Before the First Bell Rings: The Principal's July Checklist for Building a School Ready for Success

The most successful school years begin long before students arrive. Before the First Bell Rings: The Principal's July Checklist for Building a School Ready for Success provides K–12 principals with practical strategies to use July as a time for intentional planning rather than reactive preparation.

School PrincipalEducational Innovation 360July 24, 2026Educational Innovation 360Principal Leadership, School Leadership, Educational Leadership, Instructional Leadership, K-12 Leadership, School Improvement, Principal Checklist, Back-to-School Planning, July Leadership Checklist, School Culture, Teacher Retention, Teacher Onboarding, Teacher Mentoring, Instructional Coaching, Professional Learning Communities, PLCs, Data-Driven Decision Making, School Administration, Leadership Development, Education Leadership, Literacy Leadership, Student Achievement, Continuous School Improvement, Strategic Planning for Schools, School Success, Teacher Support, School Climate, Educational Innovation, Educational Innovation 360, Ei360, K-12 Education, Principal Professional Development, Leadership Strategies, Academic Achievement, School Improvement Planning, Teacher Appreciation, School Vision, Building School Culture, School Leadership Best Practices, Summer Leadership Planning, Principal Resources, Educational Consulting, School Transformation, Leadership Coaching, District Leadership, School Systems, Educational Excellence, School Leadership Tips, Leading Change in Schools, Education BlogComment

What Instructional Coaches Are Really Doing During the Summer

Discover how K-12 instructional coaches can use the summer to recharge, strengthen leadership skills, build stronger relationships with teachers, and strategically prepare for a successful school year.

Expanding the “Science of Reading”: From Phonics to Knowledge, Writing, and Language

Is Your Literacy Strategy Leaving Half the Story Behind? Most schools have mastered the "first wave" of the Science of Reading, but for many principals, the data is still showing a plateau in upper-elementary and secondary comprehension. The reason? A missing link between decoding and deep understanding. Check out how we address these concerns.

School Principal, ReformCassandra WilliamsFebruary 20, 2026Educational Innovation 360Science of Reading, Science of Literacy, Phonics, Decoding, Background Knowledge, Comprehension, Language Understanding, Word Recognition, The Reading Rope, Foundational Skills, Literacy Research, Writing Integration, Sentence Work, Syntax Awareness, Vocabulary Retention, Morphological Analysis, Cumulative Review, Explicit Instruction, Reading-Writing Connection, Cross-Curricular Literacy, Instructional Coaching, Coaching Cycles, Reading Block Optimization, Evidence-Based Curricula, Professional Learning, Change Management, Progress Monitoring, Diagnostic Reading Checks, Multi-Year Implementation, AI in Literacy, Workflow Optimization, Automated Feedback, Scaffolding, Data Security, Secondary Literacy, Tier 2 Intervention, Educational PolicyComment

Educational Innovation 360 Launches Exciting 5-Week Starter Sprints for Educators

Are you ready to embark on an exciting educational journey? Discover the captivating launch of Educational Innovation 360's three separate 5-week starter sprints for educators!

Professional Development, Reform, Administrative SupportEducational Innovation 360July 9, 2023Educational Innovation 360Educational Innovation, Teacher Training, Coaching, Educational Leadership, Professional Development, Teacher Concerns, Principal Challenges, Instructional Coaching, Education Transformation

Empowering Growth: Reflections and Lessons Learned from an Instructional Coach's Journey

Overcoming resistance and managing time constraints have posed challenges, but by embracing flexibility, adaptability, and building strong relationships, I am confident in our ability to overcome obstacles and empower teachers in the upcoming year.

Unleash The Emergency Credentials Now! Schools Are Struggling to Make it to Christmas

Did you know, In Utah, you no longer need a teaching degree to teach; all you need is relevant professional experience? I’m not sure if we are ready to go there yet... let’s start by maybe increasing the teacher's salaries.

Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Student-Centered Coaching?

Coaching schedules should be made public, up-to-date and create time for the coach to spend time in the classrooms; if you are not organized then things can get a little crazy.