Here's a reminder to trust that YOU are the leader your school needs right now. ❤️ (Via leader @cynthia_webber)

He aha te mea nui o te Ao He tangata He tangata he tangata What is the most important thing in this world? It is the People The People The People

Surreal - and it’s just the beginning. The hard road ahead is gonna be worth the ride for Māori and Pasifika educators ❤️🤍🖤

A recent ASCD article, The Story We’re Not Telling About School Leaders by Edward Owusu, shared by Todd Whitaker, inspired me this morning. It’s a powerful reminder that while the challenges are real, the solutions are within reach, if we choose to value, invest in, and uplift those doing the work. The pressure on principals today is real, and it comes at a cost. When school leaders burn out or leave, entire communities feel the impact. In Montgomery County, Maryland, nearly 135 schools have had leadership changes over the last five years. Just last year, 20% of schools had a new principal. That kind of turnover disrupts relationships, slows progress, and shakes the foundation of trust. It’s not just about leaving. Even those who stay face mounting public scrutiny. When something goes wrong, a fight, a policy backlash, a curriculum disagreement, or an upset parent, the principal is often the first to be blamed. But it doesn’t have to be this way! When principals/school leaders are supported, schools thrive. Having just completed my 18th year as a principal, here is what that support can and should look like: •Dedicated coaching and mentorship for every principal—not just in their first year, but throughout their career. •Additional assistant principals or deans to share the burden of discipline, operations, and student support. •Protected time for instructional leadership—free from constant meetings, supervision, and non-stop crisis management. •Access to mental health resources for principals themselves—not just for students and staff. •School boards and district leaders publicly backing principals when they follow policy and act in the best interest of students. And support doesn’t always have to come from policy or budgets. Some say leadership is a thankless job, but it doesn’t have to be. A simple “I see you,” a quick note of appreciation, or a moment of public recognition can go a long way. Everyone needs to feel valued, and that includes our principals. I’ve seen this firsthand in our school district, in surrounding districts, and even in my own experience. There have been moments when I’ve sat on the edge of the couch and questioned whether I could keep doing this job. That’s why we need to support one another. Leadership shouldn’t be isolating, it should be a community. And if you’re in need of a spark, a reminder of your purpose, or just a boost, check out The Interview Chair podcast by Jimmy Casas. It’s a great way to revive and relight the fire that brought many of us to this work in the first place. jimmycasas.com/theinterviewc… Check out @PrincipalKafele AP and Nee Principal’s (great for veterans TOO) Academy! youtube.com/@apandnewprincip… We have to change the narrative. Principals are not the problem. They are the foundation. Let’s stop asking who to blame and start asking how we can better support the people leading our schools every day. Because when we lose our leaders, we lose the heartbeat of our schools. @ToddWhitaker @casas_jimmy @ASCD #recalibrate #culturize #TheInterviewChair

What an incredible evening with these women of mana

That time of the year when we start looking at the end of the year 🥇 🏆 Revamping our student Perpetual Awards. The old ones just don’t scream “I wanna win you!”

@brewerhm We had a fantastic time at our professional learning last night. Never stop being relentless

An amazing educator - a phenomenal friend. Love your work Alicia 😘❤️

This is our 3rd year engaging Creative Spring delivering wellbeing programs with a focus on trauma informed practice. Students love the interactive yoga and breath work with focus on key skills such as resilience, social skills, teamwork and communication instagram.com/p/C6fN0qkPHc4/…

Statewide Curriculum focus for SDD Term 2. Lucky enough to have the lovely Megan Kelly, Heather Laverick and Cathy Zemaitis join us to start our day 🙌🏽

These women are phenomenally amazing 🙌🏽❤️

💯 on point

A wonderful morning sharing student and teacher practice with the amazing @k_rigas and @MiezisJason 🙌🏽🩵

Chin up young fella. This video highlights the importance of Black men in education. W/ less than 2% of teachers nationwide who identify as Black men, we have to highlight our impact!

Safe to say I passed my phonics screener 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨when @MiezisJason came to chat about school-based data in the early years! Was a close call 😝 #walkthetalk #schoolleadership #principaltalk #Relentless

PPA 2023 Conf has been a total vibe! Meeting like-minded, incredible leaders from across NSW and connecting has been invaluable. Best job - best colleagues 🙌🏽 #principal #nswppa #schoolleadership #RELENTLESS #nswdoe #PublicEducation

I have come to really and truly appreciate the people I work with. Our fellow Principals matter and I am privileged to work alongside these driven and committed educational leaders ❤️❤️❤️ #mtdruittminchinburyPPC @PPAConf23 @nswppa 🙌✨✨

Our fourth Leadership in Focus podcast for 2023 is out now! @JJarvis1 explores self-awareness with @FordTindall in a riveting episode on the challenges of self-awareness and its importance to school leadership. Tune in to the new episode here - spoti.fi/3XWKTdh

Great to hear from Rose Kingi & Kylie today! 🎉 They shared inspiring insights into best practices in programming & curriculum, showcasing the art & craft of teaching. 📚🎨 Their expertise and passion are truly inspiring educators to create meaningful learning experiences for all

Primary Principal day was a whole vibe - falling on National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children day - we cooked crocodile, emu, kangaroo and beef sausages for our students ❤️🖤💛 @APPAvoice #atsichildrensday #primaryprincipalday #sneakerhead #principalshoegame