I’m going to be honest here, because leaders deserve honesty, too.
Being a school leader today is no joke. You’re juggling expectations from the district, the community, your staff, and your own desire to make a difference. It’s a high-stakes balancing act, and the pressure is real.
But in the pursuit of doing more and being everything to everyone, many school leaders fall into patterns that, without realizing it, can actually hold their schools back.
If we want to build cultures of growth, trust, and excellence, we don’t just need to talk about what leaders should be doing.
We also need to talk about what school leaders need to stop doing.
1. Stop Prioritizing Compliance Over Capacity
Let’s start here.
Too many leaders are stuck in “checklist mode.” Are the forms turned in? Did the pacing guide get submitted? Are we doing X, Y, and Z so we can say we did?
I get it. The system demands compliance. But when that becomes the main focus, teachers stop feeling like professionals and start feeling like paper-pushers.
Great schools don’t grow from perfect paperwork.
They grow from people who feel supported, trusted, and capable.
- Stop focusing on just checking the boxes
- Start focusing on building capacity: instructional leadership, meaningful collaboration, and real-time support
When you shift from “Are they compliant?” to “Are they growing?” that’s when real change happens. This can also prevent the feeling that you’re “piling on” new stuff all the time, which can help in the long run with your team!
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2. Stop Talking About Data Without Talking About Instruction
We’ve all been in that meeting.
The test scores are up on the screen. The charts are color-coded. Everyone nods.
Then…silence.
Here’s the truth: Data without context is just noise.
And too often, we use data to evaluate teachers, instead of using it to empower them.
If you’re looking at data and not immediately connecting it to:
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What’s happening in the classroom,
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What supports are in place, and
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What changes can be made to instruction…
…then you’re not using data…you’re weaponizing it.
Stop throwing data at teachers like a performance review
Start using it as a conversation starter about teaching, learning, and growth
Because the goal of data is not to punish, it’s to inform and improve. Make sure your team knows the difference. Also focus on connecting the data to practices NOT people. Consider context, understand circumstances around the data as well to reduce the focus on individual staff members.
3. Stop Ignoring the Power of Teacher Voice
This one might sting a bit, but it’s important.
Teachers are on the front lines. They know what’s working, what’s not, and what kids need. But too often, they’re left out of the decision-making process entirely.
When leaders ignore teacher voice, three things happen:
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Morale drops.
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Innovation stalls.
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Trust disappears.
On the flip side, when teachers are invited to the table? Ownership explodes. Culture strengthens. Change becomes sustainable.
Stop making decisions for teachers without talking to them
Start treating your teachers like the experts they are
You don’t have to implement every suggestion. But listen. Ask. Include. When people feel heard, they lean in. Building trust through the process is critical when we work with any school and it’s critical for yours too.
Leadership Is a Verb, Not a Title
If you’ve fallen into any of these traps, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It just means you’re human.
We all need a mirror sometimes. The good news? You can start leading differently tomorrow.
- Focus on capacity, not just compliance
- Make data meaningful and actionable
- Center teacher voice in your leadership
Because the best leaders aren’t the ones who do everything. They’re the ones who empower everyone.
About Chad Ostrowski
Chad Ostrowski is the co-founder of the Teach Better Team, and creator of The Grid Method. He is also a co-author of the Teach Better book. But Chad is a middle school science teacher at heart. He now travels the country sharing his story, working with teachers, schools, and districts to help them to reach more students. Chad is also a member of the Teach Better Speakers Network.
