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Hayes Mizell

Hayes Mizell is our first distinguished senior fellow and was formerly director of the Program for Student Achievement at the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. Mizell's writings include inspiration for teachers and principals working with middle school students as well as insight into funding and resources for staff development. Since September 2005, Mizell has written a column on aspects of district leadership for The Learning System.

This page offers links to many of Mizell's articles and speeches. Use the links below to jump to different sections on this page. Note: Some of the Learning Forward articles are available to members only; login is required. Nonmembers may purchase individual JSD articles or newsletter issues.

• Recent Speeches (2004-2010)
• District leadership columns from The Learning System
• JSD Feature Articles
• Older Speeches (1992-2003)

Podcasts

Hear Mizell deliver his most recent speeches: Visit Mizell's podcast page.

Related work: Mizell publishes PD in the News: Selected news reports about forces affecting what and how teachers learn. Mizell also contributes frequently to Learning Forward's blog – please read and respond to his writings.

Recent Speeches (2004-2010)

• What Needs to be Done (PDF), Remarks at the Southern Education Leadership Initiative Internship Closing Program in Atlanta, GA. August 2010.
• Creating, Organizing, and Supporting a Multi-School Collaborative Learning Community (PDF), Remarks at the meeting of External Advisory Board of the College of Health, Education, and Human Development (HEHD) at Clemson University. October 2009.
• Sustaining and Listening (PDF), Remarks to participants in the 12 Under 12 Network at their meeting in Boston, MA., July 2009.
• NSDC's Definition of Professional Development: The Second Dimension (PDF), Remarks to NSDC Affiliate Leaders at their meeting in Orlando, Fla., July 2008. (Download podcast of this speech: MP3 file.)
• From Storm-Tossed Boats to Safer Shores (PDF), Remarks to participants in the 12 Under 12 Network at their meeting in Orlando, Fla., July 2008. (Download podcast of this speech: MP3 file.)
• Organizational Leaders (PDF), Introductory remarks to participants in the panel session, "Leadership Empowerment from Classroom to Boardroom," at NSDC's 4th Annual Summer Conference in Orlando, Fla., July 2008. (Download podcast of this speech: MP3 file.)
• Self-Efficacy and Professional Development (PDF), Remarks to participants in the 12 Under 12 Network at their meeting in National Harbor, MD., December 2008.
• At the End of the Storm, Remarks to participants in the 12 Under 12 Network at their meeting in Denver, Colo., July 2007.
• We "Won"...Now What? Distinguished Lecture at the NSDC Annual Conference in Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 4, 2006.
• Courage to Change, Remarks to participants in the 12 Under 12 Network at their meeting in Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 2, 2006.
• Being Faithful, Remarks to participants in the 12 Under 12 Network at their summer meeting, July 2006.
• Pioneers for Professional Learning: August 5, 2004 speech to the first meeting of the School-Based Staff Developer Learning Community, sponsored by NSDC.
• Remarks at the July 2004 meeting of the NSDC Affiliates
• Professional Development and Community Organizing: What is the Connection?: June 26, 2004 speech at the ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) National Convention.
• A "Superintendent" Speaks: August 27, 2004 speech at the Swann Fellowship benefit.
• Still Crazy After All These Years: Grade Configuration and the Education of Young Adolescents: October 1, 2004 keynote address at the National School Board Association's Council of Urban Boards of Education.
  
  

District leadership columns from The Learning System

• Professional learning is not a quick fix for low-performing teachers, The Learning System, Summer 2010.
• Establish professional learning expectations before day one, The Learning System, Spring 2010.
• We need to be prepared for the tough questions, The Learning System, December/January 2010.
• We all have data. Now what do we do?, The Learning System, November 2009.
• The future is now, The Learning System, October 2009.
• Permit, don't proscribe, to build leadership, The Learning System, September 2009.

• Delve into NSDC's new definition of professional learning, The Learning System, May 2009.
• Scheduling time for teacher learning is key for both educators and families, The Learning System, April 2009.
• Leaders support learning teams by supporting teachers, The Learning System, March 2009.
• Top performance requires that system leaders develop principals' learning, The Learning System, February 2009.
• Administrators' role is to shift some responsibilities to school teams, The Learning System, December/January 2009.
• Superintendent's leadership needed to turn battleship of district's vision, The Learning System, November 2008.
• School board leadership is critical to put new definition into practice , The Learning System, October 2008.
• Clear definition will end confusion about professional learning, The Learning System, September 2008.
• School-based learning teams give educators a chance to reflect and grow, The Learning System, May 2008.
• Nurture leaders to sustain learning cultures, The Learning System, April 2008.
• Diversity enriches but requires system support, The Learning System, March 2008.
• Begin with ambitious learning goals, The Learning System, February 2008.
• Create conditions for collaboration, learning with colleagues, The Learning System, December 2007/January 2008.
• Students learn when adults learn, The Learning System, November 2007.
• New purpose not for the timid, The Learning System, October 2007.
• NSDC has a brand-new purpose, The Learning System, September 2007.
• Become advocates for professional learning, The Learning System, May 2007.
• 'Letting go' is essential for growth, The Learning System, April 2007.
• Send the message to all schools: Find time for learning every day , The Learning System, March 2007.
• Know 'high quality' when you see it , The Learning System, February 2007.
• 'All schools' requires a shift in thinking and in practice, The Learning System, December 2006/January 2007.
• Challenge yourself to embrace the goal , The Learning System, November 2006.
• 65% solution does not benefit professional learning , The Learning System, October 2006.
• Equity means ensuring teachers are prepared for students' needs, The Learning System, September 2006.
• District support for coaches essential for their success, The Learning System, May 2006.
• Get serious about professional learning, The Learning System, April 2006.
• Ability to grow teachers is a crucial skill for principals , The Learning System, March 2006.
• Follow the money for improved professional learning, The Learning System, February 2006.
• Read the writing on the wall, then act accordingly, The Learning System, December 2005/January 2006.
• Focus principals on teaching and learning, The Learning System, November 2005.
• Urge principals, teachers to let student needs guide their own learning, The Learning System, October 2005.
• No matter what anyone calls it, professional learning is important, The Learning System, September 2005.

JSD Feature Articles

• Whether a building or a state of mind, the central office must evolve , JSD, Summer 2010.
• Tarnished brand could use polish: A more vocal advocacy on several fronts can restore professional learning's image , JSD, Spring 2009.
• Narrow the focus, expand the possibilities: Educate teachers, administrators, policy makers, and system leaders on what high-quality professional learning is — and isn’t , JSD, Summer 2007.
• Forum: Imagination is the first step on the road to school reform, JSD, Winter 2004
• Facilitator: 10, Refreshments: 8, Evaluation: 0, JSD, Fall 2003
• Nuts and bolts of grant writing JSD, Summer 2003
• How to get there from here JSD, Summer 2001
• Link staff development to student learning JSD, Spring 1999

Older Speeches (1992-2003)

Shooting for the Sun: A book of speeches and essays on issues in middle school reform. Many of the speeches below and several others are included in this collection, published in 2002.

• Imagination and School Reform, Remarks at the Corpus Christi Independent School District's Middle School Leadership Team Retreat, May 2003.
• NCLB: Conspiracy, Compliance, or Creativity?, Remarks to the spring conference of the Maryland Council of Staff Developers, April 2003.
• Guiding Questions for Middle Grades Reform, Remarks at a meeting convened by the Los Angeles Unified School District, January 2003.
• What Parents Need to Know About Middle School Reform, Remarks at at a public lecture in Nyack, New York, October 2002.
• Local Education Funds: Complicity or Reform?, Remarks to the Public Education Network's Policy Initiatives Convening conference in Washington, DC, April 2002.
• All Children Well, Remarks at a conference of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation's Program for Student Achievement grantees, October 2001.
• Who Will Advocate for Middle School Reform?, Remarks as facilitator for a panel, "Experiences of Advocates," at a meeting of the Southern Forum to Accelerate Middle School Reform in Memphis, Tenn., June 2001.
• Taking Responsibility, Remarks presented by videotape at the first retreat of the Inner-City Schools Coalition in Long Beach, California. , May 2001.
• Professional Development: The State It's In, Remarks at a meeting of administrators from approximately 40 state education agencies, February 2001.
• Sustaining Support for Professional Development, Remarks at the meeting, "Professional Development in New York State: A Working Symposium," October 2000.
• Is what you're cookin' what your students are smellin'?, Remarks at a meeting of teams from the Corpus Christi, Long Beach, and San Diego school systems assisted by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, September 2000.
• What Works? Who Cares?, Remarks at the National Conference on Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in the Middle Grades: Linking Research and Practice, July 2000.
• The War We Are In, Remarks at a conference of representatives of states, school systems, and schools participating in the Making Middle Grades Matter initiative of the Southern Regional Education Board, July 2000.
• What If There Were No State Accountability?, Remarks at a retreat of 30 central office staff, principals, teachers, and teacher union representatives from the Corpus Christi (TX) Independent School District, March 2000.
• Middle School Reform: Where Are We Now?, Remarks as a member of the panel, "Middle School Reform: A Critical Look at Our Progress," at The William Winter Principals' Leadership Institute, March 2000.
• Watching for Mr. Hyde, Remarks at the Twelfth Annual America's At-Risk Youth National Forum, February 2000.
• The Beauty and Terror, Remarks as part of a panel presentation to approximately 30 middle school administrators from Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri, January 2000.
• A Middle Grades Reformer Tells It Like It Is, Remarks on the panel, "What Key Reformers Have Learned About Reform," at the annual conference of the National Staff Development Council, December 1999.
• Evaluating Staff Development: The Kickoff, Remarks at the first meeting of the national advisory board for the National Staff Development Council's project, "Evaluating Staff Development: Demonstrating the Impact," November 1999.
• Hitting the Wall, Remarks at a meeting of vertical teams from the Corpus Christi, Long Beach, Louisville, and San Diego school systems, September 1999.
• Six Steps to an Achieving Middle School, Remarksat the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (NC) "First Annual Middle Schools Institute," June 1999.
• Thirty And Counting, Remarks at a Middle Grades Education Conference sponsored by the Southern Regional Education Board, April 1999.
• A Small Brave Band, Remarks at the first joint training workshop for representatives from state-level Staff Development Leadership Councils, February 1999.
• Staff Development That Benefits Student Learning, Remarks at the first joint meeting of representatives from Staff Development Leadership Councils, December 1998.
• Hiking the Rocky Trail of Reform, Remarks at a meeting of vertical teams representing urban school systems from Chattanooga, Corpus Christi, Long Beach, Louisville, Minneapolis, and San Diego, September 1998.
• Communicating in Education: Getting Beyond the "Blah, blah, blah", Remarks at the meeting, "Advancing Communications for Middle School Reform" sponsored by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, November 1997.
• What Does It Mean for a Reforming School System to Get Serious about Parent Involvement? These e-mail comments were originally made in response to a reforming school system's explanation for its reluctance to consider outside help in increasing parent involvement in its middle schools.
• Is Staff Development a Smart Investment? Remarks at the annual conference of the National Staff Development Council, December 1997.
• How Much Longer Must Teachers and Students Wait for Good Staff Development?, Remarks at the the first meeting of the National Advisory Panel on the National Staff Development Council's project, "Results-Based Staff Development for the Middle Grades," July 1997.
• THE Priority: Student Learning, Remarks at a conference of grantees of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and its Program for Student Achievement, March 1997.
• Standards in Context, Remarks at a conference on standards implementation sponsored by the Council on Basic Education, November 1995.
• Looking for Leaders, Remarks at "The Reform Connection," a conference of over 370 representatives of states, school systems, schools and national and state organizations involved in middle school reform, November 1995.
• Raging Intellects, Remarks at a briefing for representatives of Minneapolis funders and community organizations, June 1995.
• The New Principal, Remarks at The Middle School Principals Institute, "Focusing the Middle School: The Principal's Role" in Louisville, Kentucky, July 1994.