ABSTRACT
We often hear that we can learn from anyone. From effective people, we learn what to do; from ineffective people, we learn what not to do. Though this advice contains a grain of truth, think about it: How much can we really learn from our ineffective colleagues about being an effective teacher or principal? We already know plenty about what not to do. Good teachers already know not to use sarcasm, not to yell at kids, not to argue with teens in front of their friends. Most principals already know that sitting in the office does little to improve instruction in the classroom or student behavior in the hallways. We don’t need to visit an ineffective principal’s school to learn this. But we can always reap good ideas from successful educators.
