Page 8 - EdViewptsSpring2020

Follow Up teachers enthusiastically invited for their time. A coaching mindset in
me back into their classrooms and
conducting observations can enable
Finally, in order to be impactful, established an ongoing partnership them to check two boxes at once.
observations and the conferences that led to professional growth and Furthermore, those one-on-one
that follow cannot be one-time events. improved practice. conversations have the power to lift
I made a point to follow up with the level of instruction across an entire
teachers, offering ongoing feedback While striving to serve as instructional school or district. They are well worth
and support. Because of my effort to leaders, the reality is that the time.
develop a foundation of trust, most administrators are forced to juggle
multiple mandates, all competing

Resource
Cherry, Kendra. “What is the Negativity Bias?” verywellmind, 11 April 2019, https://www.verywellmind.com/negative-
bias-4589618

About the Author

Having completed 37 years in the Lumberton Township School District, most recently in the role of
Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, Maria Matlack is now a partner in The Literacy Consultants
LLC. In 2018, she was a recipient of the Burlington County Principals and Supervisors Association
Visionary Leader Award and served as chair of the Burlington County Curriculum Consortium. In
addition to her own district, Maria has provided professional development for a variety of professional
organizations and districts, with a focus on inspiring educators with both the “why” and “how” of strong
instructional practice. Twitter handle: @maria_matlack

Educational Viewpoints -6- Spring 2020