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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Sonia Ruiz, the 2026 Middle School Principal of the Year.
Sonia Ruiz, the 2026 Middle School Principal of the Year, celebrates with colleagues on Apr. 17, 2026, in Washington.
NASSP
School & District Management ‘We’ve Got to Do It With Love’: How This Principal of the Year Fosters Belonging
Sonia Ruiz has been named the 2026 Middle School Principal of the Year.
Olina Banerji, April 24, 2026
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4 min read
High school principal of the year Jason Johnson.
Jason Johnson receives the 2026 National High School Principal of the Year Award at a National Association of Secondary School Principals event April 17, 2026, in Washington.
NASSP
School & District Management 'We’re Going Grassroots': How a Principal of the Year Is Boosting AP Enrollment
Jason Johnson, the high school principal of the year, wants every student to succeed.
Olina Banerji, April 22, 2026
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5 min read
William Toungette, the assistant principal at Woodland Middle School, at the National Education Leadership Awards gala on April 17, 2026, in Washington.
William Toungette, the assistant principal at Woodland Middle School in Brentwood, Tenn., at the National Education Leadership Awards gala on April 17, 2026, in Washington.
NASSP
School & District Management Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year Is Tackling Student Anxiety
How William Toungette created a supportive school environment.
Jennifer Vilcarino, April 21, 2026
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4 min read
Amanda Jamerson.
Amanda Jamerson, the associate principal at Wisconsin's Shorewood High School, at the National Education Leadership Awards gala on April 17, 2026, in Washington.
NASSP
School & District Management High School Assistant Principal of the Year Focuses on Equity, Student Behavior
Amanda Jamerson focused on addressing student discipline.
Jennifer Vilcarino, April 21, 2026
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5 min read
Teachers and school leaders meeting to inspire confidence. accountability doesn't have to mean fear
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + Getty
School & District Management Opinion A Heartbreaking Meeting With a Teacher Changed How I See Accountability
Too often, principals confuse accountability with fear.
Katy Myers Allis, April 21, 2026
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4 min read
Student feedback. Teens holding empty colorful speech bubbles.
Getty via Canva
School & District Management How 4 Principals Use Student Voice to Improve School Culture
Principals share how to ensure students are true partners in shaping their schools.
Lauraine Langreo, April 14, 2026
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5 min read
Screenshot 2026 04 12 at 8.41.12 AM
Canva
School & District Management Opinion Formative Assessments Aren’t Just ‘Teacher Work.’ Principals Need to Care, Too
Teachers and leaders often find themselves on different pages when it comes to student progress.
Peter DeWitt & Michael Nelson, April 12, 2026
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4 min read
Montage photo of assistant principals. Left to right: Timothy Wells, Mojave High School, NV., Eric Fox, Jenks High School, Okla., Melyssa Stone, Shorewood High School, WA., Bill Toungette, Woodland Middle School, Tenn., Erin Jones, Sunrise Middle School, NE
School & District Management Not Every Assistant Principal Wants the Top Job: 5 Views From the Field
Promotions are welcome. But assistant principals don’t plan their lives around it.
Olina Banerji, April 1, 2026
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2 min read
Principal pointing out a teacher on a board with a classroom drawn on it. When we prepare principals, we often focus on the instructional side of the job at the expense of the people-management side.
Dan Page for Education Week
School & District Management Opinion We’re Not Preparing Principals for the Real Job of School Leadership
A shocking amount of school leadership is not about students. It is about adults.
Meagan Booth, March 27, 2026
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4 min read
Sign on door that reads "Principal's Office" from a school.
Liz Yap/Education Week with E+
School & District Management Principal Turnover Went Down in This State. But That’s Not the End of the Story
North Carolina lowered its principal attrition rate. Those who stay report working conditions haven’t changed.
Olina Banerji, March 26, 2026
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6 min read
A principal reads to an excited group of children, building community
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
School & District Management Opinion 'When Are You Coming to Read to Our Class?': How a Principal Makes Time for Joy
When this elementary school leader began scheduling read-alouds, he noticed an immediate change.
Ian Knox, March 24, 2026
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4 min read
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From left, Alicia Simba, a transitional kindergarten teacher; Eric Lewis, a science teacher; Vito Chiala, a principal; Chris Hoffman, a school superintendent; and moderator Diana Lambert of EdSource appear on a panel during the State of Teaching discussion in San Francisco on March 19, 2026. The administrators and classroom educators spoke of what it takes to boost teacher morale.
Andrew Reed/EdSource
Teaching Profession 'Treated as a Professional': How District and School Leaders Can Boost Teacher Morale
California educators talked about the support they need at an event hosted by Education Week and EdSource.
Ileana Najarro, March 20, 2026
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5 min read
President Ronald Reagan addresses the National Association of Secondary School Principals convention in front of an old fashion red school house, background, Feb. 7, 1984 in Las Vegas, Nev. Standing behind Reagan are NASSP officials.
President Ronald Reagan addresses the National Association of Secondary School Principals convention in front of an old fashion red school house, background, Feb. 7, 1984 in Las Vegas, Nev. Standing behind Reagan are NASSP officials.
Doug Pizac/AP
School & District Management Q&A Meet the National Principals Association: Why the 110-Year-Old Org. Rebranded
Elementary school leaders will add new priorities for the national organization.
Olina Banerji, March 17, 2026
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6 min read
Successful male and female in leadership achieve target. Embracing success confidence holding winner flag on top of mountain peak.
Education Week + iStock/Getty
School & District Management How Top Principals Are Improving Schools Across the Country
Principals must empower student and teacher voices.
Olina Banerji, March 13, 2026
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7 min read