Three school districts consider moving start times later for teens

How school leaders can practice mindfulness

School leaders can benefit from engaging in mindfulness, writes Lisa Gonzales, president of the Association of California School Administrators. In this commentary, she shares how several school leaders practice mindfulness, including assistant principal Eli Holm, who says music is his path to stress-relief and mindfulness.

District Administration magazine online

Can offering more options boost healthy choices?

School nutrition professionals in a Wisconsin district have introduced more menu options to help support healthy choices. Nutrition support specialist Sarah Tomasiewicz says variety is key, noting that schools are serving a broader range of fruits and other items.

The Wausau Daily Herald (Wis.) (tiered subscription model)

Emotionally intelligent leaders make their teams better

Traits of leaders with high emotional intelligence include being empathetic, positive and authentic, and they practice those traits whenever possible, writes Joel Garfinkle. "Beyond work, think of ways to apply yourself at home, in social and community situations," he writes.

Program seeks to recruit students as teachers

Students at some Missouri schools can learn about the teaching profession through a partnership between schools and the Greater Ozarks Centers for Advanced Professional Studies. The program will allow students to shadow teachers in their school districts to learn more about the profession.

Springfield News-Leader (Mo.) (tiered subscription model)

Data reveal graduation gap in rural schools

Students attending rural schools generally graduate in four years at higher rates than the national average, but that's not true for black, Hispanic and other nonwhite students in rural areas, according to a report from the Rural School and Community Trust. Data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center show such students also are less likely to enroll in college.

The Hechinger Report

Study links student volunteerism, self-esteem

Helping, sharing and comforting others may boost students' self-esteem, according to a study published in the Journal of Adolescence. Researchers also found that helping strangers versus family and friends yielded more long-term benefits for teens.