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.
Kim S. Burke, the principal at J.C. Nalle Elementary School in the District of Columbia, shows enthusiasm during an open house to explain blended learning software to teachers and leaders from other schools, as Kevin Wenzel, blended learning specialist for the school system, watches.
Kim S. Burke, the principal at J.C. Nalle Elementary School in the District of Columbia, shows enthusiasm during an open house to explain blended learning software to teachers and leaders from other schools, as Kevin Wenzel, blended learning specialist for the school system, watches.
Photo by Eric Kruszewski for Education Week
School & District Management Professional Learning Guide Your Guide to School & District Management
Navigate today's school and district management landscape with this professional learning guide.
August 12, 2025
Image of special needs student working with tablet computer.
iStock
Special Education Principals Don't Always Understand Special Education. That's a Problem
Principals want more special education training. Here's how one state is offering it.
5 min read
Calendars, clocks, scheduling and logistical challenges.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
School & District Management Opinion How I Design a Master Schedule No One Hates
Here are the three priorities that guide my school’s planning process.
Ian Knox, August 5, 2025
5 min read
Photo illustration of hand dangling cash.
iStock
School & District Management What's Fair Pay for School and District Leaders? (And What Do They Actually Make?)
Superintendents and principals want about a 20% raise, a new survey finds.
Evie Blad, August 1, 2025
4 min read
Woman hiker relaxing in hammock with smartphone in forest
iStock/Getty
Teaching Profession Do Teachers Check Work Email During Summer Break? Should They?
Do teachers totally unplug during summer break—and do their principals expect them to? Here's what we found out.
Elizabeth Heubeck, July 29, 2025
5 min read
An elementary school damaged by the Eaton Fire is seen in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 19, 2025.
An elementary school damaged by the Eaton Fire is seen in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 19, 2025.
Ringo Chiu via AP
School & District Management Opinion Schools Are Vulnerable to Climate Disasters. Principals Aren’t Ready
When an emergency forces schools to close, school leaders need more than just moral courage.
Casey Cirullo Upson, July 25, 2025
4 min read
Capital Preparatory Magnet School Principal Kitsia Hughey Ferguson welcomes a student to school.
Capital Preparatory Magnet School Principal Kitsia Hughey Ferguson welcomes a student to school.
Patrick Raycraft/Hartford Courant via TNS
School & District Management Professional Learning Guide Your Guide to the Role of the Principal
This professional learning guide delivers insights into the role of the principal and shares actionable practices to help them thrive.
July 25, 2025
Abigail Smithson, right, helps hold a large cross during a vigil for flood victims at Tivy Antler Stadium on July 9, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas.
Abigail Smithson, right, helps hold a large cross during a vigil for flood victims at Tivy Antler Stadium on July 9, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. Tivy High School Principal Rick Sralla led efforts to rescue stranded campers during the floods and is now guiding students and staff through the aftermath of the tragedy.
Ashley Landis/AP
School & District Management This Principal Rescued Kids During the Texas Floods. Now, His Work Continues
Principal Rick Sralla is now guiding students and staff through the aftermath of the tragedy.
Olina Banerji, July 24, 2025
7 min read
Confidence and risk taking
Vanessa Solis/Education week via Canva
School & District Management Opinion Principals, Bet on Yourself This Year
My career in education has been shadowed by four words: “You can’t do it.” Here’s how I overcame self-doubt.
S. Kambar Khoshaba, July 22, 2025
4 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
School & District Management Opinion Tricks of the (Principal) Trade: 7 Ways to Support Teachers
Making life better for teachers doesn't have to be costly.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 18, 2025
10 min read
Cellphone wearing a sleep mask. Cellphone policy.
Irina Shatilova/iStock
Ed-Tech Policy How One Principal Got Kids to Pay Attention in Class
Utah principal Shauna Haney brought about one of the first classroom cellphone bans in the state.
Olina Banerji & Vanessa Solis, July 17, 2025
2 min read
Principal Pierre Orbe interacts with students during summer internship programs at DeWitt Clinton High School on July 14, 2025 in New York City.
Principal Pierre Orbe interacts with students during summer internship programs at DeWitt Clinton High School on July 14, 2025, in New York City. The school prioritizes career pathways, which have helped boost the graduation and attendance rates.
Mostafa Bassim for Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness How One School Turned Career Training Into a Turnaround Strategy
This high school was once slated for state takeover. Career pathways helped turn it around.
Elizabeth Heubeck, July 17, 2025
9 min read
Close cropped photo of a laptop, planner and phone with ear phones attached to it. The phone is displaying an edition of Education Week's The Savvy Principal enewsletter.
Liz Yap/Education Week + Adobe Stock
School & District Management Celebrate Five Years of The Savvy Principal—A Newsletter Just for School Leaders
The Savvy Principal is full of news, insights, and actionable tips on school leadership.
Olina Banerji, July 17, 2025
1 min read
11 people walk through a large, dark room towards the exit door, which lights up the scene in a dramatic way. People carry boxes and various bags, indicating that they are relocating or have been laid off from work. Vector illustration.
DigitalVision Vectors
School & District Management Why These K-12 Administrators Left Education—and What They Did Next
What do a nurse, an emergency responder, and an AI expert have in common? They used to work in schools.
Olina Banerji, July 14, 2025
7 min read