Here at The New School Leader, we are committed to helping new and aspiring school leaders develop the skills that they need to take the next step in their leadership journey.
We believe good leadership can transform a life, a campus, and a culture.
We believe leadership is a skill that anyone can develop.
We believe the best leaders belong to a community of like-minded people who are committed to developing their craft.
We believe leadership is based on actions, not titles.
When principals ask candidates to describe a decision they made, they aren’t just listening for the outcome. They’re listening for ownership. Not ownership in the sense of taking credit or assigning blame—but ownership of judgment. They’re quietly asking: Does this person see themselves as an actor or a bystander? Do …
What hiring teams are really listening for when they ask, “What would your teachers say about you?” On the surface, this feels like a soft question. “What would your teachers say about you?” Many candidates relax when they hear it. They shouldn’t. This isn’t a personality question. It’s a credibility …
When I first started trying to move into the assistant principalship, several people offered the same advice: “Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get the job. Sometimes, it’s just not the right fit.” I didn’t want to believe that. The competitive side of me was convinced that if I could …
Early in my leadership career, I thought good leaders were defined by how quickly they could respond. The faster you had an answer, the more confident you appeared.The more confident you appeared, the more credible you felt. At least, that’s what I believed at the time. It took me longer …
I have sat on a lot of assistant principal interview panels over the years, and one pattern shows up again and again. Some of the strongest candidates on paper don’t always perform the strongest in the interview. They’re experienced.Respected.Well-prepared. And yet, something doesn’t quite land. The most common reason isn’t …
