15 Must-Reads in Honor of Principals Month
October is National Principals Month. We are taking this moment to show our appreciation for one of the most important, demanding, and isolated jobs in K-12 education.
The creativity and fortitude principals have shown during the pandemic has been impressive, but not surprising. Principals have always been passionate, innovative, and resourceful. They have to be.
The stories below demonstrate this, and show the immense impact principals can have on their students, staff, and communities.
We hope you find these pieces on principals informational and motivational. (Even more principal coverage is available here.)
For more stories and information specifically for school leaders, sign up for our Savvy Principal newsletter. (The latest edition is here.)
School & District Management
6 Tips for Principals to Survive—and Thrive
We asked principals about their biggest challenges. Here are strategies for tackling six common issues, from school leaders and experts.
School & District Management
Opinion
Administrators Can Make or Break School Culture. Here’s How to Spot the Best Ones
Educator Mary Alicia Lyons shares her experiences working with administrators who’ve spanned the spectrum from frustrating to fantastic.
School & District Management
Is Your Head Spinning? 7 Decisionmaking Tips for Principals
Principals are facing some of the toughest decisions of their careers during the pandemic. Here's advice from peers and experts.
School & District Management
6 Districts Invested in Principals and Saw Dramatic Gains. Dozens More Will Try to Do the Same
Scores rose dramatically in school districts that focused on improving principals. Now other districts hope to replicate that success.
School & District Management
'I Want a Job and a Life': How Principals Find Balance in All-Consuming Work
School leaders who delegate to expert staff, adhere to a schedule, and commit to taking care of themselves can thrive, experts say.
School & District Management
Opinion
What It Takes to Be a Human First and a Principal Second
Leadership is a test. One very busy principal explains how he learned to pass.
School & District Management
Principals Bear the Brunt of Parental Anger, Staff Fatigue as COVID Drags On
As the face of their schools, principals are front and center in battles over masks, quarantines, and other hot-button COVID issues.
School & District Management
Opinion
What an Anti-Racist Principal Must Do
An anti-racist principal’s work must rest upon a strong moral foundation, writes Mark Anthony Gooden.
School & District Management
To Root Out Racism in Schools, Start With Who You Hire
The teachers that principals hire is one of the most powerful levers for turning schools into anti-racist institutions.
School & District Management
4 Things Principals Can Do (and 4 Things They Shouldn't) to Build Relationships With Teachers
Veteran teachers give advice on how principals can foster meaningful buy-in among their school’s staff members.
Professional Development
Video
A Principal’s Guide to Coaching Teachers
The leadership team at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Early College conducts weekly observations and coaching sessions for every teacher.
School & District Management
What This Principal Learned—and Changed—After His Day as a 'Student'
A principal spent a day as a 9th grader to get a more authentic view of students' experience. Here's what he learned and what he's changed.
School & District Management
10 Bold Ideas Principals Can Embrace This School Year
Principals, want to change things up this school year? Here are 10 suggestions—big and small—for rethinking what you do and how you lead.
School & District Management
Video
Do NOT Go to the Principal’s Office
Bethany Hill, the principal at Central Elementary School in Cabot, Ark., shuns a formal office.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
The #1 Factor That Determines a Toxic or Thriving School Culture
When it comes to the success of an entire school, nothing is more important than the relationship of the adults in the building.