How to Thrive in a New Leadership Role

My 20-plus years in public education have been full of changes: Technology, pedagogy, and politics are just a few of the elements of my daily work that are completely different today than when I first picked up a piece of chalk to begin teaching in my middle school classroom all those years ago. To be honest, though, the most profound change that I have had to adjust to was the transition from teaching to administration.

When I first got promoted, I certainly didn’t feel like I had changed, but the way that people around me responded to me changed overnight. Because of this, I spent many of my early days as a new vice principal wondering if in fact I was any good at school administration. I’ve come to realize that much of what I experienced in those first few months was in fact a normal part of the transition process. For those of you new to a school leadership role—whether vice principal (VP) or another role—I present the tips below for your consideration as you begin your journey.

Decision-making 101: ‘Is this decision best for kids?’

A school leader needs to be a big-picture thinker, one who considers or is at least aware of everyone’s different (and sometimes conflicting) needs. It is easy to become overwhelmed with the complexity of some of the decision-making that goes into administering a school, however, and to become immobilized by a desire to try to please everyone. Even worse, some vice principals swing back and forth between two or more decisions, and before long, the loudest or pushiest people in the building can hijack the decision-making for their own benefit.

It is important to remember that your job as a school administrator is to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. For example, making decisions when you don’t have all of the information will not feel great, but it is sometimes necessary. Occasionally upsetting people who have enjoyed certain privileges or who have gotten used to a particular way of doing things is your job. Of course, you can do this work in a way that is transparent and kind (and you should), but the work needs to get done. Don’t lose yourself in trying to please everyone; this is a sure path to losing all credibility and to bad decision-making. When in doubt, ask yourself, ”Is this decision what is best for kids?” Your best teachers will come to recognize and appreciate your child-centered thinking over time.

‘Lead-Aloud’

A school administrator is the lead communicator in a school. As teachers, we are used to doing “read-alouds” and “think-alouds” when we are teaching and modeling for students. Do the same for your staff, and watch how the culture in your building changes. The fact is, no one wants an administrator who hides out in the office all day, like the Wizard of Oz behind his curtain. For staff and parents to trust you, you will need to find ways to share your thinking and to invite collaboration and input into school decision-making.

Whether you use social media, send home a regular newsletter, present at parent council meetings, or spend time on the yard each morning chatting informally with parents, you will need to have multiple communication tools at your disposal. To build a community of supportive and inspired adults, you will need to help people with varying levels of understanding about the education system feel empowered and valued. This starts with proactive and open communication on your part.

Saying No

School administrators are often the best teachers in their school before they get promoted. These teacher-leaders are well loved and respected by their peers and parents. In this role (teacher-leader), you rarely have to make decisions that impact people negatively. You mostly get to lead fun or interesting activities and then go for drinks with your colleagues after work. The transition to VP is often a shock to the system for these teachers.

As a school administrator, you have to be careful about being too close with your teachers: You cannot be perceived as favoring any one over another, and there are many things that come up throughout the year that need to be kept confidential. Additionally, you will have to say no to people and even sometimes confront or discipline bad or dangerous behavior. These responsibilities inevitably change your relationships with everyone else in the building. The loneliness that this can cause is profound in the beginning, but it is part of the job. Prioritizing needing to be liked or to have the approval of teachers will distract you from your central mission: doing what is best for kids!

Self-care and support network

The antidote to the loneliness of leading is to find others in a similar position and to create your own circle of support. This might be a monthly social with other administrators, a regular Zoom call with a mentor, or some other key relationship. As a new VP, hopefully you will be placed with a competent and supportive principal, but having people somewhat removed from your immediate situation and daily reality is key as well. You should also be building your own self-awareness and self-regulation tool kit. Are you still finding time in your day for exercise and sleep? Are you skipping meals or eating convenient but terrible food so that you can get more done in a day?

Hopefully your mentor is modeling the fact that these things (exercise, sleep, and nutrition) are the foundation for everything else. How do you deal with your feelings after a bad meeting or negative encounter with a staff person? Personally, I go down to kindergarten, where the limitless enthusiasm and affection of my youngest students always puts me in a good mood. Find your joy and those key positive voices in order to survive and thrive in your first year as an administrator.