School Leadership

Learn more about the work of school-level leaders including principals, assistant principals, and other administrators

Column

The Principal Is In: Advice for Principals
In a biweekly Education Week column, experienced principals and other school leadership experts offer advice for their peers.
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School & District Management Opinion Even 2nd Graders Are Leaders in My School. Here's What That Looks Like
A young kid showing off a lanyard reminded me what the best principals have in common.
Emery Brown, August 25, 2026
4 min read
Abigail “Abby” Zwerner shares a moment with her mother Julie Zwerner after a verdict was reached in her lawsuit against the assistant principal, Ebony Parker, of Richneck Elementary School during proceedings at Newport News Circuit Court on Nov. 6, 2025 , in Newport News, Va. Zwerner was injured when a 6-year-old male student shot her while she was teaching. Violence against educators has risen since schools reopened after the pandemic.
Richneck Elementary schoolteacher Abigail Zwerner with her mother after a verdict was reached in her lawsuit against the school's assistant principal, Ebony Parker, at Newport News Circuit Court on Nov. 6, 2025 in Newport News, Va. A 6-year-old student brought a loaded gun to school that was later used to shoot Zwerner, despite her raising concerns with school officials.
Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot via TNS
School & District Management Teachers Are Facing More Aggression at Work. How Can Schools Protect Them?
Teachers feel less victimized when they have their principal's support
Olina Banerji, August 20, 2026
4 min read
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Closing the Practice Gap: Essential Insights for Leaders
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School & District Management Q&A Many Teachers Are Bored in Team Meetings. Here's How to Keep Them Engaged
Author Elisa MacDonald says meetings are about adults learning, not sticking to an agenda.
Olina Banerji, August 14, 2026
4 min read
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School & District Management What Excites and Scares Principals Walking Into New Jobs
Four principals talk about how they’re approaching their new jobs
Olina Banerji, August 14, 2026
7 min read
School & District Management Spotlight Spotlight on Driving Successful School Changes During Times of Constraint
Discover proven strategies to lead successful school change despite budget constraints, political pressures, and leadership challenges.
August 14, 2026
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Collage-style illustration of a teacher figure high-fiving a student at a table where she is working with multiple students. The background shows another teacher helping a student, a whiteboard with lessons and a view of desks in a classroom.
Illustration by Emily Wright for Education Week + Canva
School & District Management Opinion Principals, Don't Start the School Year Without This Commitment
Are you spending your time on what matters most for students? Here’s how to take stock.
Rebecca A. Huggins, August 11, 2026
3 min read
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School & District Management Opinion The 10 Words That Will Make You Rethink Education Leadership
Leadership isn't about status. It's about service to others.
Michael Nelson & Peter DeWitt, August 10, 2026
4 min read
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Robyn Lady, a member of the Fairfax County School Board in Virginia, left, and Rachel Edoho-Eket, a principal in Howard County, Md., participate in a panel discussion titled "Building Trust With Families in a Skeptical Age" at the ISTELive 26 + ASCD Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla., on June 30, 2026. The growing backlash against the overuse of technology in schools is forcing school and district leaders to have some difficult conversations with parents.
Marvin Joseph/Education Week
Classroom Technology How District and School Leaders Respond to the 'Techlash' Will Be Critical
Educators recommend showing parents how technology is used for learning.
Alyson Klein, August 4, 2026
4 min read
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School & District Management Opinion Ed. Leaders Must Stop Getting Distracted by the Shiniest New Idea. Here’s How
Effective school leadership depends on slowing down, asking better questions, and reflecting.
Peter DeWitt & Michael Nelson, July 29, 2026
4 min read
Collage illustration of a teacher meeting with a parent and student. There is a close-up image of hands typing on a keyboard in the background with binary code and motherboard-inspired lines behind the teacher.
Illustration by Emily Wright for Education Week + Canva
Artificial Intelligence Opinion Principals, Don't Let AI Undermine Strong Parent Relationships
Yes, AI can be a useful tool for school communications, but nothing replaces a real conversation.
Ilanit C. Hoory, July 28, 2026
3 min read