Dr. Sarah J. Zuckerman
@drszuckerman.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Educational Administration: studies school improvement and community partnerships as collective action problems; increasingly interested in knowledge creation and use; expert cat mom; beginner quilter. All views are my own.
I find this unsurprising. Functional schools support better teaching. Good principals impact all the teachers in the building. We can't fix a system one person at a time
"these high-performing teachers’ prior value added is only moderately predictive of effectiveness in low-achieving schools....dropped by 0.12 student SDs....driven by lower match quality, negative indirect school effects, and the loss of student-specific human capital" www.nber.org/papers/w34845
Is Teacher Effectiveness Fully Portable? Evidence from the Random Assignment of Transfer Incentives
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
www.nber.org
February 16, 2026 at 3:44 PM
I find this unsurprising. Functional schools support better teaching. Good principals impact all the teachers in the building. We can't fix a system one person at a time
Well, I didn't get the job at UNK. And realistically, I'm not really right for the position. Which underscores that while we had similar programs, we each fill different niches in the higher education landscape. The BOR doesn't understand that or care.
February 13, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Well, I didn't get the job at UNK. And realistically, I'm not really right for the position. Which underscores that while we had similar programs, we each fill different niches in the higher education landscape. The BOR doesn't understand that or care.
I'm kind of glad that I didn't get this one job that I interviewed for because they were all on on using AI in teacher prep And to prepare teachers for using AI.
Glad to see a Columbia administrator speaking the plain sense about AI so many college leaders refuse to contend with. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/o...
Opinion | A.I. Companies Are Eating Higher Education
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:12 AM
I'm kind of glad that I didn't get this one job that I interviewed for because they were all on on using AI in teacher prep And to prepare teachers for using AI.
My only medal in high school was because I managed to make it to the bottom twice in the rain and a lot of other people didn't
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The Best Ski Racers Often Don’t Win Gold
Unlike many Olympic sports, the best Alpine skiers often don’t win gold. Two-time Olympic champion Ted Ligety explains why the sport is so unpredictable.
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:48 PM
My only medal in high school was because I managed to make it to the bottom twice in the rain and a lot of other people didn't
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
It's also been misogynistic and paternalistic. She's a grown ass woman who can make her own decisions. When I see men, who don't ski, commenting, I lose my mind. None of them would have the cohojes to do a downhill if they actually had to stand in the start wearing a startlingly thin speed suit
Seeing negativity about Lindsey Vonn that she shouldn’t have competed due to her age and it was hubris and she shouldn’t have been skiing on an injury, but:
- that’s ableist and ageist
- she was medically cleared
- she hooked the gate, extremely common error and totally unrelated to her ACL or age
- that’s ableist and ageist
- she was medically cleared
- she hooked the gate, extremely common error and totally unrelated to her ACL or age
February 10, 2026 at 10:38 PM
It's also been misogynistic and paternalistic. She's a grown ass woman who can make her own decisions. When I see men, who don't ski, commenting, I lose my mind. None of them would have the cohojes to do a downhill if they actually had to stand in the start wearing a startlingly thin speed suit
College of Arts and Sciences was told yesterday that enough people took the retirement buyout that strategic cluster hires will happen next year. Those of us who were strategically cluster fired will get to be around to watch that. The mind reels
thebugeater.com/uncategorize...
thebugeater.com/uncategorize...
Cluster Hires after Cluster Fires? - The Bugeater
We interrupt your regularly scheduled Friday morning with breaking news. Yesterday, the Bugeater received reports from the College of Arts and Sciences chairs and directors’ meeting that the interim d...
thebugeater.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:00 PM
College of Arts and Sciences was told yesterday that enough people took the retirement buyout that strategic cluster hires will happen next year. Those of us who were strategically cluster fired will get to be around to watch that. The mind reels
thebugeater.com/uncategorize...
thebugeater.com/uncategorize...
There is no financial crisis at a university that can buy out it's med center partner for $800 million and build a $2.4 Billion new hospital. There is just wanting to get rid of those pesky people who talk about inequity and climate change. And apparently, people who love statistics.
It feels like it's been impossible to get people outside of higher ed to understand that eliminating staff/programs/majors is primarily an ideological project, whatever claims are made about finances.
What's happened at the Post is what's been happening in higher ed for ages.
What's happened at the Post is what's been happening in higher ed for ages.
February 5, 2026 at 1:32 PM
There is no financial crisis at a university that can buy out it's med center partner for $800 million and build a $2.4 Billion new hospital. There is just wanting to get rid of those pesky people who talk about inequity and climate change. And apparently, people who love statistics.
The project is to run out anyone who has a choice, to abuse the people that don't and continue to destroy research
"Imposing minimum teaching requirements...has been touted as a way to cut costs and 'better focus university resources in the classroom,' .... The notion is also gaining steam in conservative circles as a means of ensuring faculty productivity and curbing 'intellectually unserious' research."
The Campaign to Make Professors Teach More
Lawmakers say faculty members don’t work enough. Is this about productivity or punishment?
www.chronicle.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:13 AM
The project is to run out anyone who has a choice, to abuse the people that don't and continue to destroy research
I'm curious why I need to sit through training on ethical treatment of animals and lab safety so my colleagues can access their grant to provide literacy training to teachers?
February 4, 2026 at 6:55 PM
I'm curious why I need to sit through training on ethical treatment of animals and lab safety so my colleagues can access their grant to provide literacy training to teachers?
The Music of College is mass laying off staff, in top of last week's mass layoffs of staff in which people were told to leave within the hour. Tell your friends, UNL'S leadership is destroying the flagship university
February 4, 2026 at 3:07 PM
The Music of College is mass laying off staff, in top of last week's mass layoffs of staff in which people were told to leave within the hour. Tell your friends, UNL'S leadership is destroying the flagship university
In tone deaf emails from our Interim Chancellor
February 4, 2026 at 2:41 AM
In tone deaf emails from our Interim Chancellor
The metrics out of NU's central offices lists a goal of 100% online BA degrees. So the difference between your flagship R1 and the University of Phoenix is 🤏🏻
February 4, 2026 at 2:41 AM
The metrics out of NU's central offices lists a goal of 100% online BA degrees. So the difference between your flagship R1 and the University of Phoenix is 🤏🏻
What is the obsession with 8 week courses? Who is selling them to admin and why?
If you talk to the companies and schools running the 8-week asynchronous model, it requires INFRASTRUCTURE. You often need full-time advisors to help with rapid matriculation and registration. You need faculty trained in how to design courses and assignments in that format.
February 3, 2026 at 1:36 PM
What is the obsession with 8 week courses? Who is selling them to admin and why?
So much this. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator, I make less now than when I started in 2016.
Y'all. This.
"higher education treats routine pay increases that are common in many other industries as a once-in-a-blue-moon cause for celebration"
Cannot "this" this enough.
"higher education treats routine pay increases that are common in many other industries as a once-in-a-blue-moon cause for celebration"
Cannot "this" this enough.
Here's my piece on compensation absurdities in higher. Only scratches the surface, but hopeful we can use this as a springboard to say: this weird thing we do? We don't have to keep doing it. Or, we can do this better. Let's aim higher www.chronicle.com/article/high...
February 2, 2026 at 11:34 PM
So much this. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator, I make less now than when I started in 2016.
Metalsmithing
Curatorial Seminar
Paleobiology
Pre-Colonial American History
Women in Art
Curatorial Seminar
Paleobiology
Pre-Colonial American History
Women in Art
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college
American Society
Sociology of Childhood
Education Policy
Creative Nonfiction
Logic*
American Society
Sociology of Childhood
Education Policy
Creative Nonfiction
Logic*
January 31, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Metalsmithing
Curatorial Seminar
Paleobiology
Pre-Colonial American History
Women in Art
Curatorial Seminar
Paleobiology
Pre-Colonial American History
Women in Art
I used to teach the one week we could cram into principal prep on school safety. I don't know how you prepare people for this kind of thing.
Absolutely correct. This is very common. Credit to this long NYT piece just published today, which focuses on a suburb. ICE is everywhere.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/u...
January 31, 2026 at 3:35 PM
I used to teach the one week we could cram into principal prep on school safety. I don't know how you prepare people for this kind of thing.
So relatable lately
January 30, 2026 at 6:31 PM
So relatable lately
Today, staff disappeared off websites. Apparently, they were given an hour to leave and immediately lost access to email and everything else. WTF.
January 28, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Today, staff disappeared off websites. Apparently, they were given an hour to leave and immediately lost access to email and everything else. WTF.
Termination Letters Confirm Full Academic Year for Faculty and Protect Students from Mid-Term Disruptions - The Bugeater share.google/RMGIuMXXdiJH...
Termination Letters Confirm Full Academic Year for Faculty and Protect Students from Mid-Term Disruptions - The Bugeater
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 27, 2026 LINCOLN, Neb. — Today, faculty and staff in four University of Nebraska–Lincoln departments slated for elimination received formal termination notices confirming ...
share.google
January 27, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Termination Letters Confirm Full Academic Year for Faculty and Protect Students from Mid-Term Disruptions - The Bugeater share.google/RMGIuMXXdiJH...
Back to your regularly scheduled feed of national horrors
January 27, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Back to your regularly scheduled feed of national horrors
Also don't pretend you empathize with us when you have been needlessly cruel throughout this absolutely surreal experience in which I learned that my humble little department is among the best in the nation and my colleagues are in the top of the field.
January 27, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Also don't pretend you empathize with us when you have been needlessly cruel throughout this absolutely surreal experience in which I learned that my humble little department is among the best in the nation and my colleagues are in the top of the field.
And from the letter to campus "Program eliminations forever change a university, and we recognize the significant impact on those directly affected, as we empathize with our colleagues and friends."
Yes, it does forever change a university when you cut important departments
Yes, it does forever change a university when you cut important departments
January 27, 2026 at 11:41 PM
And from the letter to campus "Program eliminations forever change a university, and we recognize the significant impact on those directly affected, as we empathize with our colleagues and friends."
Yes, it does forever change a university when you cut important departments
Yes, it does forever change a university when you cut important departments
You also have re-employment and reinstatement rights. Please contact Chris Marks, Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs, with any questions.
Strange, because he already told me there is no process to rehouse us but we might be able to stay on at lower ranks to complete the teach out
Strange, because he already told me there is no process to rehouse us but we might be able to stay on at lower ranks to complete the teach out
January 27, 2026 at 11:39 PM
You also have re-employment and reinstatement rights. Please contact Chris Marks, Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs, with any questions.
Strange, because he already told me there is no process to rehouse us but we might be able to stay on at lower ranks to complete the teach out
Strange, because he already told me there is no process to rehouse us but we might be able to stay on at lower ranks to complete the teach out
"I want to emphasize that this decision is not a reflection of your performance. You have made significant contributions to the University, and we are truly grateful." If you were grateful for the redesigned EdD program, which I led pre-tenure, maybe you wouldn't have killed it. Or fired me
January 27, 2026 at 11:38 PM
"I want to emphasize that this decision is not a reflection of your performance. You have made significant contributions to the University, and we are truly grateful." If you were grateful for the redesigned EdD program, which I led pre-tenure, maybe you wouldn't have killed it. Or fired me
It's hard to know where to start with my termination letter and the notice sent to campus today
"As a result of this action, your employment with the University of Nebraska will terminate, including all rights associated with being a tenured faculty member."
"As a result of this action, your employment with the University of Nebraska will terminate, including all rights associated with being a tenured faculty member."
January 27, 2026 at 11:36 PM
It's hard to know where to start with my termination letter and the notice sent to campus today
"As a result of this action, your employment with the University of Nebraska will terminate, including all rights associated with being a tenured faculty member."
"As a result of this action, your employment with the University of Nebraska will terminate, including all rights associated with being a tenured faculty member."