For the first time in 14 years, I'm not in the trenches launching a new school year because I am on sabbatical working on my dissertation and a second master's degree.  However, my mind, heart, and friends are all launching the new school year and I can't help but share some thinking with you about launching the new school year.

As an administrator, there are things teachers are dying to know right now (and some things they may prefer not to know, but deep down crave).  Here's my starting list:

Teachers Need to Know.... from Their Principal as the New School Year Starts:

• You value them as professionals and have high expectations for their work
• Our collective priorities are:  A, B, C ... our instructional approach and expectations are ... A, B, C  Clearly state these priorities! Help your team determine what's the most urgent priority.
• You are here for them and available when they need you.... and specifically tell them how and when to contact you with different types of information (how to get you in an emergency, how to share an idea, etc)
• You are approachable and care about them as a human, a professional, as an educator, and as a colleague
• You know that COVID stressed everyone and changed everything and we are all adapting to the changes, the stress, and moving forward. The stress hasn't just magically ended.  The pain/stress/challenges linger.
• Our work is hard and emotionally draining.  Teachers need to hear you give them permission to take care of themselves, to be balanced, AND to be committed to high quality work.
• Teachers want to know your expectations in a crystal clear way now. You may think they are universally understood, common knowledge... they aren't, and they very from school to school, leader to leader.  Make sure you are clear about:
  
  • Time expectations (on time, end of day, responding them to parent emails, what to do if running late)
    
  • Priorities--- our children are first!   All decisions are made with kids at the center or the decision.
    
  • Sick leave--- it's for sick days, not vacation.
    
  • Substitute plans-- be crystal clear and consistent about your expectations across your school.
    
  • Communication expectations--- how often should all teachers share general information with families, what is needed ahead of meetings, how should concerns/problems be addressed?
    
  • My personal favorite--- no surprises!   If something happened and you wonder if the principal needs to know about it or if it will just go away..... don't take the gamble.  When the principal is aware and ahead of it, the reaction will be far better planned and received than if the principal is caught off guard with an angry family, crying student, frustrated colleague....  give a quick heads up--- a simple text message or email to let your principal be able to be in the know and be prepared rather than surprised. 

There are so many more things that are needed to be shared now.  What would you add to the list?

Reading the news across sectors in our country paints a bleak picture about employees.   They are just not in the workforce in the numbers that we need.  This is hitting education too.  And that's scary.  If you've not thought about this, take a minute.  Not only are there not HIGH quality teachers available, there just aren't enough teachers available.  

In my principal groups online, it's a recurring topic.  "What do we do?"  "I'm short 3 teachers, a counselor, a secretary, and a custodian."  "Are there literally NO math teachers anywhere?"    It's every day.  This is still July.  For us in Maryland, we still have a month to hire.  Each year it's becoming harder and harder to find teachers.   That's a really, really big problem.

It trickles down in so many ways....

- Instructional quality will suffer
- Teacher workload is impacted
- School quality suffers
- Student achievement suffers
- Family satisfaction with schools suffers
- Schools can't offer quality academic and extracurricular programming

To be redundant, the most important problem is that our students aren't seated in front of highly capable educators if we can't hire teachers.   

The impact of a strong teacher is well researched and can't be overstated.   The impact of a weak teachers is also well known.  

We've known this was coming.  We've talked about it for years as we watched it begin, then grow, and now... it's seriously at an epidemic level.  But what are we doing about it?  The workload hasn't changed and is nearly impossible (ok, totally impossible).   The profession is disrespected constantly.  New teachers are thrown into the deep end.  Teacher stress levels are through the roof. 

A conversation has to be started to address this.   But beyond that, we MUST take action.   
- If you know/your child has a high quality teacher, do everything in your power to support them, advocate for them, recognize the gift they are to your family and society.
-  Look into the data in your local area.  What's the turn over?  What are the concerns of the teachers?  What's their day look like--- how many non instructional duties do they have, when do they plan/grade/collaborate with colleagues? 
- Have a conversation with your school leadership team and ask how you can help support teacher recruitment and retention. 

A more painful question is "would you recommend a high school graduate or a family member to go into education?"  If the answer is no, we have to have deeper conversations to address these root causes.  Or else, who will be in our classrooms.

Take a minute and add this to your really important to keep in mind list.   Without high quality teachers in our classrooms, our country will suffer rapidly.  Our kids deserve better.   

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!