Do you wish you could lead with more intention and less stress this year? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we’re diving into how to create leadership routines that actually stick—so you can be more proactive, visible, and grounded throughout the school year.

I’ll walk you through:

• Why routines are the secret to consistent leadership
• How to build routines that align with your priorities
• Common reasons principals struggle with routines (and how to fix them)
• Practical examples of daily and weekly routines that create structure, build trust, and reduce decision fatigue

If you want to lead with more confidence and clarity—while protecting your time and energy—this episode is for you. Plus, learn how to turn routines into habits with my custom habit system for principals, Leadership by Design.

Click HERE to get the 8 to 4 Principal Planner.

Click HERE to get Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System.

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 districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Struggling with behavior challenges in your school? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, Barb Flowers explains why a strong Tier One PBIS system is a game changer for improving school-wide behavior. Whether you don’t have a system yet or yours feels stale, Barb shares simple, practical steps to set clear expectations, reinforce positive behavior, and use consistent consequences.

Get ready to refresh your approach and create a positive, calm school climate that supports both students and teachers.

Get the Free PBIS Tier 1 Toolkit.

Get my course, The Tier 1 Behavior Blueprint.

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 districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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'll learn:

•  Why starting with your own vision is essential — and how it actually makes shared leadership stronger
•  Five key reasons to draft goals before the year starts
•  How to involve your Building Leadership Team (BLT) and staff so goals become truly collective
• Tips for making your planning time efficient and aligned to what matters most

Plus, I’ll give you a quick look at my Lead with Clarity: Vision & Goals Workbook and how ChatGPT prompts can help you organize your thoughts and simplify this process.

Start your year anchored in clarity and purpose — and set your building up for success!

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 districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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.

We'll explore why the natural reset of a new school year is a gift you can leverage to grow as a leader. I’ll guide you through intentional reflection questions to help you examine how you showed up last year—through your values, thoughts, emotions, and actions—so you can decide who you want to be this year.

You’ll learn:
 ✅ Why confidence is a choice, not a trait
 ✅ How to identify thoughts that support or sabotage your leadership
 ✅ How to set clear priorities and show up as the leader you want to be

Plus, I’ll share a simple mindset shift exercise to ground you as you step into the year ahead. If you’re ready to lead with more calm, confidence, and purpose, this episode is for you.

Get my free workshop, Stop Doubting Your Decisions.
Check out my other principal freebies, HERE.

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 districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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.

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

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 districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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

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 districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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. 

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 districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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.

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 districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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.
 

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 districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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. 

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 districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.