The 500 Classroom Challenge
The first year of a principalship at a new school can be incredibly challenging. It is almost as if you are jumping onto a fast-moving train that can't be stopped. As a principal, I feel an incredible sense of urgency knowing that the work we do in schools can impact students (both in a positive and negative way). There is no time to stop the train when you are considering the limited amount of time we actually have with students. Not a minute can be wasted. I've learned that new principals have to roll up their sleeves and jump right in. It is our responsibility to simultaneously learn about the school's practices and cultures while looking for opportunities for improvement. It is a delicate task that can't be taken lightly. So where do we begin? I've decided to kick off the year by taking the 500 Classroom Challenge proposed by Justin Baeder at The Principal Center . He firmly believes in the impact principals can make when we root our work in habits t