Jennifer Howell

If you want to become a better leader, stop talking about leadership and adopt this mindset:

I spent ten years as an assistant principal—some of the hardest and most rewarding years of my career. And if there’s ever a month that highlights just how critical that role is… it’s April. Testing season. Packed activity calendars. Rising energy levels across the building. It’s a lot. And right in the middle of it all are assistant principals—steady, present, and essential. Teachers experience the daily wins of the classroom—the moments that remind them why they teach. Principals often stand in the spotlight, representing the school and celebrating its success. But assistant principals? They work behind the scenes. They take on the work others can’t—or won’t: Discipline and difficult conversations Parent meetings Scheduling issues and last-minute coverage The countless logistics that keep a school running They are problem-solvers in constant motion. They are the ones who: Support a teacher dealing with challenging behavior Step in when a student is being bullied Cover a class when no substitute shows up Listen to frustrated teachers with patience and empathy Make sure a child without lunch still gets to eat Stay late for the student who missed the bus Stand beside teachers in tough parent conferences Walk the halls, creating calm through their presence The work isn’t glamorous. It often goes unnoticed. And too often, it’s taken for granted. But it matters. Assistant principals are the reason schools hold together when things get hard. They do whatever it takes so teachers can teach and students can learn. I see it. I appreciate it. And I hope they know the difference they make. Because they don’t just support the work… They make the work possible. Assistant principals are the backbone of our schools—true unsung heroes. #APWeek #AssistantPrincipalWeek

Coach K said, "In order to get better, you change limits." "When you change limits, you're going to look bad and you're going to fail." Growth requires discomfort and a willingness to get outside your comfort zone. It requires intentionality, self-awareness, and a deep commitment to growth.

@SportPsychTips Discipline over motivation. Nick Saban said, "Doing what you're supposed to do, when you're supposed to do it, the way it's supposed to get done." • It means choosing commitment over comfort. • It means consistency in your habits. • It means being mentally tough.

Ever wish you had a thought partner sitting beside you while planning — one who could instantly help you design quick, meaningful Checks for Understanding (CfUs) that actually change your teaching in real time? That’s exactly what this new CfU OptionsTool does. It helps you plan lessons that see student thinking as it happens not weeks later through marking. By answering just three prompts— 1. Grade level 2. Learning target 3. When you’ll check (Before, During, or After instruction) You’ll instantly receive: 3–5 tailored CfU ideas for your lesson phase Each with clear purposes, ready-to-use student prompts, and practical teacher moves Plus branching next steps (reteach, clarify, or extend) based on what you find No fluff, no jargon. Just actionable, research-aligned tools to make your learners’ thinking visible and your teaching adaptive. Here’s what it looks like in action: “Before instruction” → Baseline prompts to surface prior knowledge “During instruction” → Misconception probes to adjust mid-lesson “After instruction” → Application and reflection checks to close the loop So instead of wondering “Did they get it?”  you’ll know exactly what they’ve understood, how they’re thinking, and what to do next. If you’re ready to make every lesson more responsive, the CfU Options Tool today. ChatGPT and Google Gem Versions Enjoy and most importantly SHARE!!! docs.google.com/presentation/d…

The best assistant coaches are culture builders. They reinforce the standard when no one is watching. They coach the last player on the bench like a star. They lead without needing the spotlight. Championship programs are built on their shoulders.

RELATIONSHIPS MATTER: How we respond to kids in their successes and failures can impact their self-talk, self-esteem, and motivation. Every child deserves an advocate ❤️ who will push them while also providing the support to push forward and to get back up when they fall.

Regulated adults help co-regulate students. That calm voice. That steady presence. That moment you paused instead of reacting. It matters more than you know.

It doesn’t work that way.

We will never change behaviors with one conversation. Change takes time. Change takes patience. Change takes support. 🧡

Some days, they may get on your last nerve. But remember, they're just children trying to figure out life. So love them means to care for them, encourage them and help them to become their best.

When do we know we've changed? When all the "best practices" become just a part of what we do every day for learning. Practices made permanent by collectively committing to the culture. In other words, this is what we do because this is who we are.

Prek-12 Instructional Coaches completed day one of Instructional Coach training with Learning Forward. What a committed group of coaches eager to learn how to support teachers!

Congratulations to the Tift County Recreation Department 12U All Star Masters, for winning the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!! #4theT

Just hanging out with Writing Fair winners tonight!