School Leadership

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

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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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Professional Development Opinion School Leaders Struggle With Teacher Buy-in. What to Do About That
Research shows that four actions can inspire change, writes Thomas R. Guskey.
Thomas R. Guskey, December 11, 2025
5 min read
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School & District Management Opinion The 5‑Minute Clarity Reset: How a Small Pause Can Change a Big Decision
Stuck in a spin? This practice can help free an education leader to act.
Peter DeWitt & Michael Nelson, December 3, 2025
5 min read
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Professional Development Opinion Calling Yourself a 'Lead Learner' Doesn't Make It So
As an educator, knowing your job well can dull your desire to grow. There's a way to change that.
Michael Nelson & Peter DeWitt, November 23, 2025
5 min read
Illustration of a large hand in a business suit pulling a large blue ribbons away from a tiny silhouetted woman who is trying to prevent it from being taken away from her.
Collage by Gina Tomko/Education Week + Getty
School & District Management Q&A A Blue Ribbon Schools Winner Reflects on the National Program's End
The Trump administration abruptly canceled the program this summer.
Olina Banerji, November 21, 2025
5 min read
Yellow post it note paper with thank you message on blue background
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School & District Management A Principal Publicly Thanked Each Staff Member. Here’s What Happened
Each November, this principal personally thanks every employee, from teachers to cafeteria workers.
Elizabeth Heubeck, November 20, 2025
4 min read
The United States Capitol building as a bookcase filled with red, white, and blue policy books in a Washington DC landscape.
Luca D'Urbino for Education Week
School & District Management Opinion The Difference Between 'Solving a Problem' and 'Changing Patterns' in Schools
Advice on getting new habits to stick.
Rick Hess, November 18, 2025
8 min read
Collaged illustration of the 3 pillars of reviving school culture. 1. Build bridges with parents, not barriers. 2. Lead teachers with trust and renewal. 3. Inspire student voice, agency, and ownership.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
School & District Management Opinion I Was a Turnaround Principal. Here’s How You Change School Culture
There are three questions that school leaders should ask themselves every day.
Demetria L. Haddock, November 11, 2025
5 min read
A principal looks through a telescope as he plans for the future school year based on test scores.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
Assessment Opinion Principals Often Misuse Student Achievement Data. Here’s How to Get It Right
Eight recommendations for digging into standardized-test data responsibly.
David E. DeMatthews & Lebon "Trey" D. James III, October 28, 2025
4 min read
Student Audreanna Johnson views her cell phone near a cell phone locker at Ronald McNair Sr. High School on Aug. 7, 2025, in Atlanta.
Student Audreanna Johnson views her phone near a cellphone locker at Ronald McNair Sr. High School in Atlanta on Aug. 7, 2025. Principals say cellphone bans are improving student behavior, according to a RAND study.
Mike Stewart/AP
Ed-Tech Policy Why Most Principals Say Cellphone Bans Improve School Climate
Nearly 3 in 4 principals believe banning cellphones has big upsides.
Alyson Klein, October 27, 2025
2 min read
Miami Arts Studio students, wearing green shirts for World Mental Health Day, gather around a table where members of the school's mental health club pass out information and give away stress balls and awareness-raising pins on Oct. 10, 2023, at the public 6th-12th grade magnet school in Miami.
Miami Arts Studio students, wearing green shirts for World Mental Health Day, gather around a table where members of the school's mental health club pass out information and give away stress balls and awareness-raising pins on Oct. 10, 2023, at the public 6th-12th grade magnet school in Miami. In a recent webinar, school leaders revealed problems their schools have faced, from student mental health to technology, and how they have addressed them.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
School & District Management How These Principals Are Solving the Thorniest K-12 Challenges
Principals from across the nation discuss AI, cellphone use, and the well-being of students.
Jennifer Vilcarino, October 23, 2025
4 min read
Collaged Photo illustration of a new teacher's challenges and how to support them in this stage of their career.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
Recruitment & Retention Opinion How to Make Teachers Want to Stay at Your School
An instructional coach shares five essential practices for teacher retention.
Don Bott, October 14, 2025
4 min read
ILC's in Alabama discuss a protocol developed by Michael Nelson.
ILC's in Alabama discuss a protocol developed by Michael Nelson.
Peter DeWitt
Professional Development Opinion Looking for a New Way to Approach Professional Learning? Try This
Instructional leadership collectives build cross-system networks for purposeful, impactful learning.
Peter DeWitt & Michael Nelson, October 13, 2025
5 min read
Photo of stressed teacher.
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Teaching Profession How School Leaders Can Help Teachers Avoid Burnout
Administrators share insights on preventing teacher burnout and supporting staff well-being.
Elizabeth Heubeck, October 7, 2025
5 min read
A leader standing at the bow of a ship looks into a telescope and through the fog.
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School & District Management Opinion 3 Tips to Help Principals Handle the Government Shutdown
When the federal government shuts down, the ripple effects eventually reach schools.
Meagan Booth, October 2, 2025
3 min read