Start Strong: How School Leaders Can Set the Tone for a Successful Year

Written By Herman Brister

Introduction:
August isn’t just back-to-school season, it’s a leadership opportunity. The most effective school leaders use August to proactively set the tone, strengthen relationships, and launch the culture and systems that will carry their school all year long. In this blog post, we explore how to use August to align your team and ignite momentum with two core strategies.

1. Set Clear Goals and Expectations from Day One

When everyone in your school understands what success looks like, alignment becomes easier. Setting clear goals at the schoolwide, team, and individual levels ensures that every staff member can move forward with clarity and confidence.

Framework: The 3-Level Clarity Model

  • Schoolwide Goals: Example: "Increase ELA proficiency by 10%."

  • Team Goals: Example: "PLC teams will meet weekly to unpack student work."

  • Individual Commitments: Example: "Each teacher will implement formative assessments 3x/week."

SMART Goal Example:
"By December, 90% of instructional staff will implement Tier 1 engagement strategies as measured by walkthrough data."

Support this goal with:

  • Weekly PD sessions

  • Classroom modeling

Feedback loops using The Leadership Planner

2. Prioritize Relationship-Building with Staff and Students

Trust and connection are the foundation of school culture. Taking time to build relationships with your team and students creates a positive climate that fuels productivity and collaboration.

Framework: The 3R Strategy – Reach, Recognize, Relate

  • Reach Out: Personally welcome staff and students back to school.

  • Recognize: Celebrate achievements, birthdays, and milestones early and often.

  • Relate: Schedule informal moments to check in and connect.

Example: First 10 Days Plan

  • Day 1: Host a “Coffee with the Principal” open-door session

  • Day 3: Send handwritten thank-you notes to staff who led PD

  • Day 7: Eat lunch with students in the cafeteria

  • Day 10: Spotlight team successes in the staff newsletter

Conclusion:
August sets the tone for the year ahead. With the right combination of clarity and connection, school leaders can launch a year of growth, purpose, and positivity. And with tools like The Leadership Planner, you can track, reflect, and lead with intention every step of the way.

Get your planner here: The Leadership Planner

#coachemup #NewBeginnings #SchoolLeadership

Herman Brister
Next

Lead the Year Before It Begins: Vision, Connection, and Culture in July