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 many principals fall into and shows how reframing your thoughts can transform tough dynamics.

Barb also introduces Byron Katie’s four questions as a tool to challenge assumptions and highlights the power of shifting your thinking to create more positive emotions, better relationships, and stronger leadership.

Grab her free Quick Guide to Navigating Challenging Teacher Dynamics to go deeper, and start experimenting with just one mindset shift this week.

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The Principal's Email Detox
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School
Behavior Blueprint for Principals

The Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint

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 communication that eases parent worries, to planning ways to keep families involved all year long — these ideas will help you foster trust and build a strong school community from day one. Tune in and get inspired to strengthen your parent partnerships before the year even starts!

FREE DOWNLOADS*
The Principal's Email Detox
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School
Behavior Blueprint for Principals

The Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint

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 strengthening collaboration structures like PLCs and TBTs—this episode is packed with practical ways you can set your staff and students up for academic success.

Whether you’re leading a brand-new building, changing grade levels, or just want a smarter plan for next year, tune in for insights that will help you be a more intentional instructional leader.

Plus, grab my 8 to 4 Principal Planner—the tool I use to stay on top of meetings, classroom visits, and keep the focus on what matters most. 

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 transition. Whether you're navigating your own building shifts or just want fresh ideas for supporting teachers through change, this episode will give you practical ways to start the year on solid ground.

Get my Free Quick Guide to Navigating Challenging Teacher Dynamics.

Get the more in depth Guide for Navigating Challenging Teacher Dynamics.

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 year with fewer fires to put out, this episode is for you!

Get The Principal’s Discipline Toolkit: Tools for Principals to Respond with Clarity and Confidence to have a clear system for handling behaviors and creating consequences.

Get The Behavior Blueprint for Principals to get my 5-Step process for reducing office refferals.
 

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 effective teaching and learning. But that’s not all. We’ll also explore the often-overlooked components of teacher presence and confidence—key factors that influence classroom control and student engagement.

Join me as I share common challenges teachers face, including:

• Teachers not seeing themselves as classroom leaders
• Confusing connection with friendship
• Inconsistency caused by self-doubt
• Lack of developed authority presence
• Forgetting the importance of student engagement strategies

If you’re a principal looking to empower your teachers and reduce office referrals by strengthening classroom management at the source, this episode is for you!

Check out the The Classroom Management Blueprint with my The Companion Guide for Principals to coach teachers. 

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 structure that allows for both rest and productivity
• Building habits now that will set you up for a successful school year

If you’ve ever felt like the summer slipped away too quickly, this episode is for you. Stay tuned as we explore how to use the summer as an opportunity for both relaxation and professional growth!

Check out Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System!

FREE DOWNLOADS*
The Principal's Email Detox
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School
Behavior Blueprint for Principals

The Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint

*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals

The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit

*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram
the8to4principal- TikTok

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 growth.
• Find the right resources: Podcasts, books, online courses, or coaching can help you develop in areas like communication, behavior management, and confidence.
• Set actionable goals: Visualize success and break goals into manageable tasks with a clear timeline.

Tune in for a roadmap to help you grow as a leader this summer and come back ready to tackle next school year with confidence!

FREE DOWNLOADS*
The Principal's Email Detox
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School
Behavior Blueprint for Principals

The Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint

*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit

*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram
the8to4principal- TikTok

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 growth.
• Emotions drive actions and decisions, influencing leadership effectiveness.
• Difficult situations and emotional reactions offer valuable lessons for improvement.
• Authentic leadership comes from understanding yourself and learning from experiences.

FREE DOWNLOADS*
The Principal's Email Detox
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School
Behavior Blueprint for Principals

The Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint

*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit

*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram
the8to4principal- TikTok

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 teachings of Byron Katie and John Acuff, she explains how simple questions and reframes can lead to more positive outcomes. Learn how activating empathy, questioning your thoughts, and shifting your perspective can help you become a more effective and resilient leader. Tune in for actionable strategies that will help you navigate even the toughest situations with confidence and clarity.

FREE DOWNLOADS*
The Principal's Email Detox
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School
Behavior Blueprint for Principals

The Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint

*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit

*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram
the8to4principal- TikTok