The other day, I had the pleasure of presenting to a group of aspiring principals during their principalship training.
As I thought about what would be super useful for them, I reflected on my own experiences. What would I have wanted to hear when I was in their shoes?
Drawing inspiration from my book Beyond The First-Year Principal, I shared nine pieces of advice I believe are crucial for the first six weeks of their principalship:
1.Start building relationships from day one! Get inside the school and talk to everyone, starting with the custodian and the secretary—two pillars of any school!
2. Get to know your school intimately—through DATA!
Dig deep into report card scores, standardized test scores, the special ed profile, mental health profile, etc. Understand its personality.
3. Seek and develop leadership from within. This is essential for initiatives and projects. You can’t do it all on your own, and involving others will make them feel validated. It’s also beneficial for their mental health—purpose!
4. Be visible and accessible. Set the standard high from day one. Walk into classrooms, ask questions, stay curious, and always look for ways to support instruction.
5. Develop a solid communication plan. You can NEVER over-communicate. If you don’t have all the answers, that’s okay! Take control of the messaging before someone else does.
6. Develop a reflective practice through journaling. Reflect on how you contribute to successes or failures—there’s no room for ego here.
7. Prioritize your health and well-being. Engage in creative, meaningful pursuits. Have hobbies, exercise, sleep, set boundaries, and breathe! Your work isn’t going anywhere.
8. Find more than one mentor. One person can’t possibly have all the answers or strengths. Seek out people with the skills you want to develop and let them guide you, adding “pins” of knowledge to your map!
9. BONUS LESSON: Prioritize professional development. You don’t need a 2-hour course to check off your PD box. My new Digital Product Suite offers short courses focusing on one or two elements you can explore deeply (in 25-30 minutes) and implement right away for quick wins! Now, who doesn’t want that to start their principalship?
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