Best Practices for a Strong Start
The opening weeks of school shape the culture, expectations, and momentum for the entire year. For school leaders, those first days are an opportunity to establish a clear vision, build collective efficacy, and create the conditions where both educators and students can thrive.
Best Practices for a Strong Start is an engaging and interactive virtual workshop designed specifically for school leaders across New England who are committed to launching the school year with purpose, clarity, and a mindset of continuous growth.
Grounded in the themes of growth mindset, goal setting, and reimagining leadership practices, this workshop challenges leaders to think intentionally about how systems, structures, and relationships influence school culture and instructional success from day one. Through collaborative discussion, reflection, and practical planning, participants will explore strategies that can be implemented immediately within their own schools and districts.
Participants will dive into two critical focus areas:
Building a Positive and Purpose-Driven School Culture
Building a Positive and Purpose-Driven School Culture
Strong schools are built on strong relationships, shared values, and a collective sense of purpose. Leaders will explore strategies for fostering trust, belonging, high expectations, and staff engagement while creating an environment where educators feel supported, empowered, and inspired to grow. Participants will reflect on ways to strengthen adult culture, improve communication, and establish a foundation that promotes collaboration, resilience, and student-centered decision making.
Establishing Effective Systems, Routines, and Structures
Establishing Effective Systems, Routines, and Structures
Intentional systems create clarity, consistency, and stability across a school community. This session focuses on building sustainable routines and structures that maximize instructional time, strengthen accountability, and reduce unnecessary friction for both staff and students. Leaders will leave with practical approaches for setting expectations, aligning priorities, supporting instructional consistency, and ensuring a smooth and focused start to the school year.
Designed to be highly engaging in a virtual format, the workshop incorporates interactive activities, collaborative conversations, reflection opportunities, and actionable planning tools that participants can immediately apply within their leadership practice.
Whether you are a new administrator preparing for your first opening of school or an experienced leader seeking to refresh and refine your approach, this workshop provides an opportunity to reset, refocus, and lead with renewed purpose.
Participants will leave feeling energized, prepared, and equipped with practical strategies to cultivate a strong start, sustain momentum throughout the year, and lead school communities grounded in growth, connection, and continuous improvement.
Leave feeling prepared, energized, and ready to make this your best year yet.
Date: Wednesday, July 29
Time: 9:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Virtual via ZOOM!
PDPs: 4 PDPs
Facilitator: Lisa Kaminski
Cost: $195
Date: Wednesday, August 12
Time: 9:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Virtual via ZOOM!
PDPs: 4 PDPsers
Facilitator: Lisa Kaminski
Cost: $195
Alignment to Rubric
Indicator I-A: Curriculum
Supports leaders in establishing clear instructional priorities and aligning systems and expectations to district and school goals.
Emphasizes purposeful structures that maximize instructional time and strengthen teaching and learning conditions.
Indicator I-B: Instruction
Encourages leaders to create consistent systems and routines that support high-quality instruction across classrooms.
Reinforces the importance of monitoring implementation and supporting instructional consistency schoolwide.
Indicator I-C: Assessment
Promotes reflective leadership practices and goal setting aligned to continuous improvement and measurable outcomes.
Indicator II-A: Environment
Focuses on establishing a safe, respectful, and supportive school culture rooted in belonging, trust, and high expectations.
Supports proactive systems that reduce friction and create predictable learning environments.
Indicator II-B: Human Resources Management and Development
Encourages leaders to build positive adult culture, foster collaboration, and support staff growth through clear expectations and communication.
Indicator II-C: Scheduling and Management Information Systems
Highlights the importance of intentional planning, routines, and operational structures that create a smooth and efficient opening of school.
Indicator III-A: Engagement
Reinforces relationship-building and communication practices that help create welcoming and inclusive school communities.
Indicator III-B: Sharing Responsibility
Encourages collaborative leadership approaches that build collective ownership and shared goals among stakeholders.
Indicator IV-A: Commitment to High Standards
Supports leaders in establishing a culture of continuous improvement, reflective practice, and high expectations for adults and students.
Indicator IV-B: Cultural Proficiency
Emphasizes belonging, connection, and inclusive leadership practices that ensure all members of the school community feel valued and supported.
Indicator IV-C: Communication
Focuses on clear communication systems, transparency, and consistent messaging that strengthen trust and alignment.
Indicator IV-D: Continuous Learning
Encourages leaders to reimagine practices, engage in reflection, and pursue meaningful professional growth.
Sample Professional Practice Goals
SMARTER Goal #1: School Culture and Climate
SMARTER Goal #1: School Culture and Climate
By January 2027, I will strengthen school culture and improve staff and student engagement by implementing consistent relationship-building practices, clear schoolwide expectations, and collaborative communication structures across the school community. I will facilitate monthly staff culture-building opportunities, conduct regular classroom walkthroughs focused on student engagement and classroom climate, and use feedback from staff and students to guide continuous improvement efforts. Success will be measured through climate survey data, walkthrough evidence, participation in schoolwide initiatives, and a reduction in behavioral referrals during the first semester. Progress toward this goal will be reviewed monthly and revised as needed based on implementation data and stakeholder feedback.
SMARTER Goal #2: Systems, Structures, and Instructional Consistency
SMARTER Goal #2: Systems, Structures, and Instructional Consistency
By October 2026, I will establish and monitor consistent schoolwide systems, routines, and instructional expectations that maximize instructional time, improve organizational effectiveness, and support high-quality teaching and learning across all classrooms. To accomplish this goal, I will provide staff training on schoolwide procedures and expectations, conduct weekly walkthroughs focused on implementation fidelity, and collaborate regularly with leadership teams to analyze data and address areas of need. Success will be measured through walkthrough observations, staff feedback, reductions in operational disruptions, and evidence of consistent instructional practices schoolwide. Progress will be evaluated quarterly and adjustments will be made throughout the year to support continuous improvement and alignment with district priorities.
Report abuse