Navigating the Principalship-Tricks and Tips

1. Welcome & Framing (3 minutes) Content: Introduce yourself State the purpose: practical systems for principals that build trust, ensure safety, and leverage AI. Engagement/Process: Quick poll — “Which leadership task eats the most of your time: communication, evaluations, or discipline?” I use mentimeter for this. 2. Visionary Planner in Action: Communication Systems (7 minutes) Content: Share examples of newsletters, shout-outs, and handbooks that bring in multiple perspectives . I will bring templates to share. Highlight safety/discipline communication as part of community trust. Engagement/Process: Audience pairs share one tool they use to communicate with families/staff, then compare to your system. Time: 7 minutes. 3. Empowering Leader: Walkthroughs, Feedback, and AI (10 minutes) Content: Demonstrate your walkthrough/feedback process — how you use observations to highlight empathy, collaboration, and safe learning environments. Show how AI helps with transcription and evaluation comments, freeing leaders’ time. Engagement/Process: Live demo or mock-up of AI-generated notes (device-based). How I debrief a meeting with a parent or student investigation using voice typing and AI. Demo how I use AI to give feedback and then formal evaluation documents. Small-group brainstorm: “What classroom culture skills (empathy, creativity, collaboration) would you prioritize in feedback?” Time: 10 minutes. 4. Connected Learner: Ongoing Growth (5 minutes) Content: Talk to them about networking with other principals through learning at every chance wether through ISTE, or any professional organizations Engagement/Process: Invite attendees to share one online network/resource they use — build a live shared list (Padlet, Jamboard, or collective chat tool). Time: 5 minutes. 5. Wrap-Up & Reflection (5 minutes) Content: Summarize the three standards in practice (Visionary Planner, Empowering Leader, Connected Learner). Emphasize how safety, belonging, and efficiency are advanced through these systems. Engagement/Process: Open Q&A if time permits. Time: 5 minutes

Fullan, M. (2014). The Principal: Three Keys to Maximizing Impact. Clear, practical strategies for principals to drive change and build effective learning cultures. https://michaelfullan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/14_The-Principal-Handout_Spring-Summer.compressed.pdf Wallace Foundation (2021). How Principals Affect Students and Schools: A Systematic Synthesis of Two Decades of Research. Landmark research summarizing how principal actions directly influence student outcomes and school culture. Read the full report https://wallacefoundation.org/report/how-principals-affect-students-and-schools-systematic-synthesis-two-decades-research Boryga, A. (2025, September 3). 4 Communication Strategies Every School Leader Should Know. Edutopia. Practical guidance for building trust and clarity through intentional communication. Read article https://www.edutopia.org/article/4-communication-strategies-every-school-leader-should-know Ventura , S. (2020). Improving Instruction Together: Leading Achievement Teams and PLCs. A hands-on framework for strengthening collaboration, feedback, and shared leadership. Link to book Steveventura.com

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