Summer planning is winding down. More and more faculty members are making their way into the building the past few weeks to get a jump on creating hallway signage, arranging classroom spaces, planning, etc. Our staff kickoff is a matter of days away and our students return in a week. 2025-26 is coming.
There are countless advice articles out there from ASCD and other reputable sources ahead of a new school year for faculty and staff of all walks to get information from. A sampling:
https://www.edutopia.org/article/realistic-goal-setting-teachers/
https://www.edutopia.org/article/school-leaders-back-to-school-resources/
This is an exciting time but can easily be overwhelming even for veteran educators. So much to do, so little time before the students arrive in a matter of days. So many boxes to check — district, state and federal mandated items, building specific areas, time and space with grade level and content teams — the list goes on. This can be stressful.
Routines. To assist routines are essential. Start them before the school year begins on a smaller scale to get “in the swing” of things. getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and exercising regularly all items I’ve blogged about in the past.
Positive thoughts. Focusing on the positive aspects of returning to school, like seeing colleagues, students, families and learning new things, can assist in counteracting negative thoughts.
As a school leader specifically there are a long list of items I try my best to utilize to support the faculty and staff I lead in the beginning of the year and ongoing. These include…
1. Cultivate a Culture of Trust and Transparency:
- Build strong relationships. Prioritize building positive relationships with staff, students, and families from the outset. Essential early, often and ongoing. Authentic.
- Open communication. Create a culture where open and honest communication is encouraged, fostering a sense of security and belonging. Teamwork – approachability, willingness to listen, while being open to adapting.
- Transparency. Be transparent about your vision, goals, and decision-making processes.
- Regular check-ins. Hold regular meetings, both formal and informal, to facilitate open dialogue and address concerns.
2. Set Clear Goals and Expectations:
- Define a shared vision. Articulate a clear vision for the school year, ensuring it aligns with the needs of the school and community.
- Establish authentic goals. Work with your team to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals for the school year that are both authentic and meaningful.
- Communicate roles and responsibilities. Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each team member in achieving the shared goals.
3. Provide Support and Resources:
- Coaching and mentoring: Offer coaching and mentoring to help staff develop their leadership skills and build confidence. As I’ve blogged about in the past, this is truly a win-win as a leader – building capacity in others while increasing their confidence and scope as professionals.
4. Lead by Example:
- Model positive behaviors. Demonstrate the behaviors and attitudes you want to see in your staff and students. Professional, model what you want from the professionals you lead.
- Be a lifelong learner. Show my own commitment to continuous learning and improvement, inspiring others to do the same.
- Celebrate successes. Acknowledge and celebrate both individual and collective achievements, creating a positive and motivating atmosphere. Small or large – celebrate the wins.
5. Embrace Adaptability and Resilience:
- Be flexible. Be prepared to adapt to changing circumstances and adjust your plans as needed.
- Maintain a positive attitude. Cultivate a positive and optimistic outlook, even in the face of adversity. This can be easier said than done some days but as a school leader — eyes are always watching. Attitude is everything — especially in this role.
Here is to a wonderful new school year. We’ve got this.
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