As principals, it can feel impossible to step away from the building—whether you’re sick, at PD, or attending district meetings. The guilt, the worry that everything will fall apart, and the pressure to be present 24/7 can take a toll. In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, Barb Flowers unpacks why leaving the building matters for both your staff and your own well-being. 

You’ll learn:

• How to model healthy boundaries for teachers when you need to be out.
• The importance of having a clear coverage plan with district admin.
• Key systems that keep discipline, arrival/dismissal, and daily operations running without you.
• Ways to build teacher and staff leadership capacity so the school doesn’t rely solely on you.
• How to normalize being a human leader who gets sick, has kids, and keeps learning through PD.

Your leadership is measured not by how much your school needs you in the moment, but by how well it functions when you’re not there. Tune in for practical tips and mindset shifts to help you leave the building—without guilt—knowing your systems and people can handle it.