Sandra-Lynn's Spin

Sandra-Lynn's Spin

Sandra-Lynn Shortall is an educational leader driving systemic change for inclusivity in public education.

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Sandra-Lynn's Spin © 2025
Published with Ghost and Paperleaf
Looking for the Fix-It

Looking for the Fix-It

I will be straight up, this spin is my latest amateur attempt to wrap my head around what generative AI is bringing to our world of inclusive, specialized education supports and instructional strategies. As I delve deeper into AI agents, chatbots, and so-called ‘super-intelligent’ supports, I find myself weaving together »

Smells Like... Teen Spirit

Smells Like... Teen Spirit

Nirvana's breakout album Nevermind rocked the music scene in the early 1990s as underground punk and indie vibes exploded into the mainstream. Despite the initial reluctance of radio stations across North America, Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit landed top ten spots on international billboard charts disrupting »

Beyond the Polish: Leadership Lessons from the Nail Salon

Beyond the Polish: Leadership Lessons from the Nail Salon

Leadership is like a manicure, full of chipped edges, unexpected shine, and lessons revealed in every layer of polish. While a nail salon might seem removed from educational leadership, this spin is about the surprising connections between what happens when the polish comes off and on. Straight up, I will »

The Budget Line That Starts in the Sandbox

The Budget Line That Starts in the Sandbox

I need to be thoughtful, respectful and reverent in the writing of this latest post. I also need to acknowledge this week has been a big week. So the spin of emotions, facts, frustrations, hopes and dreams are swirling as I share this post. Honestly acknowledging that is important, just »

What I learned by avoiding my inbox...

What I learned by avoiding my inbox...

My summer break was very intentional, far away, family filled and focused. I publicly admit I did avoid my inbox for a solid two weeks. For the first time in my senior leadership life, I took a proper holiday. In the event of an emergency, my close colleagues knew how »

Working 9-5

Working 9-5

This light mid-summer spin has been written with the intention of playfully deconstructing and repositioning the work day for joy-seeking educators. I want to be careful and straight forward, this is not a post promoting a 9-5 clock-in-clock-out mentality. I know our profession is not one that can easily be »

The Accordion Effect

The Accordion Effect

There is a beautiful rhythm that hums when inclusivity is happening in a school. It sounds like laughter, engagement, conversation and consideration. It sounds like "I see you," "I am glad you are here," "I am curious to learn more about you," "I »

Tugboat Tenacity

Tugboat Tenacity

Tugboats don't need to be big. They just need to be big enough to move what needs moving. I always amazed as I often watch these seemingly little boats moving back and forth under the Lions Gate Bridge safely guiding massive ships. Tugboats are designed for strength not »

The Spark that Starts it all: Catalysts for Change

The Spark that Starts it all: Catalysts for Change

In this spin I am challenging AI hype and reminding us that people not platforms drive real change. In an era where AI headlines much of the educational landscape, I want to recentre human conversations as the catalysts of change in today's classroom. Real change doesn't »

The Elephant in the Room

The Elephant in the Room

I can still remember the wide eyed wonder I held when the circus came to town in my childhood. The old Memorial Stadium in St. John's was transformed into a ring of spectacle with clowns leaping about amusing the crowd, decorated horses running the circle and windjammers playing »

Beauty and Brains: Harmonizing Aesthetics in Education

Beauty and Brains: Harmonizing Aesthetics in Education

In this spin, I hope to level set beauty in education. A recent conversation with a friend who just returned from a study tour in Reggio Emilia, Italy has left me again thinking about how important beauty is in education. Listening to her recount her experience left me inspired and »

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Sandra-Lynn's Spin © 2025
Published with Ghost and Paperleaf