The '90-day flip' changing how smart principals start their semester

DO SCHOOL DIFFERENT

The Secret Weapon Transforming How Top School Leaders Crush The First 90 Days of the 2nd Semester

Think back to your last start-of-school season. If you're like most principals, it probably involved:

• Drowning in a sea of logistics

• Putting out approximately 4,827 fires

• Wondering if you'd make it to Fall Break without completely losing it

Sound familiar?

The Problem: Hope Is Not a Strategy

Most principals start each year optimistically imagining orderly hallways, engaged teachers, and maybe even grateful parents bearing gift baskets (hey, we can dream).

But hope alone can't prevent the inevitable perfect storm of first-day mishaps, communication snafus, and that one kid who immediately tests every boundary in the building.

The traditional playbook tells leaders to focus on operations first — getting schedules, policies, and procedures locked down. But this approach is basically trying to build a house starting with the roof.

The Solution: The "Upside Down" Entry Plan

Build Leadership Momentum turns conventional wisdom on its head. Instead of diving straight into operations, successful principals focus on five key areas in this specific order:

1. Self (Yes, Really)

Leaders usually plan for themselves last, if they plan for themselves at all. But here’s the thing: you cannot pour from an empty cup. The most successful principals start by establishing sustainable practices that will keep them energized through the inevitable challenges ahead.

2. Communication Systems

Without rock-solid communication frameworks in place, nothing else matters. Top leaders map out exactly how information will flow between all stakeholders before diving into other initiatives.

3. Academic Focus

Rather than trying to improve everything at once, high-performing principals identify the 1-2 academic areas that will create the biggest impact. They go deep instead of wide.

4. Culture Building

The vibe and energy of a school don't happen by accident. The best leaders intentionally design the experience they want students and staff to have from day one.

5. Operations

Only after the foundation is solid do top principals dig into the nitty-gritty logistics. By this point, they have the clarity and systems to handle operational challenges efficiently.

The Results: From Survival Mode to Strategic Leadership

John Ungar, principal at West Fork Middle School in Arkansas, was skeptical at first. His team was drowning in 15-page meeting agendas and constant firefighting.

After implementing the upside-down framework, everything shifted.

The 90-Day Sweet Spot

Why 90 days? It's long enough to create real change, but short enough to maintain urgency and momentum.

The data backs this up.

Principals using this framework report:

• Higher staff retention

• Improved student outcomes

• Better work-life balance

• Increased parent satisfaction

• And yes, actually finding time to read that fantasy novel collecting dust on their nightstand

The Bottom Line

The old model of school leadership — hoping for the best while drowning in operational details — is officially outdated. Today's most effective principals are flipping the script, starting with themselves and building outward.

Remember: Hope isn't a strategy.

But with the right framework, any principal can transform those crucial first 90 days from survival mode into strategic success.

Ready to stop playing whack-a-mole with school challenges and start leading with intention?