TL;DR: Spirit Week can have good intentions, but it is important to make all students feel included each day. Considerations are offered for the following Spirit Days: Beach Day, College Spirit Day, Disney Day, Fancy Friday, Jersey Day, School T-Shirt Day, and Tacky Christmas Sweater Day. Make sure you school’s theme week aligns to your school district’s mission statement. Spirit … Read More
5 Tips to Reimagine School as a Verb
TL;DR: Reimagine school as a verb with these five tips. Start with defining the problem. We need to focus on more than preparing students for the next grade; we need to focus on the necessary human skills of success. Reflection: The pandemic has forced us to relook at the whole learner through a metacognitive lens. Establish a growth mindset to … Read More
Intentionally Supporting Your Staff All Year Long
TL;DR: School leaders should be intentional all year when facilitating positive school culture. Supporting your staff all year long means you need to treat each part of the year differently. In the beginning of the year, develop routines, build relationships, and get to know where everyone is academically. The time of the year approaching spring break is a great time … Read More
Developing School Culture No Matter Who You Are
TL;DR: When hiring new staff, consider those who move your vision forward. Non-teaching staff members (counselors, librarians, paraprofessionals, custodians, etc.) play a big role in developing school culture. Parents and community members are vital to the building of school culture. My assistant principal is involved in a book study for a book that is based on the premise that you … Read More
Posts Beyond the Principal’s Account
TL;DR: Posts beyond the principal’s account should involve all staff and students. Involve all staff when creating posts for social media. Share curriculum information so stakeholders understand what is going on at school. Coordinate with coaches and club sponsors to ensure all groups are being represented equally on social media. Get students involved with sharing news on social media. If … Read More