In the rhythm of a school year, summer offers a unique opportunity for school principals to reflect, recalibrate, and refocus their strategies for the upcoming academic year. Far from a period of rest, this is a crucial time for visionary leadership to guide their schools towards success in the 2023-2024 academic year. This time can be leveraged to address data-driven decision-making, support struggling readers and students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), English Language Learners (ELLs), and at-risk students, as well as proactively plan for potential teacher shortages.

• Refine Goals with Data-driven Precision: The summer months provide ample time to critically evaluate your school’s performance. Employ data-driven decision-making to identify areas that need improvement and set realistic, targeted goals for the next academic year. By examining data from the previous year, principals can make informed decisions and develop strategic plans to improve student outcomes.

• Focus on Literacy Support: For struggling readers and students with unmet IEP goals, summer is the time to devise comprehensive support strategies. Consider planning for a literacy coach or professional development sessions that focus on teaching reading to students with diverse learning needs. Also, explore technology and online resources that may support reading development and engagement.

• Strengthen ELL and At-Risk Student Support: The summer break is an opportune time to reflect on and improve support for ELLs and at-risk students. Research innovative, effective strategies and programs that have been successful in other districts. Consider professional development opportunities that will enhance your faculty’s ability to cater to these students’ unique needs.

• Mitigate Teacher Shortages: In the wake of a national teacher shortage, proactive planning is more crucial than ever. Start by identifying potential vacancies and hard-to-fill positions. Principals can explore partnerships with local universities for student-teacher placements, pursue alternate certification programs, or even leverage retired educators. Create a robust induction program for new teachers and mentorship programs to retain current staff.

• Encourage Innovation: Facilitate a culture of innovation where educators feel empowered to experiment with teaching strategies. Small, incremental shifts, or breakthrough innovations could result in significant academic gains. Summer can be an ideal time to brainstorm and incubate these ideas.

• Foster a Culture of Leadership: Great principals understand the value of a distributed leadership model. Identify potential leaders among your faculty who can support colleagues, implement innovative practices, and drive academic achievement. Use the summer months to plan training sessions or team-building activities that foster this culture.

• Seek Personal Growth: Great leaders also understand the value of continuous learning. Dedicate time over the summer to self-improvement. Seek feedback from colleagues, mentors, or community leaders to identify areas for personal growth.

• Collaborate with Stakeholders: Summer offers a chance to connect more personally with all members of your school community. Use this time to listen to their perspectives, build relationships, and affirm their role in shaping a positive school culture.

• Community Engagement: Engaging with the community can provide valuable insights about students’ lives outside of school. Consider holding “office hours” in local community centers, cafes, or parks to build relationships with families and students in a more casual, non-academic setting.

• Strategic Summer Planning: Organize your summer activities into a strategic calendar, with a balance of professional development, goal setting, and personal rejuvenation. This approach allows you to clearly communicate the direction for the coming year to your staff and community.

The success of a school year is often decided before it even begins. Great principals understand this and use the summer months as a strategic period of planning, learning, and preparing. This thoughtful approach lays the groundwork for a successful academic year, fostering a culture of growth, achievement, and continuous improvement.