Congratulations, You’re A Principal! Now What?

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Congratulations, you’re a principal! Now what?

Your phone rings, and it’s the call you’ve been anxiously awaiting. On the other end may be the opportunity of a lifetime. “Hello?” you answer. A huge smile spreads across your face as the district HR person says you’ve been selected to be a principal. As soon as the words, “Yes, I’ll take it!” come out of your mouth, your mind begins swirling with thoughts of what you’ll do first. While this is exciting in many ways, it is a bit scary. The reality is that this will be the first of countless days where you will feel excited and overwhelmed at the same time. That’s not necessarily a negative thing. As author and motivational speaker Joe Vitale says, “A goal should scare you a

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References

AllThingsPLC. (2020). Evidence detail, Taylor Mill Elementary. Solution Tree. tinyurl.com/3ke7ttxp

Brown, B. (2018). Dare to lead: Brave work. Tough conversations. Whole hearts. Random House.

Covey, S.R. (1989). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Powerful lessons in personal change. Free Press.

Galinsky, A. (2025). Inspire: The universal path for leading yourself and others. Harper Business.

Grant, A. (2023). Hidden potential: The science of achieving greater things. Viking.

Inam, H. (2015). Wired for authenticity: Seven practices to inspire, adapt, & lead.

Stanier, M.B. (2020). The advice trap: Be humble, stay curious & change the way you lead forever. Page Two.

Vitale, J. (2005). The attractor factor: 5 easy steps for creating wealth (or anything else) from the inside out. Wiley.

Melody Stacy

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With 28 years of experience in public education, Melody Stacy currently serves as Chief Academic Officer at NKCES, where she leads professional learning and regional initiatives after progressing through roles as a high school math teacher, curriculum specialist, and school administrator. As a Solution Tree Associate, she supports schools and districts nationwide in implementing the PLC at Work model to enhance collaborative practices and student achievement. Melody continues to dedicate her career to educational leadership as both a coach and consultant, driven by a deep belief in courageous, compassionate leadership that dares to disrupt the status quo and make school remarkable for every learner and leader.