Breaking Free From The Principal Trap

THE RUCKUS MAKER MONTHLY THEME: PLAYING THE GAME

Breaking Free From The Principal Trap

I didn't become a school leader to manage spreadsheets or watch over test scores.

I became a principal to help create a place where every student can succeed.

Lately, I've been thinking about what I signed up for, and what parts of the job I’ve accepted as “the way it is”.

There’s an unspoken game many leaders fall into: follow the rules, chase the metrics, and try not to make waves.

The Old Way

Schools and the job of principal are still mostly run the way they were in the 1900s.

Back then, schools were designed like factories — hierarchical, compliance-driven, and linear.

The goal was to create workers who could follow orders and memorize facts.

But that world doesn't exist anymore.

And it’s definitely not the future we’re preparing students for.

The Drift Towards Default

Even as I try to lead differently, it’s easy to get pulled into old habits:

• Meetings focused on metrics that don’t matter

• Leadership that feels performative instead of personal

• A constant push for results — often at the expense of relationships.

Even when we know better, the system has a strong current.

And sometimes I don't even notice when I'm swimming along with it instead of against it.

Recently, I made a quick decision about a class placement.

It impacted one teacher most directly, but it also affected the wider team.

I thought I was being decisive, but afterward, I realized the teacher didn’t feel consulted.

I’d moved too fast, and it strained the relationship.

That wasn’t the kind of leader I want to be.

Getting Back on Track

This August, I'm pausing to reconnect with my purpose.

Not with a new initiative, but with my why.

I'm asking myself: What kind of space do I want to create for students, staff, and myself?

For me, that looks like:

• Building a culture where people feel like they truly belong

• Prioritizing learning that’s deep, relevant, and transferable

• Valuing growth, not just grades

• Centering relationships as the foundation of everything

Because when I define what matters most, I can also rethink how success is measured.

Beyond the Score Board

I still believe in accountability.

I still believe in high expectations.

And I still think we should expect great things from our students.

But I don't believe a test score tells the whole story about a student's success.

Student success today is more than academic achievement.

It’s about developing the skills to think critically, solve problems, and adapt to change.

Clear communication and working well with others are skills that will help students long after they leave school.

Playing a New Game

I can't change everything overnight.

But I can choose how I lead each day.

I can stop waiting for permission (go ahead, be a Ruckus Maker!).

I can write new rules for myself.

I can model clarity, curiousity, and courage.

That's the game I'm playing now.

And here's the best part:

It's a game I actually want to excel at.

Because this game leads to happy, healthy students.