SamTastic Weekly Tip: 11/17/25 - Celebrate Success

This week’s Tip: Celebrate Success

Every SAM team can celebrate their success this morning. SAM teams are in the Green, spending more time on work designed to improve teaching and learning every day.

The data compiled from the TimeTracks of all SAM teams nationally last year revealed:

➢ SAM principals spend two times more time in classrooms than non-SAM principals.

➢ SAM principals spend three times more time in feedback conversations with teachers than non-SAM principals

➢ SAM principals spend four times more time focused on improved teaching and learning than non-SAM principals.

➢ 95% of SAM principals can connect their time with improved teacher practice.

Results from 2025 SAM Team Performance Report: http://bit.ly/44MbQ8t

Today, join me in congratulating Principal Mike Kramer, and SAM Megan Kula. Mike has been named Iowa’s Middle School Principal of the Year.

“The professional growth I have enjoyed through the SAM process has been a game-changer for me as a principal. By intentionally scheduling instructional time and tasks, there has been increased trust built between teachers and administration in support of the common goal of improved student learning.

An example is walkthroughs. As these are completed by administrators in our building, they are aligned to our district's 11 Elements of Effective Instruction. By focusing on common instructional practices, and following that up with intentional engagement and feedback with teachers, we have witnessed a unifying effect as a staff.

A second impact is that as I have increased my focus on specific instructional tasks, not only has my understanding of instruction improved, but my willingness to truly share instructional decision making across our staff has increased. Due to the time spent with walkthroughs, attending Professional Learning Community meetings, and individual time spent with teachers, I am more aware of the expertise our teachers possess. This allows me to lean on that expertise and experience when we need to make decisions. This has increased staff ownership in all areas of our building as true shared decision-making happens throughout each school year.”

-Principal Mike Kramer, Iowa’s Middle School Principal of the Year.

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19^th Annual National SAM Conference

Registration link:  https://registration.samprocess.com/ 

A few things to consider when planning to attend:

Ø The conference is January 15-18. 2026.

Ø To be eligible to attend, you must be a SAM team member doing the process with efficacy, NSIP staff, Board member or presenter.

Ø The conference will be in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Marriott Harbor Beach Resort

Keynote Speakers

·      Will Parker, Principals Matter: Living your Best Life as an Educator

·      Will Bowen, You Can’t Complain Your Way to Success

·      Tracie Swilley, The PrinciPAL Effect: Setting the Vibe, Energy, and Excellence Every Day

·      John Antonetti, Personal Response: Am I safe to share my thinking?

·      William Martinez, Signing the Song: The Power of Belonging

Pre-Conference All-Day Workshop Presenters

·      Jim Masters, Beyond Why and What – Getting to How School Leaders Make a Difference

·      Ken Williams, Better Teachers, Better Results: Where Students Learn Because Of US

·      Willow Sweeney, Top 20 Moves for Building Effective Staff and Student Relationships

·      Brendan Houdek and Caleb Shomaker: Executive Speaking Coaching Seminar

Breakout session preference selection, featuring national presenters and SAM practitioners, will open next week.  Travel information is due December 1.

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 11/10/25 - How to Manage a Difficult Conversation

This week’s Tip: How to Manage a Difficult Conversation

One the most challenging events in your day may be a conversation you’ve been delaying with a staff member, student or parent.  You know it is on your TimeTrack.  You know you need to do it.  You worry it will damage your relationship. 

You are tense.  You find it hard to concentrate.  You aren’t sure how to make this go well.

Jefferson Fisher, author, The Next Conversation, provides a framework you might find helpful:

“Most difficult conversations don’t go badly because of what we say.  They go badly because of how we start and end them.

Let’s fix that.

Here's exactly how to have a difficult conversation:

#1. Skip the intro.

Don’t open with, “How are you?”

Difficult conversations aren’t the time for small talk.

It feels polite, but it actually adds tension.

And the other person knows something serious is coming.

Instead, start with this: “Thank you for making time to talk to me.”

It’s direct, respectful, and sets the tone for honesty.

#2. Lead with collaboration.

Your next sentence matters.

Try one of these sentences:

• “I need your help knowing what to do about this.”

• “I need your help understanding how to feel about this.”

The phrase “I need your help” turns opponents into teammates.

You’re no longer fighting against each other — you’re working through it together.

#3. Close with openness, not finality.

When you’re ready to wrap up, say:

“I feel more settled about this.” or

“I feel like we’re headed in a better direction.”

Then ask: “How does this feel to you?”

And stop talking.

Whether they respond or not, you’ve done the hardest and most generous part: making space for them to share.

When you do this, you’ll notice the conversation doesn’t just end better — it feels better.

Instead of defending one side, you’re building a bridge between both.

Keep showing up with calm confidence.

I’m rooting for you.

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19^th Annual National SAM Conference

Registration link:  https://registration.samprocess.com/ 

A few things to consider when planning to attend:

Ø The conference is January 15-18. 2026.

Ø To be eligible to attend, you must be a SAM team member doing the process with efficacy, NSIP staff, Board member or presenter.

Ø The conference will be in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Marriott Harbor Beach Resort

Keynote Speakers

·      Will Parker, Principals Matter: Living your Best Life as an Educator

·      Will Bowen, You Can’t Complain Your Way to Success

·      Tracie Swilley, The PrinciPAL Effect: Setting the Vibe, Energy, and Excellence Every Day

·      John Antonetti, Personal Response: Am I safe to share my thinking?

·      William Martinez, Signing the Song: The Power of Belonging

Pre-Conference All-Day Workshop Presenters

·      Jim Masters, Beyond Why and What – Getting to How School Leaders Make a Difference

·      Ken Williams, Better Teachers, Better Results: Where Students Learn Because Of US

·      Willow Sweeney, Top 20 Moves for Building Effective Staff and Student Relationships

·      Brendan Houdek and Caleb Shomaker:  Executive Speaking Coaching Seminar

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 11/3/25 - More is Better

This week’s Tip: More is Better

SAM principals know the frequency of classroom visits, coupled with feedback conversations with teachers, is a good predictor of improved practice. In other words, more is better.  TimeTrack data reveals SAM leaders spend far more time in classrooms in informal, formative visits than formal, evaluative observations.

Does work with teachers in grade level, subject, PLC and planning meetings help?  Can principals use their experiences in classrooms in group meetings effectively?

In an Edutopia article, Using Your PLCs to Promote Collective Instructional Improvement, author Olivia Odileke makes a persuasive case that the answer is yes.

“The most effective learning walks I’ve facilitated follow a focused, grade-level approach that builds team ownership from the start. Choose one area that aligns with your school improvement goals—student engagement, questioning strategies, or differentiation—and visit several classrooms teaching similar content within a 60-minute window.

Before conducting learning walks, involve your teams in identifying what to look for. During a PLC meeting, ask, “If we’re focusing on student questioning this month, what specific behaviors should I be watching for?” Let teachers help create the observable indicators. This collaborative approach immediately builds shared ownership—teachers become partners in defining excellence, not just subjects of observation.

Strategic Questions That Build Team Ownership

Here’s how curious principals transform observation data into powerful team inquiries.

Focus: Student participation. Instead of “Some teachers need to call on more students,” ask the team, “We noticed that participation varied significantly across rooms. What conditions help quiet students feel safe to share their thinking?”

Focus: Pacing and processing time. Instead of “Lessons are moving too quickly for some students,” ask the team, “We observed different pacing approaches. What have you noticed about how processing time affects student understanding?”

Focus: Response to student questions. Instead of “Teachers should encourage more student questions,” ask the team, “We saw fascinating moments when students asked unexpected questions. What strategies help you feel confident when students take learning in unexpected directions?”

Notice how each question shifts ownership from individual deficits to collective exploration. The team becomes invested in solving challenges together rather than feeling evaluated individually.”

Read the full article:  https://bit.ly/3WAxF6c

Special thanks to Kim Marshall for featuring Odileke’s article recently in the Marshall Memo, a weekly email publication that summarizes key ideas and research from over 60 educational sources for K-12 educators.  NSIP offers the Marshall Memo to active SAM principals and SAMs at no cost.  Use this link to begin receiving this useful resource.  https://bit.ly/3nE9hm3

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19^th Annual National SAM Conference

Registration link:  https://registration.samprocess.com/ 

A few things to consider when planning to attend:

Ø The conference is January 15-18. 2026.

Ø To be eligible to attend, you must be a SAM team member doing the process with efficacy, NSIP staff, Board member or presenter.

Ø The conference will be in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Marriott Harbor Beach Resort

Keynote Speakers

·      Will Parker, Principals Matter: Living your Best Life as an Educator

·      Will Bowen, You Can’t Complain Your Way to Success

·      Tracie Swilley, The PrinciPAL Effect: Setting the Vibe, Energy, and Excellence Every Day

·      John Antonetti, Personal Response: Am I safe to share my thinking?

·      William Martinez, Signing the Song: The Power of Belonging

Pre-Conference All-Day Workshop Presenters

·      Jim Masters, Beyond Why and What – Getting to How School Leaders Make a Difference

·      Ken Williams, Better Teachers, Better Results: Where Students Learn Because Of US

·      Willow Sweeney, Top 20 Moves for Building Effective Staff and Student Relationships

·      Brendan Houdek and Caleb Shomaker:  Executive Speaking Coaching Seminar

Breakout session preference selection, featuring national presenters and SAM practitioners, will open December 1.