If you are a principal, you already know the headline--- Principals Matter.   Principals have great influence on the success of a school, the outcomes of students, the growth and collective efficacy of the staff, the climate and culture of the school, and the future of education.  While often times a middle manager balancing the demands of the central office and the needs of their school building, principals are called to implement policy, procedure, and best practice while attending to their building specific people, situations, programs, and place in development.  It's a very diverse and complicated position that requires many skills sets and the ability to focus on everything at once.  This report tells us how the best principals do it.   It breaks the work into interesting subsets.   It's well worth a read!

Here it is: Wallace Foundation: How Principals Affect Students and Schools, a Systemic Synthesis of Two Decades of Research

This report is so good that I will be digging into it here for many more blog posts and in my dissertation work this summer! Each component requires deeper consideration and reflection.  But for today, I'm sharing some of the highlights.  

The key take away for principals, assistant principals and aspiring school leaders:             YOU MATTER!  You make an incredible difference!

My closing thought on this for today is:  How do we nurture, grow, coach, encourage, and support our current leaders and aspiring leaders?   It's clear the role is big and the expectations are vast.  Each principal has their strengths and their growth areas.   Are we providing them what they need to constantly grow, reflect, modify, do better, refresh, stay current, develop their growth areas, celebrate their strengths, and keep them in the role so they can impact greater change!!!

That's what A to Z Education Consulting is all about at its core!  Principal coaching that is personalized, confidential, balanced, and growth oriented!  If you are ready to have a Principal Coach to further develop your practice, reach out!   Email [email protected] to learn about the options and packages.   Looking forward to partnering!

In my family, when you need a clever saying, a phrase, or to name a new business, you call mom. Just tell her the idea and let her think. Her creative mind always comes up with great options!

So I called and said, “I need a name for my new education consulting company.” She thought about it, then a little later sent the name— A to Z Education Consulting. Right away, I knew she was GENIUS. I mean, in fairness, I already knew that. But, this name is perfect! Let me tell you why!

So first and most obvious if you are in my family… we’ll we are The Amstutz Family … get it… A to Z!! Amstutz, A to Z….. It’s me!!!

Equally important though, it’s hard for me to narrow my focus or interest areas in education . Sure, I'm a principal and I love education leadership. But math is never far from my heart. And, what about education technology?! That’s not all…. I’m interested in active
learning, financial education in early grades, arts education and arts enhancement, brain development, professional development, teacher and principal recruitment and retention, using social media to connect families to their child’s education, leadership development, innovation, change management, AND SO MUCH MORE!

See… A to Z …. It’s perfect for my education consulting business!

PS If you see my mom, tell her she’s a genius!

​In April 2021, I launched A to Z Education Consulting as a way to expand my ability to contribute to solving education challenges and upgrading the educational experiences of children and families.  

My focus and passion is on principal coaching and development. With strong principals at the helm of our schools, the future is bright!  But the job is big and exhausting and complex and challenging and draining ... and many strong leaders don't stay in the role long enough to impact positive change.   That needs to change!  We must support our school leaders and grow their skill set to meet the many, wide ranging demands required of them.  

What makes me qualified to help grow our leaders?  Well, to start I have served as a school principal for 11 years in 4 very different schools ranging from high poverty to affluent, public to contract/charter, military, suburban and urban.  In addition, in 2014 I became an Adjunct Professor in the Education Administration department at McDaniel College and have consistently taught Ed Leadership courses and overseen over 30 admin interns as they completed their admin internships.  It is my life's work, my passion.

However, it stems from a passion for education and ensuring that children get the best foundation possible to provide them unlimited options for future success. I have a strong belief that our work encompasses academic, social, and societal aspects.  We must partner with families to help children succeed.  We must meet children where they are and support all their needs.   We must constantly innovate and seek new and better ways to accomplish our work.  We must stay current and relevant, tapping into new technologies, best practice, and research to ensure we are providing the best resources and supports possible. 

My experiences over the past two decades include:
     Principal
     Assistant Principal
     Instructional Specialist
     Field Manager for Discovery Education
     Middle School Math Teacher and Department Chair
​     Elementary School Teacher, eCoach, AfterSchool Title 1 Coordinator

I am very excited to connect with you and to support your education needs in anyway possible!