Education Excellence

Kristina chats with Joseph Jones, director of assessment and accountability in the New Castle (DE) County Vocational and Technical District, and T.J. Vari, assistant superintendent of secondary schools and district operations Appoquinimink School District, the fastest growing school district in Delaware. Jones and Vari are authors of the new book, Candid and Compassion Feedback, published by Routledge. Many educators are trapped in a “circle of nice,” Jones says, by not being direct enough, which applies to both teachers and administrators. Candor is being direct, he explains but does mean educators should ever be disrespectful or rude. Districts, administrators, and teachers are often isolated, Vari notes, making it even more important to be transparent and to actively address problems by taking action. Education is not a zero sum game, says Vari. The bottom line: For educators to be truly compassionate, they need to be act with quality candor, according to Jones and Vari. This episode was sponsored by Routl