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As school leaders, we understand the importance of promoting student achievement. That’s why it’s essential that we take actionable steps to help our students reach their full potential. In this blog post, we’ll discuss one of the most concrete actions school leaders can take to improve student achievement.
Stop me if this seems familiar. You have been doing all the things you know to do- plan effectively, assess for student growth, and provide evidence-based interventions aligned to each student’s needs.
But for some reason, the data just isn’t moving.
Frustration, worry, and panic are the norm for you and your team. These feelings take over our every waking minute.
Will we fail?
Will we succeed?
What more can we do?
The questions we ask ourselves over and over again. No one wants to be on the school improvement list. That is embarrassing, discouraging, and tanks the drive right out of us all.
Read below how to learn how these concrete actions that will improve student achievement in your school.
Throughout my 20+ years as a school leader, I have learned a thing or two about improving student outcomes. I have identified essential actions for every school leader. However, I also know it is more than just these actions.
That is why I’m providing you with some tools that will help you manage the tasks.
As a leader, “we must focus on the right things, at the right time, and for the right reasons.”
-McConnell
As a leader, we must focus on the right things, at the right time, and for the right reasons. It is easy to get bombarded and overwhelmed with all the tasks. I find it helpful to keep a project board going- either electronically or by the use of a dry-erase board. Either works just fine but the digital is great for ease of sharing with your admin or instructional team. If you share it with your team, they can be assigned the tasks and help you oversee the goals of the campus.
I have always been a huge fan of Monday.com and use it every day for my business planning. However, a school license would be very costly. Therefore, I use google spreadsheets.
Tip: Create a daily checklist. Listing out tasks and prioritizing them is a great way to stay organized and focused. Cross tasks off your list as you accomplish them throughout the day, so you have a tangible measure of progress.
If you need this Project Planner, it will help you and your team accomplish the big projects on your horizon.
As a school leader, it can often seem like there’s not enough time in the day to get everything done. But with a few simple time-management tips, school leaders can find ways to optimize their schedule and make time for more meaningful tasks that contribute to student success.
2. Plan ahead and set achievable goals.
It’s important to take some time to think through upcoming tasks and develop a realistic timeline for achieving them. Write down goals and milestones to ensure that tasks stay on track and to remind yourself what needs to be accomplished each day.
3. Block out time for key tasks.
It’s easy to get distracted and put off important tasks for later, so plan for them in advance. Set aside dedicated time for meaningful projects that have long-term impacts on student success.
4. Say ‘no’ more often.
As a school leader, there’s often a temptation to say ‘yes’ to everyone’s requests. But taking on too much can lead to burnout and less focus on tasks that truly matter. Learning to politely decline tasks that don’t help student success can free up more time.
5. Take breaks.
While there may not always seem to be time for a break, it’s essential for productivity. A few minutes away from your desk to recharge and refresh your focus can make all the difference.
These tips are sure to help you as a school leader better manage your time and get more out of the day. With a few simple tweaks to your routine, every school leader can use time wisely and focus on projects that help improve student success.
I’m Stephanie, and I’m the face behind Principal Principles. I’m a former principal turned educational consultant, presenter, and edupreneur. I’m obsessed with giving school leaders the tools they need to lead a successful school.
Hello friend! Welcome to Principal Principles. I’m Stephanie, and I’m the face behind Principal Principles. I’m a former principal turned educational consultant, presenter, and edupreneur. I’m obsessed with giving school leaders the tools they need to lead a successful school.
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2 Responses
Good Morning Ms. McConnell,
I have attempted to download your resource “Project Planner” but I am getting an error message that states that the address/page cannot be found. Do you mind sending me a copy of the document, I would love to use it this summer as a test trial before implementing for the school year.
I would really like to see an example of what yours looks like to ground myself in how you approached, organized and used this. Can you show an example of yours or make a short video. Thanks!