I was recently asked to fill-in for a principal who could not be at school. And when asked to pinch hit for a great principal at an elementary school, you go all in!

What a fantastic experience interacting with students, staff, and families while trying to be the best Wildcat I could be! I got to step out of the central office duties and into the heart of learning. In the world of district-level educational leadership, central offices are hubs of strategic planning, policy development, and crucial decision-making. Yet, sometimes the distance between these offices and the classrooms where learning unfolds can feel vast. As essential as our administrative work is, I firmly believe that regular school visits are vital for truly effective leadership. I definitely learned that as I spent two days collaborating with staff, unpacking challenges, developing solutions, and learning from the best teachers about what school means– the students!

Why Stepping into Schools Matters

• Building Relationships that go Beyond Data: While data and reports provide valuable insights, nothing replaces the power of witnessing the dynamics between teachers, students, and staff. These visits give faces and personalities to the names and numbers, fostering meaningful relationships and a deeper understanding of the heart of our districts.
• Grasping the Real-World Impact of Decisions: It’s one thing to draft a policy on paper, and a completely different thing to see how it plays out in a 3rd-grade reading group or during lunch duty. Being in schools provides the on-the-ground context that makes our leadership work more informed, responsive, and successful.
• Sharing in the Joy of Learning: Too often, our focus is on challenges and improvement. School visits allow us to be part of the victories – the student who cracks a difficult concept, the class project that inspires creativity, the impromptu acts of kindness that make school communities shine. These shared experiences provide much-needed fuel for our work.
• Seeing Where Support is Most Needed: While reports offer an overview, being in a building helps identify those subtle signs of where things might be strained. Is the new curriculum causing more confusion than expected? Could a particular teacher benefit from additional coaching? Proactive observation lets us support where it’s needed.

Making it Happen: Tips for Meaningful Visits

• Schedule it in: Just like important meetings, school visits shouldn’t be an afterthought. Put them in your calendar and treat them with the same priority as other leadership duties.
• Observe, listen, and learn: Go in with an open mind. Focus on understanding the dynamics of the school, not simply making judgments.
• Engage in conversation: Talk to teachers, staff, and students (when appropriate). Ask about their successes and pain points. Your genuine interest matters.
• Reflect and Act: After your visit, take time to process what you’ve learned. Did anything surprise you? What might need adjustments to policies or resources?

A Call to Action

I urge my fellow educational leaders to step out of our offices and into the vibrant reality of our schools. It’s an investment of time that yields powerful returns – better relationships, more practical decision-making, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Let’s make school visits not just an occasional event, but a core component of our leadership practice.

How have school visits made a difference in your leadership journey?