Author Archives: Jim Warford

About Jim Warford

Jim Warford is the author of, The Chemistry of Culture: Strategies You Can Use to Create a Culture of Learning. For 15 years Jim Warford was Senior Advisor and Keynote Speaker for the International Center for Leadership in Education. Jim is an author, speaker, Leadership and Instructional Coach. He was named in March 2003 as Florida’s first Chancellor of K12 Public Schools. He stepped down in September, 2005 to become Executive Director of the Florida Association of School Administrators, representing over 10,000 Florida school leaders. As a Senior Advisor for the International Center for Leadership in Education, he works with states, districts and schools to provide coaching and executive training and support to school leaders and their staffs. As Florida’s Chancellor, he led the creation and state-wide implementation of Florida’s Continuous Improvement Model, FCIM, which resulted in that state’s dramatic gains in student achievement and an 80% reduction in the number low-performing schools. FCIM remains Florida’s required intervention for all low-performing schools. As Superintendent of the Marion County, Florida Public Schools, he first implemented the Continuous Improvement Model district-wide. As a result, school grades went from three “F”, eight “D” and only one “A” school in 1999 to twenty “A”, 16 “B” and no “F” schools in 2003. Under his leadership the high school dropout rate was cut in half. He taught applied technology courses at the high school level for 17 years and created a Computer Graphics/Video Production program that won many national and state awards. He was named Vanguard High School Teacher of the Year three separate times.

Natalie Flechas – Vanguard High School, Ocala, FL

Posted on June 8, 2021 by Jim Warford

Natalie Flechas is a Senior at Vanguard High School in Ocala, FL, where she is Co-President of the Senior class and National Honor Society. Natalie makes everyone who walks into the school feel welcome. She leads with compassion and is … Continue reading →

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Students Who Serve Others

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Jim Warford

Danika LeaverBrookings-Harbor High School, Brookings, OR Danika Leaver is a senior at Brookings-Harbor High School and has demonstrated an amazing ability to serve her school and community, to donate time to the American Red Cross, and encourage other classmates to … Continue reading →

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Student Silent Servants

Posted on February 3, 2021 by Jim Warford

Students Who Serve – Kayla Dearman Kayla Dearman is an Air Force JROTC Cadet at Southern Wayne HS in Dudley, NC. She joined this program for the fellowship and the opportunity to serve her local community. She has been involved … Continue reading →

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Students Who Serve – Gina Uribe

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Jim Warford

For four years Gianna Uribe has served West HS in Tracy, CA with unconditional devotion, effort, and passion. She has exemplified a selfless attitude and as president of the Student Body has worked countless long hours in giving her classmates … Continue reading →

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The Silent Servant Award

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Jim Warford

The new home of my work improving culture is the Peter R. Marsh Foundation, a non-profit,  here in Washington State, where I’ve assumed the role of Program Director. My mission at the Foundation is to promote and support Social Emotional … Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving Thoughts

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Jim Warford

Gratitude has become a daily intentional practice for me. I’m first and foremost grateful for my family and friends. I’m also extremely thankful for a lifetime spent in schools with colleagues who’ve taught me so much and made such a … Continue reading →

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New Partnership with Literal App

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Jim Warford

I’m proud to announce a new partnership with the Literal App in support of the Silent Servant Award given by the The Peter R. Foundation to high school students across America. Literal recognizes that our foundation… “works tirelessly to support … Continue reading →

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We Must Maslow Before We Bloom

Posted on July 9, 2020 by Jim Warford

Sometimes, the hardest thing for us to see is right in front of us. So I’ll start with a blinding flash of the obvious… In both our personal and professional lives, relationships are everything! The desire to connect with others … Continue reading →

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Exercise Empathy

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Jim Warford

Even before the current COVID crisis, psychologists reported that empathy is declining in our culture, and most dramatically in the young. At the same time, research in the fields of neuroscience and social psychology is clearly showing that, while competition … Continue reading →

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It’s Time for a Change

Posted on June 2, 2020 by Jim Warford

It’s time for a change… but this is a personal, not a political post. After 15 years as Senior Advisor to the International Center for Leadership in Education, ICLE, and over 20 years of commitment to increasing the three R’s … Continue reading →

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