Melinda S. Miller

13 Money Mistakes That Won’t Derail Your Retirement

Retirement has taken over The Principal Blog! Turns out starting over is harder than I thought after 30 years in education. Currently, the retirement niche has caught my attention. Settling into retirement was a little harder than I imagined. This is one video about retirement in a series of videos ... Read More about 13 Money Mistakes That Won’t Derail Your Retirement

Retirement Planning: 8 Questions to Ask Before Retiring

Have you thought about what it would be like to retire? Are you within 5 years of retirement? Is retirement even an option for you? Here are 8 questions that can help you with retirement planning.In this video, I share with you the thinking that went into my decision to retire this year.As I spend ... Read More about Retirement Planning: 8 Questions to Ask Before Retiring

Top 5 Retirement Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Retirement mistakes are real but not detremental. Last year I wrote questions to ask yourself before you retire. One year later I have learned a lot. Hopefully, this list of retirement mistakes to avoid can help you with your retiremnt planning.Retirement is an exciting phase of life, promising the ... Read More about Top 5 Retirement Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Why Go Digital? 5 Benefits of Digital Planning in the 2024

Digital planners have been around for years. Whether your a new principal or been in education administration for many years, let this be your year to start using a digital planner. Here are five fantastic benefits of going digital this school year:1. Makes Brainstorming EasyBusy principals are ... Read More about Why Go Digital? 5 Benefits of Digital Planning in the 2024

The Principal’s Office – Office Etiquette

What are the expectations for office etiquette in your school office? Communicating expectations to everyone helps with transparency and creates a welcoming environment for all school stakeholders. The office environment can make or break the culture of your building. Here is how I handled office ... Read More about The Principal’s Office – Office Etiquette

Kickstart Back to School: 8 Staff Morale Boosters That Work!

As the new school year approaches, it’s important to kick things off with enthusiasm and positivity. Keeping staff morale high, from the very beginning, is key to a successful and vibrant school environment. Staff morale is more important than ever in today’s school climate. Here are eight fun ... Read More about Kickstart Back to School: 8 Staff Morale Boosters That Work!

Leadership Email – Does it HELP or HURT?

Leadership email communication should be clear, direct, and professional. Leadership email can be positive or negative depending on both recipient and sender. In this podcast episode, I talk about how email can HELP or HURT leadership. Email is overwhelming and we don't need to make it any harder to ... Read More about Leadership Email – Does it HELP or HURT?

5 Super Easy November Morale Boosters for Staff

These 5 Staff morale boosters are guaranteed to help get you through November. After implementing these morale boosters, teachers and staff will be able to breeze through the holidays. Since November comes on the heels of “Shock-tober,” it’s the perfect time for a few morale-boosting activities.But ... Read More about 5 Super Easy November Morale Boosters for Staff

7 Parent-Teacher Conference Tips for Principals

Ahhhh…. parent-teacher conferences! It’s that time of year again. Hopefully this year everyone can have face-to-face parent-teacher conferences. Our school is 100% back to face to face with the option to be virtual through a separate program.As a principal, what do you do during parent-teacher ... Read More about 7 Parent-Teacher Conference Tips for Principals

10 Secrets to Increasing Productivity at Work

Principals, it’s time to take our lives back and get work done...AT WORK! Keep in mind you may not get it ALL done EVERY day. There will be nights and weekends you have to put in extra time. However, let’s not make over-working the norm. Let’s not work multiple nights and weekends. We can ... Read More about 10 Secrets to Increasing Productivity at Work

2020 Holiday Gift Guide for Principals

Welcome to the holiday gift guide for principals! Principals don’t expect gifts for the holidays. So put your money away if you are one of my teachers, school families, or students. However, if your own families want to gift you the things that make their lives easier then...BRING IT!!!*Disclaimer - ... Read More about 2020 Holiday Gift Guide for Principals

Top 10 Benefits of Digital Planning for Busy Principals

What if you could customize your planner/planning system? What if you could take all the planning things that work for you and put them in one place? That's what digital planning is all about! However, it sounds like we need a digital planner for principals!Sounds like a magical unicorn, doesn’t ... Read More about Top 10 Benefits of Digital Planning for Busy Principals

3 Easiest Ways Principals Can Get Positive Feedback

Getting positive feedback is one of the most complex parts of a principal’s job. Although, giving feedback and getting feedback can be a challenge, we need feedback. However, do we want feedback? I personally prefer only positive feedback. Hey, I am being honest. Who really wants to know what they ... Read More about 3 Easiest Ways Principals Can Get Positive Feedback

5 Undeniable Reasons to Join the Secret Princi-Pal Gift Exchange

It's a secret principal gift exchange! What started as a small event between 22 people has grown into a national secret gift exchange. School leaders from all over the United States and Canada exchanged gifts in celebration of principals everywhere.Since this event has grown to over 400 school ... Read More about 5 Undeniable Reasons to Join the Secret Princi-Pal Gift Exchange

End of the Year Staff Awards

Can you think of a more important school tradition than the end of the year awards ceremonies? There are lots of important school traditions. I don’t know about you but I never thought we’d have to carry these celebrations out virtually. During a pandemic of all things. This post is going to share ... Read More about End of the Year Staff Awards

End of the Year Teacher Check-out

End of the year teacher check-out can be stressful. Couple that with an international pandemic and closed schools. Now you have quite the recipe for significant stress. However, it doesn’t have to be that way.I recently went live in a principal facebook group and talked through our plan for teacher ... Read More about End of the Year Teacher Check-out

Principal’s Guide to Surviving Social Distancing

Whether it’s because of “social distancing” or the “stay at home” order, it appears we all have extra time on our hands. But then again, do we? It’s been over three weeks since CoronaVirus aka COVID-19 aka the Pandemic brought all of our lives to a screeching halt. Anyone feel more productive with ... Read More about Principal’s Guide to Surviving Social Distancing

Confessions of a Once Paperless Principal

I QUIT! I don't consider myself a quitter but the "paperless principal" movement helped me become completely unorganized. The intent of being paperless is to know exactly where everything is at a moment’s notice. As it turns out I can’t find anything anymore.Paperlessness is still the goal. However, ... Read More about Confessions of a Once Paperless Principal

New Year’s Resolutions – 3 Tips for Successful Results

Here we go again. A new year and new resolutions. I am pretty sure that I haven’t stuck with a resolution, ever. So what makes this year different? The book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey changed my life. However, I did not choose this book. It was chosen for me. Let me ... Read More about New Year’s Resolutions – 3 Tips for Successful Results

11 Secrets to Surviving the Holidays For Principals

Serving our school community during the holidays can be one of the most rewarding experiences. It can also be exhausting. Between staff, students, family, friend celebrations and gift exchanges it can be quite overwhelming, to say the least. This is where my 11 secrets to surviving the holidays for ... Read More about 11 Secrets to Surviving the Holidays For Principals

The Ultimate Guide to the Apple Watch for Principals

The Ultimate Guide to the Apple Watch for Principals is meant to help other principals get the most out of their smartwatches. Finally, I have discovered the secrets to productivity using the Apple watch. Hopefully, this guide will get your productivity juices flowing.My relationship with the Apple ... Read More about The Ultimate Guide to the Apple Watch for Principals

November and The Illusion of Gratitude

How seriously do you take being grateful and/or having a heart of gratitude? Is gratitude something you practice daily or just in November around Thanksgiving? How much better could our lives be if we practice gratitude daily? Not just during November challenges, but every day.This time of year ... Read More about November and The Illusion of Gratitude

Digital Announcements for Schools – Smart TV

Recently, I shared my love/hate relationship with the SmartTV at school. Everyone has a SmartTV! We must have one! There were Tweets and Instagram posts showcasing how schools were using SmartTV's. Posting announcements in school entryways. Some were streaming Twitter, others were looping ... Read More about Digital Announcements for Schools – Smart TV