May Is When Students Need Us Most

May is a different kind of month. Everyone is tired, the schedule is packed, testing is here or just finished, and emotions are all over the place. Adults are worn down, and kids feel it too. This is when leadership matters in a different way.

When I was a principal, May was the time I made a point to be around kids as much as I could. Not just in classrooms or passing periods, but intentionally connecting with them. Talking to them, joking with them, checking in, and letting them know they were seen. I did that because I knew what was coming for a lot of them.

When school ends, some of our kids are going home to places that aren’t stable. Some won’t have consistent meals, and some won’t be around people who love them the way they need. School is the safest, most structured place in their life, and for many of them, it’s the best part of their day. And we’re about to take that away for a couple of months.

That reality should change how we lead in May.

It’s easy to get caught up in everything else. The paperwork, the events, the planning, and the stress of finishing the year. But in the middle of all of that, there’s still a building full of kids who need you. They don’t need a perfect leader or another announcement about expectations. They need someone who sees them, acknowledges them, and gives them a moment of attention and care.

Those moments matter more than we realize. A quick conversation in the hallway, sitting with a group at lunch, being present at dismissal, or calling a kid by name and asking how they’re doing can make a difference. You may not see the impact right away, but it’s there. For some kids, those interactions are the highlight of their day. For others, it’s a reminder that someone cares. For all of them, it reinforces that school is a place where they matter.

May is busy, chaotic, and will test your patience, but it’s also an opportunity. Love on your kids, be present, and slow down just enough to connect. For some of them, these last few weeks mean more than anything else we’ve done all year.

John Hinds