We Made It (Mostly): Wrapping Up, Recharging, and Rebuilding

Note to Readers: The Progress Report will be on summer break in June and July. Mike may publish some content during this time; however, the regular cadence of The Progress Report will return the first week of August.

Feel free to check out past editions for all your summer reading needs.

So, so good to chat with you again! 👋🏼

Inhale. Exhale. Collapse in the Car.

If you’re reading this, congratulations—you made it.
Kind of.

The bells have rung. The last awards have been handed out.
You’ve survived the chaotic trifecta of testing, field day, and end-of-the-year emotions.
Your staff group chat is silent (blessed silence).
You’ve lost your keys twice and eaten roughly 37 pieces of leftover sheet cake from three separate retirement parties.

This is the part of the year where school leaders walk a fine line between “I’m so proud of what we accomplished” and “If one more person emails me about next year…”

So yes—rest. Recharge. Sleep without setting an alarm.
But let’s also be real: summer isn’t just for rest. It’s for leadership.

The Summer Truth: Your Work Isn’t Done. It’s Evolving.

Here’s the part no one puts on a mug:
Some of your most important leadership work happens when no one’s watching.

When teachers are out of contract.
When the building is quiet.
When the calendar finally lets you think.

This is when you:
🔥 Build the systems that make your school run smoother
🔥 Fix the things you tolerated all year
🔥 Hire people who’ll shape your culture
🔥 Map your strategy, not just your calendar
🔥 Reflect, so you don’t repeat

You don’t have to sprint this summer.
But you do have to lead.

Because what you do now determines what August feels like.
And your students and staff are counting on a school year that feels intentional—not accidental.

A Few Final Words (Before the Out-of-Office Sign Goes On)

To every principal, AP, coach, or district leader reading this:
Thank you.

Not the Pinterest “thank you” with an apple graphic—
the real kind.

The kind you earn when you…

• took a call you didn’t want to talk

• showed up to a crisis you didn’t create

• covered a class, redirected a student, rewrote a plan

• kept going even when it felt like nothing was working

This work is not easy.
But it matters more than anything.
And you—you’re the one holding it together.

So be sure to get some rest.
But don’t forget: the work you're preparing to do this summer may be quiet, but it’s everything.

Until Then…

Rest like someone who earned it.
Plan like someone who cares.
Come back like someone who still believes it’s possible.

Because it is.

📩 Want to drop me a summer message or have a leadership question you need an answer to? Hit reply. I read every single one.

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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