The Principal's Handbook

What does a successful school year look like for your building? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook , we explore how to set clear, purposeful goals that guide your school forward. I’ll share my personal approach to creating a vision and drafting goals before the year begins — rooted in district priorities, building data, and staff input — so you can lead with confidence and intention. You'...

Are you stepping into a new school year feeling nervous or unsure how to start strong? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook , we dive into a powerful back-to-school mindset reset to help you kick off the year with confidence and clarity. Whether you're a seasoned principal or stepping into a new building like I am this year, it's completely normal to feel those back-to-school butterflies. W...

Are you letting your mindset get in the way of leading challenging teachers effectively? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook , Barb shares three powerful mindset shifts every school leader needs when working with challenging teachers. From taking things personally, to labeling staff as “negative” or “toxic,” to simply avoiding tough personalities altogether — Barb unpacks the traps that ma...

Are you being intentional about building parent connections this year — or just hoping relationships fall into place? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook , we continue our summer planning mini-series with Part #4, diving into three strategies I’m using right now to plan for meaningful parent engagement in my new school. From being truly present at key events, to sending clear, proactive co...

Are you truly prepared to lead instruction next year, or are you hoping to figure it out on the fly? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook , we dive into Part #3 of our summer planning mini-series: the three key steps I’m taking right now to plan for instructional leadership in my new school. From digging into curriculum (and why you can’t skip this), to analyzing building data trends, to st...

In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook , I’m pulling back the curtain on how I’m planning to lead a new staff through a major change—merging two buildings into one. From anticipating the emotions that come with uncertainty to crafting an opening staff meeting that fosters trust, empathy, and connection, I’ll share the intentional steps I’m taking this summer to set the stage for a smooth tran...

In this first episode of my summer planning mini-series, I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly how I’m preparing for student behavior — before the first day of school even starts.  Whether you’re a new principal, moving buildings like me, or just want a fresh approach for your current school, this episode will give you practical ideas to set the stage for a calmer year.  If you want to start the...

Supporting Teachers with Classroom Management: Are We Missing the Basics? How often do we overlook the fundamentals of classroom management in favor of the latest trends? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook , I dive into the critical role principals play in supporting teachers to get back to the basics—establishing solid routines and clear expectations that create a foundation for effectiv...

In this episode of The Principal's Handbook , we’re diving into how to manage your time effectively over the summer while still making the most of your break. It may sound counterintuitive, but creating a productive break can help you recharge and set yourself up for success when the school year begins. Tune in for tips on: Defining what you truly need from your summer break Creating a balanced st...

In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook , Barb dives into how principals can create a personal summer professional development (PD) plan. It's time to reflect on your leadership growth, set intentional goals for improvement, and find the right resources to sharpen your skills for the upcoming school year. Key Points: Reflect on the past school year: Celebrate successes and identify areas for g...

In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook , Barb Flowers discusses the importance of reflecting on leadership to foster growth and self-awareness. She shares personal insights about how stepping back from the principal role allowed her to rediscover her passion for leadership and its challenges. Key Points: Reflection on leadership helps principals identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for g...

In this episode of The Principal's Handbook , Barb  dives into the importance of perspective shifting for school leaders. As principals, we often face overwhelming emotions and challenges—whether it’s dealing with stressed teachers, angry parents, or student behaviors. Barb shares how changing our mindset can transform these challenges into opportunities for growth and connection. Drawing on the t...

In this episode of The Principal's Handbook , Barb dives into the critical skill of delegation for principals. With firsthand experience, Barb shares how effective delegation can increase productivity, enhance leadership, and prevent burnout. She also explores common pitfalls, such as micromanagement and choosing the wrong people, and offers practical advice for delegating tasks that free up your...

Do you feel like office referrals are taking up all your time, leaving you with little to no opportunity to lead your school effectively? In this episode of The Principal's Handbook , Barb shares five actionable steps that can help reduce office referrals and give you more time in your day. She draws from her own experience as a principal, where she successfully decreased office referrals from 340...

Do you ever feel like you struggle to mentor an assistant principal? In this episode, Barb speaks with Principal Mark Schwarz about his journey from assistant principal to principal and how his experience mentoring assistant principals has shaped his leadership approach. Mark reflects on the lessons he learned as an assistant principal and the strategies he now uses to mentor his own assistant pri...

Do you feel like you’ve got one foot in this school year and the other in the next? If your to-do list feels like a juggling act between wrapping up and planning ahead, you’re not alone. In this episode, Barb shares three practical tips to help you finish the current school year strong—and three smart strategies to start preparing for next year with intention and clarity. *FREE DOWNLOADS* The Prin...

In this episode Barb is talking about if work-life balance is possible for principals. Barb also shares about her BETA membership that is only $17 for a limited time. Click HERE to join!  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.  IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school distric...

What if you could actually leave work every day at 4 p.m.? Have you ever wished for better work-life balance — but felt like it just isn’t possible as a principal? Maybe you’ve told yourself you have to be the first one to arrive and the last one to leave. But what if there’s another way? In this episode, we’re doing a powerful reflection on your school year. I’ll walk you through questions that h...

Do you feel the pressure of perfectionism taking over? You’re not alone. Many principals I coach struggle with the need to do everything right. In this episode, I dive into the hidden cost of perfectionism—also known as the stickler saboteur from Positive Intelligence—and how it can quietly sabotage your performance, relationships, and well-being. Plus, I share mindset shifts to help you start ref...

In this episode of The Principal's Handbook, Barb discussed the 'Principal's Email Detox,' a free resource designed to help school leaders manage email overload. Barb addresses the common challenge of email addiction among principals, highlighting the negative impact of constant email checking on wellbeing and productivity. She shares practical steps to detox from email, including removing email f...

Do you struggle with wanting to control situations as a principal? Is it hard for you to release control? In this episode we are exploring how principals can use Mel Robbins' Let Them Theory to release control and focus on what is in our direct circle of influence. Join us as we dive into why we often feel an anxiety-based need to take charge, the costs of excessive control on school culture, and...

Do you overthink everything as a principal? Do you overthink evaluations, discipline issues, dealing with teachers and parents? If that sounds like you, then this episode is for you.  In this episode we talk about: What overthinking is Common triggers for overthinking Negative impacts on your teaching Practical solutions *FREE DOWNLOADS* Decisive Leadership - Free Workshop The Principal's Email De...

Do you struggle with getting teachers onboard with RTI interventions? Do you have teachers who default students to special ed without any data? Join me on this episode where I have a conversation with Dr. Kate Anderson Foley, an experienced educational consultant, about: Creating a more integrated approach to support all students, not just those with special needs Moving beyond traditional interve...

Do you wish you could be more proactive and less reactive as a principal? In this podcast episode we talk about the importance of a custom habit system for principals so they can be intentional with the things they want to be able to do in their building. We talk about the following: Benefits of Developing Leadership Habits Why Principals Struggle with Consistent Habits Factors That Influence Habi...

How can principals transform their Monday mornings from dreadful to energizing? Starting Monday strong requires intentional planning and clear boundaries to maintain sustainable leadership. By implementing strategic routines and energy management, principals can create a positive start to their week that sets them up for success. The Weekend Pitfall - What you do (or don't do) on weekends matters...