We aren’t sure about you, but we feel like this is going to be the best school year yet! Let’s put the uncontrollables and outside noise to the side and make a commitment today. Let’s commit to always doing what is best for kids and doing all we can to provide a safe and loving environment for our students to thrive in.
The Back-to-School season is such an exciting time! It’s the start to something brand new and a clean slate for everyone. Students are anxiously waiting to meet their new teacher, teachers are anxiously waiting to see this year’s family dynamic, and parents are anxiously waiting to send their children back to school for a new school year.
For administrators, it can be extremely overwhelming for so many reasons. We have been there, so we’d like to share four tips to kick-start a great school year and help ease your stress, improve your mental health and build your confidence.
1. Relationships
We cannot emphasize this one enough! Whether you are a brand-new admin or 25-year veteran, put in the time and effort to build relationships. Get to know your new staff members, check-in on your existing staff, and build opportunities for your staff to build relationships with each other. Get to know your students! Not just their names but their families, their interests, and their dreams. I, Ross, had 600 students in my school. I made a commitment each school year to know every student by their first name by Labor Day. Make it a challenge with your students, and have some fun with it along the way. Take the time to build the relationships now, and those difficult conversations and situations will be easier when they come up down the road.
2. Time Management
Start out on the right foot with your time! Prioritize yourself and be intentional. Schedule your day by the minute. It may sound silly, but schedule time for lunch. Even if it’s just 10 minutes to shut your door, decompress, not make a decision and think about nothing. We all know fires will start that must be put out immediately. If we schedule our days, once that fire is out we will know exactly where we left off and can plan the rest of our day accordingly. Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to ask your secretary to stand in front of your door so you can have an uninterrupted 10-minute (minimum) lunch!
3. Routines
While the start of the school year can be crazy and we are constantly adjusting, start building in your daily routines right out of the gate. Much like your time management, be intentional about your day. If you are an early bird and being at school by 6:30 is your thing, start it the first week of school. Getting into the right routines early will not only help you personally, it will show your staff where your priorities are. They are watching!
4. Visibility
Being visible can naturally help build relationships for you! Be visible in the hallways, in the cafeteria, during recess, and greet every student at the door. Be visible for your staff, too. Make it a point to stop in their room each day. Not to evaluate or judge, but just to check on them and see how they are doing. Be visible for your community and families. Take the time to get to know them. Start your year off with an informational video where they get to see your face, hear your voice and get to know who you are. Share with them this year’s theme, the school’s core values, and the goals you have for their child. Be visible now so when they come storming into the office about Johnny’s B+ in October, they know who they are getting.
In the end, it’s all about how we set the tone. This year is going to start exactly how you envision it. If you find yourself down, frustrated, and already worn out, it’s time to RESET!
Lean on those around you, make time to take care of you so you can take care of others, and bring your best self ready to serve those around you. You’ve got this!
Todd Nesloney is TEPSA’s Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership. He is an award-winning educator, author and international speaker.
Ross Braun is a small town principal in Indiana helping his students chase big time dreams! He is passionate about climate and culture and making learning fun for his students and staff.
