Author | Lightnews

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · 15d

Passion is cyclical. ♻️

Passion leads to better outcomes.

Better outcomes lead to passion.

#PassionateLeadership #SchoolLeadership

a.co/d/gSzE0QL

Amazon.com

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T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Sep 18

School leaders who care about building a culture that supports are retains teachers are studying how...they're reading Retention for a Change.

#RetentionForAChange #SchoolLeadership #TeacherRetention

a.co/d/iH5Cihv

Retention for a Change: Motivate, Inspire, and Energize Your School Culture: Jones, Joseph, Thomas-EL, Salome, Vari, T.J., Sackstein, Starr: 9781475858839: Amazon.com: Books

Retention for a Change: Motivate, Inspire, and Energize Your School Culture [Jones, Joseph, Thomas-EL, Salome, Vari, T.J., Sackstein, Starr] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Retent...

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T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Sep 4

Thoughtful question. I think it's more of an imposition. If we're going to grade the work, a rubric might be helpful so that students can earn the grade that they want. In that case, rubrics provide clarity.

But, we should also have plenty of experiences for students where their work is ungraded.

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Sep 4

School leaders can focus on relationship building to ensure that sensitive or challenging conversations with teachers are productive.

#SchoolLeadership #Feedback #Teaching #Learning @edutopia.org

www.edutopia.org/article/bene...

How to Hold Intentional Conversations With Educators

School leaders can focus on relationship building to ensure that sensitive or challenging conversations with teachers are productive.

www.edutopia.org

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T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Aug 19

Want your new tech tool to stick?

✅ Name the problem.
✅ Find the easiest entry point.
✅ Start with the smallest viable solution.
✅ Let it spread on its own.

www.edutopia.org/article/impl...

Finding the Goldilocks Pace When Implementing Technology

Not too fast, not too slow: The speed at which we roll out tech in schools can make or break its use and sustainability in the long term.

www.edutopia.org

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Aug 4

Check out my latest guest appearance on the Lessons Learned Podcast.

As always, I'm focused on reimagining the K12 experience so that students are college and career ready.

#LessonsLearned #Education #SchoolLeadership #Pathways

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/r...

Rethinking Academic Pathways to Drive Real-World Readiness ft. Dr. TJ Vari | Lessons Learned | Ep 9

Podcast Episode · Lessons Learned · 31/07/2025 · 40m

podcasts.apple.com

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Aug 3

Motive, inspire, and energize your school staff this year. It's easy when you know how. It's impossible if you don't. The hardest part of doing is knowing.

#SchoolLeadership

a.co/d/eRErISc

Retention for a Change: Motivate, Inspire, and Energize Your School Culture

Retention for a Change: Motivate, Inspire, and Energize Your School Culture [Jones, Joseph, Thomas-EL, Salome, Vari, T.J., Sackstein, Starr] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Retention for a Change: Motivate, Inspire, and Energize Your School Culture

a.co

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Jul 24

🎓 Rigorous coursework on high‑school transcripts does more than impress colleges — it builds confidence, earns credits, and saves 💰 on tuition!

#EdChat #CollegeReady #SchoolLeadership #CollegeAccess #HigherEd

www.ncan.org/news/701224/...

The Balance & Benefits of Rigorous Coursework on Students’ Transcripts - Part II

Partnerships between K-12 schools and institutions of higher education give students an advantage as they build a transcript during high school. Schools and districts with articulated agreements with IHEs help students to earn college credit while in high school.

www.ncan.org

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Jul 10

Can't wait to be on the ground in Seattle. 🛩️

Find me on Saturday at 11:15 for a conversation about the power of work-based learning. #WBL

#PrincipalsUNITED 💪

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Jul 9

Every student deserves a viable post-secondary plan.

Viable = a path to college, career, military, etc that leads them to a life of happiness and prosperity.

Plan = they have clear steps to take that require little or no support to do.

👇
youtu.be/ydSzuMviBfo

370 Invest in Your Best: Crafting Viable Futures with Dr. T.J. Vari

YouTube video by Peter Hostrawser

youtu.be

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Jun 9

Just saying that we want our students to challenge themselves with rigorous coursework isn't enough.

We need to schedule, support, and balance it in each student's four-year academic plan.

#Rigor #CollegeReadiness #CareerReadiness #CTE #AP #NCAN

www.ncan.org/news/701223/...

The Balance & Benefits of Rigorous Coursework on Students’ Transcripts - Part I

Equipping students with the right information as they make high school course-taking decisions is critical. There’s a balance between taking too many difficult courses and not performing well and taking too few advanced courses and potentially signaling a lack of drive through the academic plan.

www.ncan.org

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Reposted by T.J. Vari

Edutopia @edutopia.org · Jun 8

“New classroom technology integration can go really well when done right, but problems can arise if certain questions aren’t considered during the planning and adoption phases of implementation,” @tjvari.bsky.social writes.

Here are the questions to ask. 💭

#EdTech #SchoolLeaders #Principals

6 Key Questions to Ask Before Buying New Tech

School leaders can use these criteria to ensure that an edtech purchase will meet their school’s particular needs.

edut.to

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T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Jun 6

How much rigor is too much?

In Part I of this NCAN blog, we explore how strategic use of AP, IB, & dual enrollment supports—not overwhelms—students. 📘

✅ Quality over quantity
✅ Thoughtful planning
✅ Real readiness

#CollegeAccess #CollegeReadiness

www.ncan.org/news/701223/...

The Balance & Benefits of Rigorous Coursework on Students’ Transcripts - Part I

Equipping students with the right information as they make high school course-taking decisions is critical. There’s a balance between taking too many difficult courses and not performing well and taking too few advanced courses and potentially signaling a lack of drive through the academic plan.

www.ncan.org

1

Reposted by T.J. Vari

Edutopia @edutopia.org · Jun 4

Implementing a new tool throughout your school isn’t a quick process.

@tjvari.bsky.social‬ explains how to make sure support is available and customization is possible—so teachers *and* students can successfully use the technology. 💻⭐

#EdTech #SchoolLeaders #Principals

6 Key Questions to Ask Before Buying New Tech

School leaders can use these criteria to ensure that an edtech purchase will meet their school’s particular needs.

edut.to

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T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Jun 3

Internships have great benefits for students, including the ways that work experiences can shape a student's postsecondary plans.

#CCR #CollegeReadiness #CareerReadiness #Teaching #Learning #Education

www.maialearning.com/blog/interns...

Internships: 6 Career-Shaping Benefits | MaiaLearning

Useful education updates from MaiaLearning

www.maialearning.com

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · May 31

Anyone who has tried to adopt and use web-based tools knows that the tool is only as good as its implementation, but time on task can be squandered without the right foundation.

#Teaching #Learning #EdTech

www.edtechreview.in/trends-insig...

6 Ways to Ensure Productivity with Technology Time in the Classroom

Tech tools alone don’t guarantee learning—effective systems do. Master 6 proven strategies to boost engagement, accountability, ROI & productivity with technology time in the classroom.

www.edtechreview.in

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · May 29

Technology tools in the classroom can be our best friend, but they can also be a complete waste of instructional time if we don't implement w/ these 6 practices in mind.

#EdTech #Teaching #Learning

www.edtechreview.in/trends-insig...

6 Ways to Ensure Productivity with Technology Time in the Classroom

Tech tools alone don’t guarantee learning—effective systems do. Master 6 proven strategies to boost engagement, accountability, ROI & productivity with technology time in the classroom.

www.edtechreview.in

1 1

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · May 28

Great leaders do what's best for the organization & every single person working within it.

Average leaders do what's best for the organization & treat the people as expendable.

Poor leaders do what's best for themselves.

#Leadership

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · May 17

Changing your mind is a super-skill.

#Leadership

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · May 15

Great leaders build bridges by networking & finding "the others."

Average leaders view networking as a burden on their time.

Poor leaders burn bridges by dismissing & dismantling relationships.

#Leadership

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · May 4

7 Mindshifts for School Leaders teaches administrators how to turn crises into opportunities with fresh thinking & actionable tools.

🌟 Let’s lead change: amzn.to/3YWIOzB

#EdLeadership #SchoolImprovement

amzn.to

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Apr 30

I'm not sure I would be as alarmed by the rhetoric if people w/out college degrees were telling students that they can get good jobs directly out of high school w/out college.

But, the people telling this story, & dismantling the supports, are all college educated.

#CollegeAttainment #College

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Apr 22

6 Ways to Ensure Productivity with Technology Time in the Classroom

#Teaching #Learning #Education #EdTech

www.edtechreview.in/trends-insig...

6 Ways to Ensure Productivity with Technology Time in the Classroom

Tech tools alone don’t guarantee learning—effective systems do. Master 6 proven strategies to boost engagement, accountability, ROI & productivity with technology time in the classroom.

www.edtechreview.in

4

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Apr 21

Don't miss Kristy Volesky--a work-based learning expert & author--on College & Career Readiness Radio.

#WBL #Teaching #Learning

www.maialearning.com/blog/the-pow...

The Power of Work-Based Learning with Kristy Volesky | MaiaLearning

Useful education updates from MaiaLearning

www.maialearning.com

T.J. Vari @tjvari.bsky.social · Apr 14

Don't miss @organizedbinder on College & Career Readiness Radio.

Every student can graduate with executive functioning skills. We just need to be intentional about it.

#Teaching #Learning #Education

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

Executive Functioning Skills with Mitch Weathers

Podcast Episode · College & Career Readiness Radio · 10/30/2024 · 47m

podcasts.apple.com