Before the last day of school, there is one thing I wish every principal would do. Individually talk to every employee. Every teacher, every paraprofessional, every custodian, every office staff member, every cafeteria worker. Everyone. No matter their position, no matter your relationship with them, and no matter how the year went. Take a few minutes and thank them. Thank the ones who are coming back, thank the ones who are leaving, and thank the ones who are retiring. Celebrate them and...

The last 30 days of the school year matter more than most people think. Right now, on a lot of campuses, I’m seeing leaders running around with their heads cut off. They’re reacting to everything, getting pulled into drama, watching social media, complaining about what central office is doing, what parents are saying, what teachers aren’t doing. It’s noise, and it’s a complete waste of time. There is still time left in this year, and there is a huge opportunity to set up next year. Strong...

One of the things I’m seeing on campuses right now is driving me crazy. Everyone is dressed the same. Administrators in jeans, teachers in jeans, school t-shirts, athletic gear, Under Armour everywhere. You walk onto a campus and there is no visible leader. No one stands out, and no one looks like they’re in charge. That’s a problem. Leadership is not just what you say or what you do behind closed doors. It’s also what people see. Right now, on too many campuses, there is no visible...