About: Jon Konen

Jon Konen is a high school principal and freelance writer in Columbia Falls, Montana. He has been a superintendent and has taught most all grade levels K-6, and has been an instructional coach. In addition, he has been an elementary and middle principal. As a 5th grade teacher, in 2010 he won the Presidential Award for Elementary Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST). As a principal, his school won the 2012 Blue Ribbon Award. In 2018, he won the National Distinguished Principal Award (NDP). In 2019 he won the National No Kid Hungry Breakfast Hero Award. He is the author of three guides published on teacher.org: An Educator's Guide to Combat Bullying & Bully Prevention; Teacher Evaluation: A Transition Guide to Exemplary Performance; and You are the Wild Card: Infusing Fun Back into Curriculum. He has authored a children's picture book that was released January 2019 titled Benjamin’s Visit to Principal Reads Office…again! (available at www.archwaypublishing.com)

4 Strategies to Reframe Negative Language in the Classroom

man kneeling to talk calmly with a young boy at a playground

Reframing negative language in the classroom means swapping phrases like "I can't do it" or "I don't want to" for growth-oriented ones like "I can't do it yet" or "I get to." The shift works with students and with parents in tough conferences. Four strategies do most of the work: growth mindset, the word "yet,"…

Rodeo rider being thrown from a bucking bull in a dusty arena as a bullfighter moves in to help

Failure can teach leaders lessons that success doesn't, especially when they reflect on what happened. After losing a superintendent bid, I came away with seven lessons: flip your perspective, find the win, model failure for students, learn about yourself, set up your future, have hard conversations, and pay it forward. [xyz_feat_school] Failure is often misinterpreted.…

illustration of hands holding up large letters spelling "MEME" against a blue background

These 15 relatable teacher memes come from a K-6 principal's own staff room and hallway bulletin boards in Montana, not a random internet roundup. Each one is tied to a real classroom or leadership story, from growth mindset to burnout to why kindness gets taught every day. They're built to be shared, printed, or hung…

Messy school restroom with green stall doors and toilet paper on the floor

The best school custodian appreciation ideas cost almost nothing: student thank-you notes, a staff assembly, a social media shoutout, or an administrator pitching in on safe routine tasks the custodial team approves. National Custodian Day falls on October 2, but recognition only sticks when students and staff also stop making the mess in the first…

Four high school football captains walk to the 50-yard line with a young child in a team jersey before the coin toss

What teachers can learn from football coaches comes down to habits, not slogans: assess before you plan, build a staff you can lean on, coach instead of dictate, and treat mistakes as data. A veteran principal walks through eleven parallels between Friday night football and Monday morning teaching. [xyz_feat_school] If you love football and you…

elementary student giving two thumbs up in a classroom with a decorated bulletin board behind him

The best back-to-school tips for teachers cover more than classroom setup: professional development tied to your career goals, a self-care routine you'll actually keep, and time spent learning who your students are before they walk in. Plan your first day, set a theme, and arrange your room with purpose. [xyz_feat_school] As you start school this…

Illustrated neighborhood of homes and winding roads leading to a brick school where children arrive by bus and on foot

What makes a successful school community isn't test scores alone. It's the hidden curriculum. Seven characteristics I associate with strong school communities: a positive culture, real business partnerships, an active PTA, steady volunteers, influence beyond your own district, creative funding, and the habit of telling your own story. [xyz_feat_school] What makes some communities better than…

group in Halloween vampire, witch, and skeleton costumes posing dramatically

Energy vampires in schools are the colleagues who drain a team's motivation through chronic negativity, complaining, or resistance to collaboration. The fix starts before you hire one: screen for teaming red flags in interviews and references, then address the behavior directly if it shows up anyway, using "I" statements and, when needed, your principal's support.…

Child holding a handwritten chalkboard sign reading 1st Day of Kindergarten while standing outside on grass

Why is public education important? Public school systems have a legal obligation to provide access to eligible students regardless of protected characteristics, and to provide a free appropriate public education to eligible students with disabilities. Free K-12 schooling also aims to build informed citizens and prepare students for work, training, or college. [xyz_feat_school] *Posted with…

young boy in a suit behind a desk labeled "THE BOSS," pointing while another boy in a suit sits and listens

Teacher evaluation feels less like an audit and more like a celebration of growth when principals pair evidence-based reflection, using a framework like Danielson, where adopted, with specific positive feedback and a relationship built on trust. There's no universally established ratio for balancing praise and growth areas, but naming both clearly makes the conversation land…

About: Jon Konen

Recent Posts by Jon Konen

4 Strategies to Reframe Negative Language in the Classroom

Leadership: 7 Unintentional Lessons I Learned from Failure

15 Relatable Teacher Memes That Make Me Laugh, Cry, and Try

School Custodian Appreciation Ideas: The Toilet Paper Caper

11 Ways Football Is Your Classroom: Lessons from the Sideline

8 Things to Think About As You Start the School Year

7 Characteristics of a Successful School Community

The Top 3 Ways to Ward Off Energy Vampires in Schools

Why Is Public Education Important? A Principal’s Case

3 Reasons Principals Should Celebrate Teacher Evaluations

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