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)

Zugzwang Zigzag: An Educator’s Nightmare

The current situation in America puts educators at a disadvantage…no matter what move we make to promote increased funding we are dividing our communities. Some communities are further along this continuum. I would like to coin this state of education, “The Zugzwang Zigzag!” Are you wondering what Zugzwang means yet? It is a German word…

Public education in America is at a crossroads! We can argue that these crossroads have paths towards public education or private ventures (vouchers, charter schools, etc.). We can argue this differently in every state, and if it hasn’t come to your state yet, it will! There is a scarring division over concerns that it is…

gold genie lamp beside a yellow pencil on a gold background

Teachers are underpaid because their pay hasn't kept pace with what other college graduates earn: the Economic Policy Institute puts the gap at 25.2% as of 2025. This piece imagines a different fix: paying teachers on the same scale as senior federal officials. The comparison isn't a policy proposal. It's a way to see the…

Elementary teacher smiling as five young students hug her in a classroom

Practical teacher burnout prevention strategies are the ones built into the workday, not saved for the weekend: planning far enough ahead to stay in front of your students, chunking time into manageable blocks, leaning on grade-level partners, and putting school away at night. These may help reduce burnout, and one veteran teacher treats them as…

Young girl resting her head on her arms at a kitchen table while her parents argue in the background

Teaching students from divorced families means managing two households, not one. Follow school policy and any court or custody orders on file when communicating with parents, and provide educational information to each parent who is legally entitled to receive it. Route ambiguous custody documents to administration, and hold separate conferences when parents can't share a…

Teach Like a Rock Star is a professional development event for teachers created by Hal Bowman, a former band director who moved into core-content classroom teaching before speaking to educators nationwide. In this interview, Bowman answers seven questions on classroom culture, his podcast, and why he rejects the edu-guru label. [xyz_feat_school] I had just suspended…

full deck of cards face up and spread across a green table

The qualities of a great teacher aren't a single trait but a full deck: compassion, empathy, grit, creativity, and adaptability working together. No teacher starts with every card in hand. The strongest teachers keep building theirs year after year, picking up new qualities through reflection, practice, and plain persistence in the classroom. [xyz_feat_school] Part 5…

A joker playing card resting face-up at an angle on top of a stacked deck of cards on green felt

Taking risks as a teacher means trying something outside your routine even when it might flop. Two common obstacles are what Hope and Wade King call "jokers": your own self-doubt, plus colleagues who discourage you. Start small, check safety and school policy, and expect to revise. [xyz_feat_school] Part 3 of 5 … Join us in…

2 kids doing a science experiment in a classroom

Making lessons more engaging starts with swapping passive note-copying and straight lectures for active, experiential tasks students actually do something with. Build in student choice, quick checks for understanding, and multi-modal activities: projects, discussion, hands-on work, instead of relying on notes and a test. Active, meaningful learning experiences can be more memorable than passive note-copying…

fanned playing cards showing a full house hand: three aces and two tens

Building positive relationships with students is an important part of effective classroom management, alongside clear rules, routines, and consistent expectations. Research from the Australian Education Research Organization shows that trust between teacher and student supports calmer, more productive classrooms and makes behavioral expectations easier to hold. [xyz_feat_school] Part 1 of 5. Follow this series for…

About: Jon Konen

Recent Posts by Jon Konen

Zugzwang Zigzag: An Educator’s Nightmare

A Slice of Huckleberry Pie At the Crossroads of Public Education

Why Are Teachers Underpaid? 3 Wishes for What Would Actually Fix It

Teacher Burnout Prevention Strategies: 10 Reminders to Stay Sane

8 Teacher Tips for Students From Divorced Families

7 Reasons You Will Want to Teach Like a Rock Star: Meet Hal Bowman!

Playing with a Full Deck: 53 Qualities of a Great Teacher

Taking Risks as a Teacher: 9 Reasons Not to Listen to the Jokers

7 Steps for Putting the “PH” Back in PHUN in Your Classroom

Building Relationships with Students: The Wild Card, Part 1

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