Step Forward

A Wake-Up Call for the Next Generation of School Leaders

The Leadership Link

This Moment Needs Principals-in-the-Making

Let’s be honest—leading a school today isn’t for the faint of heart. Across the country, schools are navigating increased complexity, political tension, staffing shortages, and rising needs from both students and staff. And at the center of it all?

School leaders.

But here’s the good news: we don’t need superheroes. We need real people with heart, courage, and clarity—people who care deeply about students, know how schools work, and are ready to lead with purpose.

If you’re a teacher who’s been thinking about becoming an assistant principal, or an assistant principal who’s been hesitant to take the next step into the principalship—this message is for you.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. But if you’ve ever had the urge to create something better, to support teachers at scale, or to reimagine what’s possible for kids—this is your wake-up call.

Schools need you now.

Why Step Forward?

Becoming a school leader is not just a job change—it’s a mindset shift. It’s moving from impact on a classroom to impact on a system. It’s stepping into the role that shapes culture, builds capacity, and protects the promise of public education.

And right now, the bench is thin.

A 2023 RAND study found that nearly half of principals are considering leaving the profession. Many districts are struggling to fill vacancies, and assistant principals are often unsure or unprepared for the jump.

This isn’t just a leadership gap—it’s a leadership crisis.

But within that crisis lies your opportunity.

You’re not just a candidate. You’re a solution.

What Makes a Strong School Leader Today?

Forget the outdated image of the top-down, clipboard-carrying principal. Today’s leaders are:

• Instructional Partners who coach, model, and build systems that support great teaching.

• Culture Architects who create conditions where staff feel safe, seen, and supported.

• Equity Champions who understand the barriers students face and take action to remove them.

• Strategic Navigators who know how to balance priorities, manage complexity, and stay grounded in what matters most.

• Servant Leaders who listen deeply, care fiercely, and lead with humility.

These aren’t traits reserved for a chosen few. They’re habits built over time—and you’ve already started building them.

If You’re a Teacher Thinking About Becoming an Assistant Principal…

You’ve already done more leading than you may realize. Whether you’re mentoring a colleague, leading a PLC, coaching instruction, or advocating for students—you’re practicing the very skills you’ll use as an assistant principal.

Now is the time to scale that impact.

As an assistant principal, you’ll:

• Influence school-wide practices

• Support teacher growth

• Strengthen behavior systems

• Lead equity efforts

• Build the foundation for future leadership

If you care about instruction, love solving problems, and want to lead with integrity—this is your next step.

If You’re an Assistant Principal Wondering Whether You’re Ready to Be a Principal…

You are closer than you think.

Yes, the principalship is hard. It comes with visibility, pressure, and weighty decisions. But it also comes with unparalleled opportunity—to shape the entire student and staff experience, to build a legacy of learning, and to lead with your values.

If you’ve spent years supporting instruction, managing systems, and building trust, don’t let imposter syndrome or burnout stop you.

You’ve earned the seat. Now sit in it.

Five Steps to Move from Aspiration to Action

1. Name Your Leadership Why
   What impact do you want to have? What do students and teachers in your care deserve? Write it down. Own it. Let it guide your growth.

2. Strengthen the Right Muscles
   Focus on key leadership skills: instructional coaching, difficult conversations, systems thinking, and strategy. Ask your principal to shadow them. Lead part of a staff meeting. Ask for feedback.

3. Build Your Network
   Find a cohort of aspiring or new leaders. Join your state principal association. Connect on LinkedIn or through conferences. You’ll grow faster—and last longer—with a community behind you.

4. Say Yes Before You’re Ready
   If you're waiting to feel 100% prepared, you'll never move. Take the job, apply for the internship, lead the initiative. Leadership is learned in the doing.

5. Work With a Mentor
   Find someone who’s doing the job you aspire to. Ask thoughtful questions. Get feedback. Let them help you see what’s possible.

You Don’t Have to Be Perfect. You Just Have to Begin.

Our students are watching. Our teachers are tired. Our communities are looking for hope—and they’re looking at us.

We don’t just need more leaders. We need the right ones—leaders with heart, clarity, and purpose.

If that’s you—step forward.

Become the assistant principal who leads with purpose.
Become the principal who builds a school where people want to be.
Become the leader this moment needs.