I’ll never forget the end of my first year as a high school principal. I walked out of the building that last day in early June feeling like I’d just finished a marathon I hadn’t trained for. I was exhausted, unsure if I had done enough, and more than anything, overwhelmed by how reactive the year had felt.
Maybe that’s where you are right now.
If this year felt like a blur—filled with constant interruptions, student discipline issues, communication breakdowns, late buses, and not nearly enough time in classrooms—you are not alone. I’ve been there. And more importantly, I know how to help you move forward with Clarity and purpose.
This post is for every new or early-career principal who spent this year trying to keep their head above water. You deserve a reset, not just rest. Let’s walk through five steps that will help you unpack what happened this year and start building a more intentional leadership plan for next year.
Before you dive into your summer plans—or start mentally prepping for next year—take a breath. Literally. Then carve out a quiet hour to reflect. Don’t skip this. The power of the pause can’t be overstated.
Ask yourself:
What moments this year left me feeling the most overwhelmed?
When did I feel like I was doing the work I Love?
What systems or routines felt like they constantly broke down?
Where did I wish I had more support?
Leadership is learned in reflection, not just in action. This is your opportunity to learn.
Grab a journal, your laptop, or even a giant whiteboard. Get everything out of your head.
Make three columns:
The Chaos – What felt broken or inefficient? Be honest.
The Wins – What worked better than expected? Where did you thrive?
The Gaps – What did you wish you had more time, tools, or support to do?
I didn’t do this early in my leadership career, and I wish I had. Writing it all down helped me move from being reactive to being intentional. It turned emotional exhaustion into actionable insight.
This is where your clarity begins.
Let’s be real—many new principals walk into schools where expectations are either unclear or totally unwritten. Staff, students, and even parents are operating on what they think the rules or routines are.
Now is your chance to get proactive.
Think about:
What do you want your staff to know and do on the first day of school?
What expectations do you need to clarify for your leadership team?
Where were your expectations inconsistent—or not reinforced—this year?
Clear expectations create consistency. Consistency builds trust. And trust builds culture.
One of the most powerful lessons I learned through leadership Coaching was this: you can’t just hope your way into a smooth school year—you have to systematize it.
A few examples:
Morning arrival routine that frees you up to greet students.
A visibility plan that schedules you into classrooms (not just crisis duty).
Delegation structures that empower your secretary or APs.
Consistent ways to recognize staff and reinforce your culture.
Don’t wait until August. Start thinking about your systems now—then refine them over the summer with your team.
If you want next year to feel different, you need a plan—not just goals or good intentions. This is your blueprint for a leadership year defined by clarity, not chaos.
Your blueprint might include:
Leadership team planning days in July.
A restructured staff orientation aligned to your values and priorities.
A new weekly calendar template to protect time for feedback and walkthroughs.
A plan for how you’ll model and reinforce the culture you want to create.
You don’t have to build the perfect year—you just have to build an intentional one.
Look, the first year of school leadership is one of the hardest jobs in Education. You’re managing people, politics, and pressure—often without the systems and supports you need.
But now that you’ve made it through, it’s time to shift. You’ve learned a lot. You’ve grown. Now let’s put that Growth to work.
You don’t have to go it alone next year. If you’re ready to take control of your leadership and build a plan that aligns with your vision and values, let’s connect. This is the work I do every day with leaders just like you.
Because you can move from surviving to thriving.
It starts with clarity. It starts with you.
Your Next Steps: If you’re ready to lead with clarity, alignment, and intentionality—let’s talk. I help school and district leaders overcome overwhelm, bring their teams together, and solve big problems without sacrificing the culture they’ve worked so hard to build. Connect with me at [email protected]
Send me a message or visit RoadToAwesome.net to start the conversation.
Tune in this Sunday to “Leaning into Leadership” when I sit down with Ronn Nozoe, CEO of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
