Pearl Collection

Beginning the School Year

Build positive relationships by smiling earnestly
Communicate your vision with newsletters home
Unite employees with a mission statement compiled as a group
Share work expectations with staff letting them know you're there to help
Turn off cell phones and focus on your job
Be on time and communicate
Dress professionally every day and take a minute to ask yourself if you look that way
Smile, smile, smile (fake it til you make it)
Know everybody's first name and car
No surprises unless it's a good one
Write weekly staff newsletter to give updates on events and reminders
Call parents with good news early so they can let their kids know how proud they are
Encourage input from staff, students, parents, & community
Learn what parents and students want out of their experience in your school
Organize a welcome committee to throw a party to start off a great year
Motivate kids to study for baptism
Encourage teachers to have daily worships on their own
Encourage family involvement at school
Communicate with parents to have their involvement at school
Encourage concerned parents to meet with staff
Keep parents happy for when their needs are met (when possible) they will feel heard
Promote patriotism and show honor to the country by pledging to the flag at events
Pray often
Make home visits when possible to as many homes as you can during the year


During the Year

Have regular conversations with your staff both personal and professional
Use written and verbal communication with employees and parents to keep them informed
Eye contact shows them you are listening
Use correct grammar and professional vocabulary
Don't talk when someone else is talking during a meeting or presentation
Approve memos to parents and remind teachers to tell you when events are occurring in their class
Respect everyone young and old
Overdeliver and visit classrooms frequently
Stay calm and positive
Don't rush a decision and pray about your options
Don't make decisions to keep friends but be careful not to make them based on those options
Build allies rather than competing without purpose
Learn to collaborate and take advice from others building your own personalized responses to situations
A deal is a deal if you said you're doing something for someone, hold yourself accountable
Be consistent
Check lesson plans to be sure teachers are staying on course in curriculum development
Be fair to everyone
File ideas on Pinterest with virtual idea boards to keep them organized
Learn to compromise
Use e-mail to save time and keep in contact with others
Know when to help and when to wait until asked to help
Limit classroom interruptions
Send cards to staff (i.e. birthdays, sympathy, encouragement)
Treat your school secretary well
Schedule regular classroom visits and let the students and teachers know you care by seeing you
Keep the building and fields clean and tidy for you never know who may be looking in
Have family night activities so families can get to know each other throughout the school-year
Get involved with sister schools and have events together for a common good (charity, game nights)
Display student work in the community demonstrating their accomplishments bring pride to school
Don't gossip or listen to gossip but encourage positive conversations or setup a meeting if necessary
Admit mistakes

Ending the school year

Let staff know evaluation will include commendations and recommendations
Become results oriented
Don't hold grudges for we all make mistakes and need fresh starts
Delegate responsibility when possible to secretary
Make changes when necessary and learn from them
Avoid conflicts and pick the battles that mean enough to win otherwise agree to disagree
Monitor spending of teachers and staff and be sure they don't overspend
Spend time focused on staff and have their families over for dinner
Make safety a priority
Make job applicants feel special
Hire the best available
Don't be insecure but show confidence without being cocky
Read a lot of instructional books
Teach others
Share personal experiences
Don't just hear but listen
Be an instructional leader by empowering knowledge of the curriculum in your own mind
Be a nurturing leader who can be trusted with sensitive information and a shoulder to cry on
Recognize staff accomplishments and acknowledge them to the others at school
Use tact when reprimanding staff by keeping it private and kind but firm
Document negative actions of staff in case things go awry and it is needed for the safety of the school
Network and let the community know your needs so they might support your school
Help others succeed whenever possible
Allow university students to work in the classroom
Remind the Ed Dept to inform them to come visit often
Keep the school actively involved in community events
Inspire kids to get involved in sports programs outside of school
Incorporate culture of community into the school
Setup a committee to plan a farewell party
Make sure graduates are involved and remind them they are leaders who assist in culture of school
Record mistakes and lessons learned
Give feedback to staff on how they're doing and what changes could be made if necessary
Think about how decisions will affect the school
Develop a parent report card with a checklist that pinpoints their involvement in communication, etc.
See the school through a parents eyes and try to focus on the children as if they were your own



Just a few things to think about. Read: What Successful Principals Do! By Franzy Fleck