Most Principals Skip This—That’s Why You Stand Out

OFF CAMPUS

• 🎧 Tiny Experiments: Dr. Polyak uses the “incubator approach” to innovation, leading to interesting results. Listen here.

• 🧰 Ready or Not? Curious about how prepared your school is for the integration of AI? The Ruckus Maker AI Audit is a free, 3-minute assessment designed for school leaders. It provides a personalized score and actionable plan to help you lead with confidence in the evolving educational landscape.

• 🤯 Great Deal: Get 3-months free when you subscribe to the Ruckus Maker Substack before June 30th.

• 🙅🏻‍♂️ No Way: 8 things I stopped saying YES to (and what shifted when I did)

DO SCHOOL DIFFERENT

The One Leadership Move That Separates Great Principals From Everyone Else

There's a moment at the end of every school year when most principals breathe a sigh of relief, pack up their offices, and mentally check out until August.

But the great ones — the ones whose teams would follow them anywhere — Do School Different.

They write the moment into memory.

Not with a newsletter. Not with a memo. And definitely not with "Dear Faculty and Staff…"

They write a Legacy Letter.

What Makes a Legacy Letter Different

A Legacy Letter isn't year-end communication. It's year-end leadership.

It's a one-page reflection that synthesizes what made this year special, honors the people who built it, and lights the path forward with clarity and belief.

Think about it …

Your staff just lived through 180 days of challenges, breakthroughs, and growth. Your students overcame obstacles you'll never fully know about. Your families trusted you with their most precious gifts.

And most of that story will be forgotten unless you capture it.

The Power of Writing the Moment

One principal opened their Legacy Letter with: "The highest compliment you can give a school is wanting to be part of it."

They shared how their accreditation team looked around and said exactly that about their campus.

Another wrote: "This year, trust deepened. Systems started to take shape... Our culture shifted not by chance, but by choice."

These aren't just nice words.

They're leadership artifacts that turn a year of work into a story people remember.

Where Most Leaders Get It Wrong

The biggest mistake? Making it about you instead of about them.

A Legacy Letter isn't a principal's victory lap.

It's a community celebration that positions everyone as the hero of the story.

Use "we" language. Acknowledge collective effort.

Make people feel seen for what they contributed, not impressed by what you accomplished.

Your Legacy Moment

Most principals will never write a Legacy Letter.

They'll send the standard "have a great summer" email and wonder why their culture doesn't stick year to year.

But you're not most principals.

You're a Ruckus Maker.

You've built something meaningful this year.

The question is: Will you capture it forever, or let it fade into "just another school year"?

Your legacy isn't just what you accomplished. It's what you choose to remember — and what you inspire others to carry forward.

The year is ending. The story doesn't have to.

Below, I'll show you exactly how to write a Legacy Letter that moves hearts and builds belief.

TIP OF THE WEEK

How to Write a Legacy Letter in 4 Steps

A Legacy Letter should be one page maximum and take you 30 minutes or less to write.

Here's the framework:

Step 1: Start With Impact

Open with something that makes people feel. This could be:

• A powerful quote that captured your year.

• A moment when someone from outside said something meaningful about your school.

• A truth that defines what you built together.

The goal is to hook your reader emotionally from the very first sentence.

Step 2: Honor the Journey

Don't list accomplishments. Tell the story of growth.

Focus on:

• How your community grew together.

• What systems or relationships deepened.

• The collective effort that made change possible.

Use "we" language throughout.

This isn't about what you did — it's about what you built together.

Step 3: Name What Changed

Be specific about transformation:

• Student voice rising through new programs

• Staff stepping into leadership roles

• Families feeling heard and valued

Avoid vague language like "we grew" — instead, paint a picture of what actually shifted.

Step 4: Point Forward

End with vision, not conclusions:

• What values will you carry forward?

• What challenge are you ready to take on next?

• What do you want your community to believe as they head into the future?

Close with confidence and invitation.

Acknowledge what's been built and hint at what's coming next.

Use your Legacy Letter to:

• Read at your final staff meeting

• Include in your family newsletter

• Share on social media.

You've built something meaningful this year. Now write the letter that proves it.

Want step-by-step coaching to craft your Legacy Letter?

You can access the custom gpt I built for this purpose here and knock it out in ten minutes or less.

ALBA