As a school leader, you know how fast your day can slip away. You walk into the office with a clear plan, ready to focus on the tasks that really matter—like instructional leadership or building school culture—but by the end of the day, you haven’t touched any of it. Sound familiar? What’s happening? It’s simple: […]

Remember that ad from the early 90’s, “Stop the Insanity” Susan Powter would shout. Her focus was about overweight people who just continued to do the same thing over and over while expecting different results. As a school leader, you’re constantly juggling multiple priorities—meetings, classroom observations, staff development, and the daily surprises that come with […]

As school leaders, we often begin the day with the best intentions. You plan to be in classrooms, spend time in the hallways engaging with students and staff, and focus on the tasks that matter most. But all too often, those plans are derailed by meetings, crises, or unexpected events that take us away from […]

In today’s increasingly divided world, where disagreements quickly escalate into hostility and misunderstandings fuel resentment, kindness is more important than ever. Choosing kindness in our daily interactions—whether at work, at home, or in public—can transform relationships and foster a sense of shared humanity. Kindness has the power to ease tension, soften hardened hearts, and create […]

Imagine your day constantly interrupted by last-minute requests and classroom disturbances—this was the reality for a school leader I spoke with recently. Like many of us, she found herself stretched thin, trying to be everything to everyone. But what’s the real cost of always saying ‘yes’? It’s more than just time—it’s your effectiveness as a […]

I’ve talked and written often on the balance between being a firefighter and being the leader on your campus. There is a reason for that: one of the biggest lessons I had to learn early in my leadership career was managing my time. As a principal, your days are filled with meetings, classroom visits, emails, […]

One of the more complicated things I had to navigate as a new principal was working with my assistant principals. I had been one of them prior to getting the position, so being one with them was a challenge. If you are new to your role, or new to your school, as the principal you […]

I had an awesome conversation earlier this week with a principal and assistant principal. Both are somewhat newer to their campus but not in their first year. They reached out wanting to talk about culture building in their school, having seen me speak at an event this summer. Our conversation quickly made its way to […]

I spent the week supporting and training leadership teams across the country. At one stop in particular, I found myself standing on the balcony above their basketball court. It took me back to my days as a principal and how important it was for me to get up on the balcony and check in on […]

Starting a new role as a school leader marks an exciting new chapter filled with opportunities and challenges. The first week back with your staff is pivotal for setting the tone for the entire year. It’s a time when your leadership style, vision, and approach will begin to take shape. How you navigate this initial […]