The New School Leader

Committed to helping new and aspiring school administrators develop the skills needed to take the next step in their leadership journey.

[The New School Leader @New_School2020]

Most AP candidates answer interview questions by explaining what they did.

Strong candidates go further.

They explain what happened because of the decision.

That is where leadership thinking shows up.

New post: https://t.co/Mr7f6LIoSO

[Dr. Lute Croy @lutecroy]

Early in leadership, I thought being available all the time was a strength.

Eventually, I realized I had confused availability with accessibility.

One creates constant interruptions.

The other creates trust.

Sometimes the best leadership decision is simply creating space to think.

New article:
https://t.co/hhAfpJw0lb

[Joe Sanfelippo @Joe_Sanfelippo]

You can’t control what students will remember in 25 years. You can control how many opportunities you create to be remembered.

Recognize your colleagues.
Acknowledge their impact.
Extend their greatness.

Take care of the adults who take care of kids.

#LeadFromWhoYouAre

[Joe Sanfelippo @Joe_Sanfelippo]

A few reminders for NEW SCHOOL LEADERS on Day 1:

1. You don’t have to know everything.

2. Stay connected to classrooms.

3. Hire great people and help them grow.

4. Take the work seriously, don’t take yourself too seriously.

Time to go to work!

#LeadFromWhoYouAre

[The New School Leader @New_School2020]

If your interview answer ends with “and things improved,”

You may be stopping too soon.

Principals are often wondering:

What changed?
Who was impacted?
What came next?

New reflection: https://t.co/Mr7f6LIoSO

[Dr. Lute Croy @lutecroy]

We’re hiring an Associate Principal at Richland High School in Prosper, TX.

In year 1, we didn’t just open a school. We built one with:

🟣 Strong systems

🟣 Clear expectations

🟣 A culture around Championship Behaviors

🟣 A staff that’s aligned and all-in

Now we’re looking for a leader to help us take the next step.

This is not a “step into something easy” job.

It’s for someone who:

🟣 Wants to continue to build, not maintain

🟣 Leads people AND systems well

🟣 Is comfortable being pushed and pushing others

🟣 Believes every student deserves high levels of learning

I’m looking for a true thought partner.

If that’s you, click here to apply:

https://t.co/xLy1GNwFlZ

[Dr. Lute Croy @lutecroy]

Most leadership mistakes do not come from bold decisions.

They come from delayed ones.

Avoided conversations.
Ignored patterns.
Problems we hope will resolve themselves.

What feels easiest now often becomes harder later.

New post:
https://t.co/W3Z7VcSZbf

[The New School Leader @New_School2020]

Strong AP interview answers are not long.

They are clear.

Answer the question.
Explain your thinking.
Then stop.
Knowing when to land the plane is part of leadership judgment.
New post:

https://t.co/GzDl9oRlV4

[The New School Leader @New_School2020]

There is a moment in many AP interviews:

A candidate answers the question.

Then keeps talking.

More context.
More explanation.
What often gets lost is the answer.

Leadership judgment includes knowing when enough has been said.

New post:

https://t.co/GzDl9oQO5w

[Dr. Lute Croy @lutecroy]

If your leadership requires a title, it is incomplete.

Strong leaders influence outcomes before they hold authority.

A short reflection on leadership and readiness:
https://t.co/smEx4Ki0aq

[The New School Leader @New_School2020]

When you talk about a decision in an interview, do you sound like:

• An actor
• Or a bystander

Ownership builds credibility. Distance weakens it.

A reflection on what hiring teams are really listening for:
https://t.co/0D4nsKVnYu

[The New School Leader @New_School2020]

In assistant principal interviews, credibility erodes quietly.

It happens when candidates distance themselves from decisions:

“That’s what we were told to do.”
“It was a team decision.”

Hiring teams are listening for ownership.

New post:

https://t.co/0D4nsKUQ8W

[The New School Leader @New_School2020]

“What would your teachers say about you?”

This is not a personality question.

It is a credibility check.

Hiring teams are listening for whether your answer matches the reputation your interview responses already suggest.

New post:

https://t.co/6Hzh8qqWpt

[The New School Leader @New_School2020]

Fit is not about trying to match a campus.

It is about whether your leadership strengthens what the team needs right now.

A reflection on fit in assistant principal interviews:
https://t.co/10SYmK66YI

[Dr. Lute Croy @lutecroy]

Found this one in George’s latest book, #ForwardTogether.

We need so much more of this tweet in our lives right now! Challenge with honor and dignity.

[Dr. Lute Croy @lutecroy]

Up next!

I’ve been looking forward to this one by @gcouros. Great way to spend a snow day!

[Dr. Lute Croy @lutecroy]

“Fostering relationships isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a leadership necessity.”
- Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket

[Dr. Lute Croy @lutecroy]

Most assistant principal candidates focus on what to say in interviews.

Principals are usually listening for something else.

How you think.
How you frame decisions.
How you handle complexity.

New article on the most common AP interview mistake:
https://t.co/aJUEmzJTvT

[George Couros @gcouros]

Shifting the question, “Why didn’t I get that?” to “How do I get that?” seems subtle, but can become life-changing.

When you focus on the first question, it emphasizes the control of others, and although that is true to some extent, it doesn’t mean that they will open doors for you.

When you embrace the second question, you realize you have a tremendous opportunity to grow.

And you know what that shift guarantees? Heartbreak.

Putting yourself out there, working harder than ever, and not getting what you worked for can feel devastating.

But I can also guarantee that it will open up doors for you that were not open before, because you chose to open them yourself.

Focusing on your own growth and actions will always lead to the best results. You might not always get precisely what you want, but so much more will come your way.

[The New School Leader @New_School2020]

Most candidates think first impressions in an AP interview are about confidence.

Principals are usually listening for something else:
How you think when things aren’t scripted.

New piece:

https://t.co/aJqnWMekvx