3 MUST-DOs for Principals to Start the School Year Strong

The first weeks of a new school year sets the tone for the months ahead. As a principal, this is your opportunity to establish culture, build relationships, and create a clear vision for success. Here are three MUST-DOs to ensure you and your school community start the year on the right foot.

1. Be Highly Visible and Accessible

Your presence matters. Greet students at arrival, walk the hallways, and visit classrooms EVERY DAY. This isn’t about monitoring, it’s about connection. When teachers, students, and parents see you actively engaged in the life of the school, they feel supported and valued.

2. Clearly Communicate Expectations and Priorities

The start of the year is the perfect time to set the tone for your school culture. Ensure staff, students, and families understand your vision and the key priorities for the year. Provide clarity around requirements, goals, and how success will be measured.

3. Build Relationships Before Diving Into Initiatives

Strong relationships are the foundation of school success. Invest time early on in building trust with your staff, students, and families. Attend events, listen to concerns, and celebrate small wins. People will be more open to feedback and new initiatives when they know you value them as individuals.

The first few weeks of school are not about perfection. They are about presence, clarity, and connection. Keep working to set a strong foundation for a successful year ahead.

Clutter Is Delayed Decision Making

As educators, we’re no strangers to clutter—on our desks, in our inboxes, on our shelves, and often, in our minds. Whether it’s a growing pile of papers, unread professional development books, or a digital desktop overflowing with files, clutter is not just a mess, it is a message.

At its core, clutter is delayed decision-making. Every piece of paper we keep “just in case,” every email we flag but never file, and every stack of outdated curriculum materials we hang onto.  These are all decisions we’ve postponed. While each item may seem small, the mental load they create is significant. Clutter quietly chips away at our focus, our creativity, and even our sense of control.

Why This Matters in Education

Educators make hundreds (maybe thousands!) of decisions a day. We manage learning environments, relationships, lesson plans, assessments, and more. When physical or mental clutter piles up, it limits our cognitive bandwidth and emotional energy. We start reacting instead of responding. We feel overwhelmed, distracted, or disorganized.  It is not because we’re incapable, but because the noise of unmade decisions drowns out our clarity.

Clearing the Path

Here are a few ways educators can turn “maybe later” into “decided now”:

• Start small. Pick one drawer, one email folder, or one category (like old handouts) and make decisions: Keep, toss, or take action.

• Use the “one-touch” rule. When you pick something up, be it a paper, email, or task, deal with it immediately if possible. Delayed decisions multiply.

• Ask yourself: What’s the purpose? If an item doesn’t serve your teaching practice, your students, or your peace of mind, it might be time to let it go.

• Set routines for resets. End your day or your week by clearing your desk or inbox. Five intentional minutes on can give you a fresh start to the next day.

Leading by Example

Just as we model lifelong learning and kindness, we can also model clarity and intentionality. A de-cluttered space says, “I value focus. I make room for what matters.” In a world of constant demands and rapid change, that’s a powerful message to send to ourselves, our colleagues, and our students.

So next time you see that pile or hesitate over a small task, pause and remember: clutter is just a decision waiting to be made. As educators, we are more than capable of making meaningful ones.

Yes, And...

The Power of Surrounding Yourself with Encouragers

In improv comedy, there's a simple rule that drives the entire scene forward: “Yes, and…” It’s the idea that instead of shutting down an idea, you build on it.  You accept what’s offered and add your own voice to keep the story alive.

That same principle can transform your personal and professional life.

Whether you're leading a school, teaching in a classroom, or working toward your goals, the people you choose to surround yourself with matter deeply. You need people who say, “Yes, and…” People who believe in you and push you forward. People who see your spark and fan the flame. Who don’t just nod along but offer ideas, encouragement, and a sense of “we’re in this together.”

Think about it, when was the last time you felt truly supported? It probably wasn’t from someone who poked holes in your idea or focused on why it wouldn’t work. It was likely someone who said, “Yes… and what if we also tried this?”

When you're surrounded by encouragers, things shift:

• Challenges become opportunities.

• Mistakes become lessons.

• Dreams become plans.

So here’s your invitation: Take a look around. Who in your circle brings the “Yes, and…” energy? Who lifts you up, nudges you forward, and celebrates your wins?

And more importantly, how can you be that person for someone else?

Because when we lead with encouragement, collaboration, and belief in each other, amazing things happen.

Say YES. 

Add your voice. 

Watch the momentum grow.

Looking Back to Move Forward: End-of-Year Reflection & Planning

 As the final bell rings and the hallways quiet down, June brings a welcome pause.  This is an opportunity to catch our breath, reflect on the journey behind us, and begin shaping the road ahead.

While it's tempting to dive straight into planning for next year, the most effective leaders know that reflection fuels growth. Use this transition time intentionally, with purpose and perspective.

Here are a few simple and powerful ways to reflect and plan before the next chapter begins:

Reflect with Purpose: Three Key Questions

• What worked well this year?
  Think school culture wins, instructional initiatives, and systems that ran smoothly.  What went exceptionally well this year?

• Where did you face challenges, and what did we learn?
  Name them honestly. Was it attendance, family engagement, behavior? What insight did you gain?

• What do you want to carry forward and what can you let go?
  Consider habits, programs, meetings, or routines that may no longer serve your vision.  

Action Step: Write down one thing you’re proud of, one thing you’d change, and one lesson you’ll carry forward or one thing you will STOP doing.

Map Your Priorities for Next Year

Don’t aim to fix everything. Focus your leadership energy by choosing 2–3 top priorities for next year.

Try this simple planning framework:

• One thing to grow

• One thing to strengthen 

• One thing to stop doing or one thing to start fresh 

Action Step: Create a slide, checklist, or sticky note with these 3 focus points and keep it visible as you plan.

Take Time for You

Leadership is service!  But you can’t lead well if you’re running on empty. Carve out time to recharge this summer.

Action Step: Write down 3 non-negotiables for your own well-being this summer (Read one book for joy, Unplug every Sunday, Walk each morning, etc.).

Final Thought:

June isn’t just the end of something, it’s a also the beginning of something new. When we take time to reflect, celebrate, and plan with intention, we give ourselves the gift of clarity and direction.

Hire For Character: Three Things To Look For

Hiring a teacher with good character is essential because educators do more than just deliver lessons, they shape young minds and influence the culture of the entire school. A teacher’s character impacts how they build relationships, manage their classroom, and serve as a role model for students. When schools hire teachers with integrity, empathy, and a strong sense of responsibility, they are investing in a positive learning environment where students feel safe, supported, and inspired to grow.

Here are three things to look for when for hiring based on good character.  Look for a teacher who...

1. Builds Trust with Students and Families: Teachers with strong character:  honesty, kindness, and responsibility, create safe and respectful classrooms where students feel valued and families feel confident in the care their children receive.

2. Contributes to a Positive School Culture: Teachers who demonstrate empathy, patience, and professionalism help foster a collaborative and supportive school environment among staff and students.

3. Models Integrity and Leadership: A teacher’s character directly influences their students. Hiring educators with strong character ensures they consistently model respectful behavior, sound decision-making, and ethical standards, shaping students in and beyond the classroom.

Time Is Your Most Valuable Asset

If someone handed you a large sum of money today, you'd probably think carefully about how to spend it. You’d invest, budget, and protect it from being wasted. Yet, every day we’re given something far more valuable than money—time—and we often spend it without a second thought.

The truth is: TIME is your most valuable asset.

You can earn more money. You can replace things. But time? Once it's spent, it's gone. Every hour, every minute is a choice—how we spend it reflects what we truly value.

Why Time Matters More Than You Think

Time shapes our days, our relationships, our impact. It defines how we grow, what we create, and how we care for ourselves and others. It's the one resource we all share equally—rich or poor, young or old—we each get 24 hours a day.

But unlike money, you can’t save time for later. You can’t earn more. You can only use it—wisely or not.

Small Shifts, Big Impact

Valuing time doesn’t mean filling every moment with productivity. In fact, it's often the opposite. It means being intentional.

• Saying yes to what matters.

• Saying no without guilt.

• Making time for people over tasks.

• Resting without apology.

• Choosing presence over distraction.

It’s not about doing more—it’s about doing what matters.

Time as a Legacy

Think of time as how you leave your mark. The time you give your students, your colleagues, your family—it adds up. It becomes your legacy. A few extra minutes listening. A walk with a child. A quiet moment to breathe. These aren’t small—they’re meaningful.

A Simple Reflection

Ask yourself:

• What am I spending my time on that doesn’t reflect what I truly value?

• Where can I invest more time to create lasting impact?

• What would change if I treated time like a treasure?

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about how much we got done. It’s about how we lived the moments we were given.

So protect your time. Prioritize what matters. And remember—every minute is a chance to live with intention.

An Inch of Movement Is Worth More Than a Mile of Intentions

We’ve all been there—staring down a big idea, a worthy goal, or a well-meant plan, feeling the buzz of motivation yet never quite putting it into motion. It’s easy to get caught in the glow of intentions: “I’m going to start exercising.” “I’ll write that book.” “I plan to reach out and reconnect.” Intentions feel good. They give us a sense of purpose. But without action, they remain just that—intentions.

The truth is, an inch of movement—one tiny step forward—is worth more than a mile of unacted dreams.

Think about it. An inch of progress means you’ve started. You’ve shifted from thinking to doing, from hoping to becoming. It may be small, even invisible to others, but it’s real. And in the world of growth, forward is forward, no matter how slow or slight.

Why Movement Matters More Than Planning

Planning is important, but progress lives in motion. You can map out every detail of your journey, but the road won’t meet your feet until you take that first step. Movement teaches. It shapes. It reveals what works and what doesn’t. Plans are guesses. Actions are answers.

One inch of movement could be:

• Writing a single paragraph of that book.

• Putting on your sneakers and walking to the end of the block.

• Sending one email or making one call you’ve been putting off.

It’s easy to wait for the perfect time, the perfect conditions. But the perfect moment is often just the one where you decide to start.

Intentions Can Stall Us

Intentions, while well-meaning, can become a comfort zone. We tell ourselves we’re “getting ready.” But preparation without action becomes procrastination. The more we wait, the more doubt creeps in. Suddenly, the mile of intentions becomes a mountain.

Action Builds Confidence

Every inch forward creates momentum. One action leads to another. And with each step, we build confidence—not from thinking, but from doing. Progress isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it’s messy. But it’s real, and it fuels growth.

A Challenge for Today

What’s one thing you’ve been intending to do? Take one small step toward it. Just an inch. Don’t wait for clarity or courage to find you—go meet it halfway.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not the size of the step that matters—it’s the direction.

So go ahead, move an inch.