Principal Back to School To-do list….

Writing this post was on my to-do list for Monday that I obviously didn’t get done until today:) Seriously, why did I even make a Monday to-do list? Anyway, here is what was on my list for Monday and/or this week after being off work for 2 weeks of holiday break:

Write my to-do list in this blog to help other principals in need
Update school Facebook page
Update school website
Send weekly update email to parents through SISK12
Send teacher memo
Check/update 2nd semester staff and school google calendar
Board Report due Friday – still working on that
1st discipline report due in board report
Write thank you not for parent that planted like 8 trees over the holiday break
Finalize Instructional Excellence logs for Central Office
Call parent who is going to install hand sanitizers
Make chart for 2nd qtr./semester reading scores
Assign readers for the rest of the chapters of our school-wide book club
Contact MAESP committee for new principal recognition at the state conference
Plan “Costumes for Community Service” day for Jan. 7th
Finalize hotel and arrangements for visit to school to observe RTI strategies
Survey 3rd and 4th graders for input on our monthly recognition assembly

So you get the point?! There is lots to do. This doesn’t even include getting into classrooms which I usually schedule or have an idea of where I am going to visit each day. Geesh!

So what else did I leave out? What was on your to-do list for back-to-school after break?

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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 the last 3 months in a career I have had for almost 3 decades, I have asked myself these questions: When, exactly, can I retire and bring home the most money?Missouri teacher retirement is amazing. If you can stick it out long enough, you can bring home as much as you were making when you were actually working. When I was married I ... 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 freedom to pursue passions and enjoy well-earned leisure. However, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Missteps in planning can lead to financial strain and boredom. Here are the top five retirement mistakes and how you can avoid them. 1. Not Having a Plan for Free TimeThe Mistake:The most exciting perk of retirement is looking ... Read More about Top 5 Retirement Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

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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 always brainstorming. Grabbing post it notes, writing on the back of an envelope, or looking for the first piece of paper in sight. One of the first benefits of digital planning is that going digital makes brainstorming easier and more efficient than ever. With a digital planner you can capture ideas on the fly, organize them effortlessly, ... Read More about Why Go Digital? 5 Benefits of Digital Planning in the 2024

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Comments

Cheryl Oakes says

January 6, 2011 at 1:15 am

Melinda, thanks for sharing this list! It takes all kinds of duties to make a well oiled machine run. Thanking those who work and support your mission and your staff and students is all part of the important work. Now on to week 2 of the New Year!
Happy 2011,
from Maine
mmiller7571 says

January 6, 2011 at 1:58 am

Cheryl,
You're the best and always so encouraging! Thanks! And this is really only 1/2 of my list and doesn't even include my personal list:)
Melinda
Dr. Frank Buck says

January 6, 2011 at 9:23 pm

Your post is a good reminder that a principal's to-do list is long…and if you are really doing things right (putting it all on the list instead of trying to remember it all), it's going to be long. that's the nature of the beast. Your lost also looks pretty clear. It's doable. Things are broken down into manageable steps. Finally, it doesn't look like there is anything that couldn't wait until tomorrow if it had to. Emergencies happen, so I have always felt like working ahead of deadlines helped me keep my sanity.

I have always been an advocate of identifying all of the repeating tasks (the things i am going to have to do EVERY year, month, grading period, week) and put that on autopilot so that it feeds into my list automatically. I have a podcast on that scheduled to go up on my blog Jan. 11. (And thanks for including me on your Blogroll!)
Frank