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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A new class of seniors watches a sunrise as if from backstage. Mindful of the year ahead.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + Getty
School & District Management Opinion I’ve Been an Educator for 30 Years. My Students Still Surprise Me
A student’s reaction to our new cellphone restrictions was just the first surprise of the year.
S. Kambar Khoshaba, September 22, 2026
3 min read
Image of a female being shielded by a large vivid red umbrella.
Collage by Laura Baker/Education Week + Getty
School & District Management How Can Principals Protect Teachers From Aggressive Behavior? Teachers Sound Off
Teachers say they need more support to handle angry parents and unruly students.
Olina Banerji, September 10, 2026
1 min read
Collaged illustration. Principal observing classrooms for fidelity to curriculum. Teacher observations, stepped approach, feedback.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + Getty
School & District Management Opinion Teacher Observations Shouldn’t Feel Like Babysitting
Fidelity checks are a necessary part of school leadership. Here’s how to get them right.
Bridget Farr, September 8, 2026
5 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 How Leaders Can Fix a Broken School Culture
This author argues that much educational advice is out of touch with reality.
Rick Hess, September 8, 2026
5 min read
BigIdeas0926 Bushweller
Illustration by Emily Wright for Education Week + Getty
School & District Management Reported Essay It's Not About Being Nice. Fearless Leadership Requires Curiosity and Candor
Just ask the leader mediating an ugly school mascot fight or restructuring a once-segregated school.
Kevin Bushweller, September 8, 2026
14 min read
Collage illustration of a young boy with classroom in background and the mood of excitement and accomplishment.
Liz Yap/Education Week and Canva
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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Collage of book and symbols of planning pages, sharing of viewpoints, dialogue, and collaboration.
Laura Baker/Education Week + Canva
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
Image of a silhouette of a person facing a red door and around the door are symbols of work relationships, organizational charts, collaboration, communication, teamwork, and coordination.
iStock + DigitalVision Vectors
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