I was standing on the field, waiting for our football team to run out, when I looked around and took it all in. It was a hometown rivalry game, the kind of night that feels bigger than the game itself. The stands were full. The student section was electric. Our cheerleaders and dancers were ready, […]
Category: School Culture & Climate
Celebrating National Principals Month
Building CultureRecognitionRelationships
5 Ways to Build Your Best Year
The first days of school don’t begin in August or September; they begin with reflection. Before we can move forward, we have to understand where we’ve been. Here are five strategies that help me start each school year with purpose and optimism.
Building CultureCollaborative LeadershipCommunicationLeading Learning
5 Ways to Stay Inspired Through June
The end of the school year can bring up a variety of emotions. Many of us are relieved about the break ahead, but it’s also normal to feel sadness, frustration, and plain old fatigue—especially when testing, graduation, and perhaps a few behavioral spikes are on the calendar ahead.
school cultureStudent Engagementwhole school wellness
5 Ways to Keep Everyone Engaged at Graduation
For schools that begin in August and end in June, the 2025–26 school year is almost over. That means that here at Kaʻiulani Elementary School in Honolulu, HI, we’ve already started planning our promotion ceremony. It’ll be a celebration that unites our Hawaiian ‘ohana (family) with a unique blend of history, hula, and chocolate haupia pie.
elementarySchool Leadership
An Elementary School Principal’s Shoutout for Her AP
In honor of AP Week, April 6–10, School of Thought asked Jana Clark, the principal of Boyd Elementary School in Boyd, TX, to highlight the stellar work of Cortnie Bryan, the assistant principal. In many schools, it’s work that often goes unseen. But it’s vital to the success of all school communities PreK–12.
3 Strategies for Elevating Student Voice
I’m a huge advocate for student voice and its impact on school culture. With National Student Leadership Week, April 20–24, fast approaching next month, I wanted to share my top three strategies for elevating student voice in school.
Our Student Showcase for Black History Month
South Florida is a cultural melting pot, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, is no different. Our 3,100 students represent a wide variety of cultures, which we celebrate intentionally 365 days of the year.
Leadership Is a Funny Business
Humor has always been a part of my life. In fifth grade, I created my own joke book and sold copies to my friends for 25 cents each. In high school, they had to create an entirely new category just for me. I was voted “Class Joker”—because “Class Clown” didn’t fit. I told jokes; I didn’t make armpit noises.
The Giving Tree
I’ve always dreaded winter break. While my classmates looked forward to family celebrations, I prepared for loneliness. The absence of a “normal” family weighed heavily on me, a quiet ache I carried this time of the year. Christmas, once magical in my childhood, slowly lost its warmth the older I got, leaving only reminders of […]
5 Must-Read Posts in Honor of National Principals Month
Today marks the start of October, that special month when we honor principals nationwide. To kick off the celebration of your hard work and dedication, we’re re-upping the following School of Thought posts from our members—middle and high school principals and assistant principals just like you.