Principal Project

5 ways to make Black history part of your year-round leadership As leaders, we play a crucial role in shaping the narrative of Black History Month within our schools.

Black History Month may be ending – but the learning never should!

Explore 5 ways to make Black history part of your year-round leadership:

What’s one way your school community supports students and staff observing Ramadan?

Share your approach to supporting students and colleagues during this important month. 💡

"Leaders, lead with love, empathy and hope! Build those strong relationships and connections with trust and authenticity! Listen and become compassionate before the passion takes over! Tough times require not only tough choices, but grace and love as well!" —Principal Salome Thomas-El

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An intentional system-level approach to effective AI use, by leader Tony Frontier via ASCD

There's a gap between how frequently teachers and students are using AI tools and the guidance they've received for using them well.

Explore strategies that can help close the gap, via leader Tony Frontier and ASCD:

ascd.org/blogs/an-int...

Creating joyful foundations: How celebrating Black History Month nurtures and inspires our school community How going all in on celebrating all cultures strengthens our school community

Happy Black History Month!

Check out these insights from leaders Twyla Hynes and Aisha Atkinson to help carry the energy forward all year long!

The first page of the linked resource, a graphic organizer for educator teams to use to analyze student attendance data and identify next steps.

The second page of the linked resource, a graphic organizer for educator teams to use to analyze student attendance data and identify next steps.

What stories does your attendance data tell about your school?

What story does your team want to write for the future?

🔎 This tool from Connecticut RISE Network empowers your team to surface actionable student interventions from your attendance data.

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

To build coping skills successfully, students need consistency. By educator Lindsey Paricio-Moreau via Teach Plus

"Students who have a consistent SEL program perform, on average, 11% better academically than those who haven’t."

🧭 Why SEL isn't a side quest, but a guide, by educator Lindsey Paricio-Moreau, via @teachplus.bsky.social

medium.com/whats-the-pl...

How lunch duty became a cornerstone of my leadership How asking for feedback – and following up – can foster trust and self-advocacy skills.

A lunch period can be about so much more than just lunch!

Leader selmekki.bsky.social shares how:

Screenshot of a spreadsheet with a place for students' names down the side and a list of common IEP accommodations across the top, allowing teachers to see all needs in one view.

As teachers plan new ways to meet student needs, this spreadsheet to organize IEP accommodations might help.

Make a copy of the template from leader Ranesia Edwards: ➡️ docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Wishing you ALL the joy and ALL the rest, leaders. ❤️

The front of a postcard that shares a middle school's mission statement with a plant illustration.

The back of a postcard with a checklist. The title of the checklist is, "Thank you for..." The checklist items include "Developing strong relationships" and "Engaging students in instruction." There are also blank lines to write in items. The bottom of the postcard says, "You are appreciated! You are seen! You are amazing!

🍁 It's always gratitude season when it comes to your staff! 🍁

(Via AP Kelly Cosgrove)

"At staff meetings, we draw two names of staff members. Then everyone in the meeting writes an affirmation on a card. I punch those cards and place them on a ring to give to those drawn. Gratitude takes team effort." —Principal Mindy McGinn

Here's a team gratitude booster to try at your next meeting!

Thank you x 1 million, leaders.

2 practices to refresh and reset relationships with your team Try this approach to boost positive communication and solutions-focused thinking on your team

“A core part of ensuring that our staff feel heard is to follow up deep listening with clear action.”

Check out these tools for self-aware, solutions-focused conversations via Principal Rob Robledo →

Two people write on a bulletin board with the header "Cross Curricular." Along the left side of the board is a list of subject areas (ELA, Science, Math, History, etc.)

The best professional learning might come from the teacher next door!

That's the idea behind this whiteboard strategy, where teachers share what they're working on to surface collaboration opportunities, via P Nicki Slaugh.

A screenshot from the linked resource, listing possible meeting opening prompts, such as "What is one positive way you saw your impact in the past week?"

❤️ An opening prompt can help ground your team in their work. Kick off your next PLC meeting with one of these prompts from CLEE:

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

When you need to reset a relationship with a student, ask the students what it would take. Kids understand repair and healing but often need to do it on their terms. Sometimes just saying: I believe this is hard. I believe your experience is real. I care about what you think. I am going to stick with you. Simple phrases are often all it takes. Everyone, including students, wants to feel worth the effort.” —Leader Sarah Sirgo

I believe you. I care. I'm sticking with you.

Sometimes, simple is all it takes.

(Inspiration via leader Sarah Sirgo)

We see you this #NationalPrincipalsMonth – and we see you deserve a little break!

Here's a gift pack inspired by you and your fellow leaders. We hope you'll give yourself a few minutes to unwind and reflect on how amazing you are.

principalproject.org/a-resource-c...

Connection is the cornerstone of school leadership 4 ways to deepen connections with fellow school leaders

"When principals serve one another as much as we serve our schools, we make this work more sustainable, more joyful and more transformative for every student we lead."

Read on for Principal Otis Kitchen's #NationalPrincipalsMonth ode to fellow school leaders:

To build coping skills successfully, students need consistency. By educator Lindsey Paricio-Moreau via Teach Plus

"Louisa, an 11th grader in my chemistry class, sobbed while explaining to me that her anxiety was so high that she had to miss a full week of class."

Could consistent SEL support have helped? Explore ideas via educator Lindsey Paricio-Moreau and @teachplus.bsky.social

medium.com/whats-the-pl...

"Every student holds a spark within them – sometimes buried beneath struggles with behavior or academics. Our job isn’t to extinguish that fire, but to help them find their awesome, discover their why and turn that spark, that energy and even those struggles into passion, purpose and success. That’s when real learning – and healing – begins." —Leader Bryan Pearlman

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🎉🎉🎉 It's National Principals Month! We're celebrating you, leaders.

Can we have better classroom conversations in challenging times? Via Greater Good Magazine

💡 Need ideas for supporting students as they share their own perspectives – and seek to understand one another's?

This read from @greatergoodmag.bsky.social can help:

greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item...

How do you connect with fellow colleagues in similar leadership roles?

Asking for a new leader!

Hispanic Heritage Month resources for your school community, via National Museum of the American Latino

Explore a resource collection that can power your team's celebrations of Hispanic and Latino culture – this month and year-round!

latino.si.edu/learn/teachi...

Screenshot from Learning Forward, featuring a table that outlines a support plan for new teachers.

If you could give fellow leaders one piece of advice about supporting new teachers, what would it be?

Here's some inspiration via Learning Forward:

3 tips for supporting staff collaboration Hint: It starts with knowing your own vision.

"Everyone on your staff brings their own gifts and talents. By naming the strengths you see, you can make sure everyone on your staff knows where to turn for ideas."

Read on for more ways to support authentic staff collaboration, via leader Victoria Lightfoot:

A back to school toolkit, via Learning Forward: Tell your community about the value of professional learning. Strengthen your professional learning strategy. Support new and veteran teachers.

Teachers can get more from professional learning when the whole school community is behind them.

Find ready-to-share handouts to let families know what PL matters, via Learning Forward.

#BackToSchool #EduSky

learningforward.org/backtoschool/

How our school went phone-free – and got our kids back Discipline is down, learning is up.

Principal Adam Mokelke didn't just spring a phone-free policy on his school community – he spent a year laying the groundwork.

Read on for ways you could start working toward this change now.

Screenshot from a "Schoolwide SEL Walkthrough Protocol" found at the link. The section in the screenshot includes the first piece of a rubric focused on classroom climate and practices.

You and your teachers have discussed SEL. But how are your practices looking in action throughout your school community?

This SEL walk-through guide from CASEL can help surface insights to push your work forward.

schoolguide.casel.org/casel-walkth...