Show Notes:
In this episode, I interview Starr Sackstein @mssackstein, a district-level administrator, author and blogger, speaker, and fellow ASCD Emerging Leader about her thoughts about topics such as “playing the game of school,” going gradeless, and, of course, educational leadership.
Starr’s Bio:
Starr Sackstein is a secondary educator and school leader in New York. She is the author of several books on education, on topics such as going gradeless, peer feedback, and blogging.
Over 16 years ago, Starr Sackstein started her teaching career in Far Rockaway High School, eager to make a difference. In the fall of 2016, Sackstein embarked on the next leg of her educational journey as a UFT Teacher Center Teacher at Long Island City High School where she taught English classes and coached teachers in literacy strategies and technology implementation specifically meant to embed essential tools to improve reading and writing. This prepared her for her current position as the director of humanities in the West Hempstead Union Free School district where she serves as team leader, always looking to create the best learning environment for all kids.
In 2012, Sackstein tackled National Board Certification in an effort to reflect on her practice and grow as an educational English facilitator. After a year of closely looking at the her work with students, she achieved the honor. She is also a certified Master Journalism Educator through the Journalism Education Association (JEA). Sackstein also served at the New York State Director to JEA to help serve advisers in New York better grow journalism programs.
Sackstein was named an ASCD Emerging Leader class of 2016 and had the opportunity to give a TEDxTalk about throwing out grades called “A Recovering Perfectionist’s Journey To Give Up Grades.”
Sackstein has authored several books including Teaching Mythology Exposed: Helping Teachers Create Visionary Classroom Perspective, Blogging for Educators, Teaching Students to Self Assess: How do I help Students grow as learners?, The Power of Questioning: Opening up the World of Student Inquiry , Hacking Assessment: 10 Ways to Go Gradeless in a Traditional Grades School and Empower Students to Give Feedback: Teaching Students to Provide Effective Peer Feedback. She also blogs on Education Week Teacher at “Work in Progress” where she discusses all aspects of being a teacher and education reform.
Finally, Sackstein co-moderates #sunchat as well as contributes to #NYedChat. She has made the Bammy Awards finals for Secondary High School Educator in 2014 and for blogging in 2015. In speaking engagements, Sackstein speaks about blogging, journalism education, throwing out grades and BYOD, helping people see technology doesn’t have to be feared.
Follow Starr on Twitter
Find Starr’s books on her Amazon author page
Starr’s blog:
