First of all, a quick thank you. You’ve made this newsletter such a success. When I launched it, I was worried I’d have, like, four readers. I have hundreds. And now I’ve got my eye on the thousands. Keep referring your friends! (There’s a unique link at the bottom of this edition for you to use, if you’d like.)
Second, now that we’re all back to work, post-Thanksgiving (for U.S. readers, anyway) and barrelling toward the holidays, we’re all in our own unique mental state.
There’s the principal who’s in year eightyeleventy of leading their school, and they’ve got the rhythms and patterns down. They know exactly how the next three weeks are going to go—save for a few always-unknowns, like student behavior, weather, and a parent meltdown or two.
Then there’s the principal who’s got their eye on spring, because that’s when job postings will happen, and it might be time to look for a different position.
There are the assistants—I wrote about ya’ll last week—who might be deciding whether to stay put or to apply for a principalship somewhere.
There are the leaders who are thriving in one job but are already considering moving to a different level, transitioning into Central Office, or switching roles to take on new responsibilities.
December brings a genuine sense of restlessness in all of us, especially if that feeling is tied to our work.
Here’s the thing I’ve learned after watching thousands of us bounce around in this world: School leaders are either Place Bound or Career Bound.
If you’re Place Bound: You're not moving. You like where you live. Your children are settled. So are the other people to whom you are accountable—spouse, partner, parents, friends. You’re staying put and would only take another job if it was right here, under exactly the right conditions.
If you’re Career Bound: You're going to go after the job you want, regardless of geography. That might mean selling the house, packing up the apartment, changing your address with the post office, or telling your partner to pick up some packing boxes on the way home.
Neither is the right way. We’re all different.
The challenge is that this sense of restlessness can distract us from the critical work of December. Knowing your "bound" status can help you focus your energy and make the most of the next few weeks.
So how can we focus our December energy?
If you are Place Bound: Your focus should be on deepening your impact where you are. This is the time to start solidifying those long-term, structural changes that make your current school even better for the next five years.
Actionable Tip: Sit down and review your school improvement plan—the one you wrote back in August. Identify one initiative you can revisit, review, and significantly improve before the holiday break.
If you are Career Bound: Your focus needs to be on defining your narrative and preparing for the spring job market. Every success story you create now is a bullet point for your next interview.
Actionable Tip: Scroll through your emails. A quick skim will help you remember successful initiatives you have led—things you've forgotten about because your day-to-day work is so rapid-fire. Start a digital or physical list of these successes. This is the glow-up your resume will need in the new year.
And then what?
When you finally get that well-deserved break, don't just collapse on the couch (though definitely do that, too). Use some quiet time to answer one key question:
What do I really want in my next professional chapter?
If you're Place Bound, the answer might be: How can I get more fulfillment, better resources, or a different internal role (e.g., district director, mentorship role) without changing my address?
If you're Career Bound, the answer might be: What size of school, what kind of district culture, or what level of challenge is the non-negotiable next step for me?
Regardless of which group you fall into, and regardless of what you will be doing next year, remember this: December is a time of high stress for the people who look to you for leadership. Your greatest gift to them is your presence and calm.
Bring it on, December!
Best,
Jen
P.S. I don’t use A.I. in this newsletter. Except spell check.
P.P.S. Thank you for referring your friends! The unique link to send to your friends is below. Anyone who refers ten friends gets a free copy of Trusted!