.

Decisions about structures, processes, and routines set the stage for increased student engagement and learning. When you walk into North Kansas City High School (known as Northtown), you are greeted by a student ambassador in an embroidered purple blazer. Student ambassadors are trained at the nearby Nelson Atkins Museum of Art to be effective tour guides. Their pride in the school is evident as they lead visiting groups through halls and classrooms.