The Main Idea and Marshall Memo

SAI provides active members with an exclusive benefit—a subscription to THE MAIN IDEA—a service for busy educational leaders. Welcome!

During the year, you will receive monthly summaries (around the 15th of each month) provided by Jenn David-Lang of important new education books along with workshop ideas you can use with staff.

As a subscriber, you also get free access to more than 170 previous book summaries and professional development ideas. On the Past Book Titles page of TheMainIdea.net enter the password that's provided in the monthly emails. Be sure to consult the most recent message as the password periodically changes.

The Main Idea Podcasts

Now, in addition to writing eight-page summaries of education and leadership books, Jenn has also started recording podcast conversations with Mike Doughty about each month’s books. Listen and learn!

The Marshall Memo

SAI weekly emails with The Marshall Memo, published 50 times a year since 2003, to active members. It is designed to keep principals, teachers, instructional coaches, superintendents, and other PreK-12 educators well-informed on current research and best practices. Kim Marshall, drawing on his decades as a teacher, principal, central office administrator, consultant, and writer, lightens the load of busy educators by serving as their "designated reader." What Kim spends 20 hours creating each week, you can read in 20 minutes.

The members' area login information is included in the weekly emails.