Summer Leadership – What principals should do during the summer? Part 2

What is the work for next year? Before beginning the planning process for the next year, principals should spend time reviewing what happened during the year that ended. They should begin with registration of the previous year and go through school closing at the end of the year.  Take a minute to write down each activity, each program, each strategy that was implemented and review how to make those processes better, what you might want to add for the next year, and who will be responsible for each of those areas. After completing this written activity, take each activity; strategy, and program develop a short-term plan as to how it can be better and more effective for the upcoming school year. Review the materials, textbooks, supplies, and equipment and place orders as needed to replace broken items, order additional for possible new students,, and make sure teachers have the supplies they need to begin the year.Remember to review your operational processes: fire and tornado drills, intruder alert, organization chart, emergency tree, review and update staff handbook and parent/student handbook. Review the discipline plan and how to improve that process. Determine which teachers sent the most students to administrators and if you think it was necessary. Review the employee absentee list to look for patterns, etc. What next? The next step is to review the student’s academic grades. Concentrate on those students who did very well and those who performed poorly during the previous year. Students, who performed well, should have materials, equipment, and books that will challenge them to learn even more; student who performed poorly review their attendance and discipline records to determine if either impacted their learning. If it is determined that either could be the cause of the poor academic performance, it is time to begin communicating with parents. It is important for principals to begin the parent conversation to see if there are problems that he/she can assist with. Work with the parents to develop a plan for each child that can be given to the teachers when they return. Review the teachers and place students wisely based on teacher strengths, personalities, and student needs. Make sure that as supplies, equipment, and materials arrive there is someone responsible for accepting them and getting them to the appropriate place. Final Steps Plan your first meeting with the administrative staff. This meeting should review their strengths and weakness, your expectations, and their goals for the upcoming school year. Work with the staff to get each classroom equipped with any materials, supplies, textbooks, updated curricular, etc. Review the plans you developed for the programs, activities, strategies, and processes from the previous year to solicit the input from other administrators. Update the plan if needed. Walk the building with your head custodian to check for readiness. Point out areas that need additional work. Check student schedule with the appropriate staff members for readiness. Develop class list for teachers, print schedule for teachers and students and make final plans for the upcoming registration and parent open house. It is finally time to review the professional development plan. Determine what areas you think all teachers needed assistance, and the areas you need to provide assistance for one or more teachers. These plans should be ready for teachers on day one. When all of the above things are done, take time to breathe, you are almost ready to begin the New Year. My motto: Plan well for the things that you know will happen; there will always be things that you didn’t know that will happen. Keep focused.