The School Improvement Plan No One Reads.

Hey, how’s it going? 👋🏼

I want you to know that you’re the reason I’m writing this. It’s for the school leaders doing the work.

It’s getting to be that time of year again—
The emails start rolling in.
“Upload your draft improvement plan.”
“Align your goals to the district framework.”
“Don’t forget to include stakeholder input.”

And so we do what we’ve been trained to do:
We build that plan.
We use the right template.
We hit the targets.
We check the boxes.

And look—falling into the compliance cadence is normal.
In fact, most of us are leading in systems that require it.

But here’s the challenge:
A compliant plan doesn’t guarantee a strategic one.

And if you’re not careful, you’ll walk into next year with a document that meets every requirement—but does nothing to actually move student learning.

So before next year starts taking shape, this is the moment to pause.
Not to scrap the plan—
But to make sure it's the plan you need to lead the work.

The Reality: Most School Improvement Plans Don’t Drive Daily Work

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Most improvement plans are built backwards.

We start with a template.
We plug in buzzwords.
We “align” with goals that sound good but don’t connect to the actual work.

And then…

• We don’t reference them in leadership meetings.

• They don’t drive coaching or professional learning.

• They don’t shape our calendar, our walkthroughs, or our leadership moves.

Why? Because we built the plan to meet requirements—not to drive results.

What This Looks Like in Action

If your current plan isn’t helping you…

• Decide how you use your time,

• Support your people, or

• Drive better student outcomes,

…it’s not a strategy. It’s a static document built around compliance.

Real strategy shows up in your systems.

🔥 If you say student engagement is a priority, you better be looking at student work and walkthrough data weekly.
🔥 If teacher growth is a goal, your calendar better reflect a real coaching cycle.
🔥 If “all students” is the goal, your master schedule, discipline data, and assessment practices better be on the table.

It’s not about what you write. It’s about what you build.

Leadership Moves You Can Make This Week

🍏 Pick 3 Goals. That’s It.
Not 10. Not 12.
If everything’s a priority, nothing is. Focus on the big 3 that will actually move your school.

🍏 Tie Every Meeting to the Plan
Leadership meeting? PLC agenda? Professional learning session?
Each one should point back to a goal in your plan. Make it a habit.

🍏 Build Your Calendar From Your Strategy
If your daily, weekly, and monthly work doesn’t align with your plan—you don’t have a plan. You have a placeholder.

🍏 Cut the Fluff
Take out anything in your current plan that’s just there for optics. Replace it with real, actionable moves you can actually track.

🍏 Plan With People, Not For Them
Bring your leadership team in. Ask your teachers what’s realistic.
If they don’t believe in it, they won’t build it.

Final Thought: Plans Don’t Change Schools. Strategy Does.

If your school improvement plan doesn’t shape the way you lead, teach, and grow—it’s time to reset.

This is the window.
Before the PL calendar fills up.
Before you hire that next teacher.
Before the new school year comes rushing in.

Don’t just submit the plan this year.
Build a strategy you’re actually going to lead.

📩 What’s one move you’re making now to design a plan that will actually matter next year? Hit reply—I’d love to see your leadership in motion.

On A Recent Episode of The Principal School Podcast…

Why Every School Leader Needs to Listen to The Principal School Podcast: Real talk. Real leadership. No fluff.

If you’re a school leader navigating the chaos of education, The Principal School Podcast is your must-listen resource. Each week, we tackle the biggest challenges in education—leadership, culture, time management, student learning, and everything in between. Packed with actionable insights, real strategies, and a touch of humor, this is the podcast that helps you lead smarter, not harder.

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