Lessons in Leadership: Takeaways for Superintendents, Principals, and Aspiring Administrators

 

Lessons in Leadership: Takeaways for Superintendents, Principals, and Aspiring Administrators

By Dr. Edwin Garcia, Jr.

Leadership in education is a journey that constantly evolves. Whether you're an Assistant Principal, Principal, Superintendent, or Aspiring Administrator, the responsibilities are vast, but the core mission remains the same: creating environments where students thrive.

Recently, I had the opportunity to reflect on insights shared during Principal Kafele's Virtual AP & New Principal Academy discussion, which featured three remarkable Superintendents who have built reputations for transformative leadership. Their perspectives resonated deeply with me as an Assistant Principal, and I believe they hold valuable lessons for leaders at every level.

1. Instructional Leadership Over Compliance

One of the most impactful takeaways was the role of instructional leadership at every level. Too often, administrators become entangled in compliance; reports, forms, discipline referrals, without spending enough time where it matters most: inside the classroom.

Superintendent Rashon K. Hassan talked about:

The role of a principal not solely relying on compliance, did I submit the report? Did I fill out the incident form? because that’s not instructional leadership.

Whether you’re an Assistant Principal managing discipline or a Superintendent overseeing an entire district, the focus must remain on instruction, student engagement, and coaching teachers. Leadership isn't about managing paperwork, it's about ensuring high-quality learning happens daily.

Key Action Steps:
✅ Dedicate time to classroom walkthroughs. Instructional leadership starts with presence.
✅ Shift from disciplinarian to coach. Support students and teachers by fostering positive learning environments.
✅ Ensure policies support learning, not just compliance. Advocate for systems that allow instructional leadership to be the priority.

2. The Power of Presence & Visibility

Leadership isn't just about decision-making behind a desk. It’s about being visible and engaged in the daily life of a school.

Dr. Gerald Fitzhugh, II spokes truths with:  

"Be present." 

"Be visible." 

"You can't lead from the White House." 

"You have to lead from the school house."

When Superintendents visit schools, when Principals walk the halls, and when Assistant Principals engage with students beyond discipline, it shifts the culture. Teachers, students, and families feel leadership, not just see it.

"Folks need to see you, and they need to be tested every day. It's not a punitive test, it's a test to make sure that you're getting support." 

~ Superintendent Erskine Glover

Key Action Steps:
✅ Start your day in classrooms, not in your office. Greet students and observe learning firsthand.
✅ Build trust through presence. The more staff and students see you engaging in the learning process, the more they trust your leadership.
✅ Listen more than you speak. Ask students and teachers what they need. Their insights will shape better decisions.

3. Systems & Structures Define Success

Even the most talented school leaders cannot thrive in a broken system. A struggling Principal or Assistant Principal may not be ineffective, it may be that the district has not provided the right systems for them to succeed.

"Has our organization developed the appropriate systems and structures that would allow that principle to be successful?" 

~ Superintendent Rashon K. Hassan

Even the best administrators will struggle if schools are overloaded with compliance, disjointed expectations, or limited resources. Superintendents and district leaders must create the conditions for success by reducing unnecessary obstacles and ensuring school leaders can focus on student learning, not just operations.

Key Action Steps:
✅ Evaluate your school’s structures. Are outdated processes keeping administrators from focusing on instruction?
✅ Advocate for better systems. Work with district leaders to adjust policies that don’t support teaching and learning.
✅ Ensure Assistant Principals have a role beyond discipline. Leadership development requires more than managing behavior.

4. Know Your Worth—And Lead With It

Every leader, from an Aspiring Administrator to a Superintendent, will face challenges that test their confidence. The key is remembering why you are in the role and standing firm in your value, skills, and purpose.

"You're in that position because of your worth. You're in that position because of your value. You can't let somebody snatch your worth away from you. You can't let somebody snatch the value that you've accumulated away from you. That's yours."  

~Principal Kafele

There will always be difficult days in leadership; low test scores, frustrated parents, or political challenges. However, leaders must remind themselves that they are in their positions for a reason. We lead with confidence, clarity, and impact when we understand our purpose and worth.

Key Action Steps:
✅ Reaffirm your purpose daily. Start each morning with a reminder of why you lead.
✅ Seek mentorship. Learning from experienced leaders strengthens confidence.
✅ Stand firm in your vision. Advocate for decisions that support student success, even when they are difficult.

As I continue to grow while waiting for my opportunity to lead a school as a Principal, I want to ensure that I am practicing the habits of effective leadership now, not just preparing for the future. It’s easy for school leaders to get caught up in compliance, discipline, and operational tasks, but instructional leadership must always be the priority.

That’s why I’ve developed an Instructional Leadership Plan, a clear, structured approach to staying in compliance while remaining highly visible and making an instructional impact. My goal is to implement this plan in my current role as an AP, refine it, and carry it forward when I step into the Principalship.

Here’s how I plan to balance compliance, visibility, and transformation to ensure my leadership is making a real difference:

Instructional Leadership Plan: Balancing Compliance, Visibility & Transformation

Final Thoughts: Leadership at Every Level

The lessons from Principal Kafele’s Virtual AP & New Principal Academy discussion apply to all of us. Whether we are just beginning our leadership journey or leading at the highest level. Assistant Principals, Principals, and Superintendents must work together to ensure schools are places of learning, not just compliance.

  • Assistant Principals must expand beyond discipline and engage in instructional leadership.
  • Principals must model high expectations and build strong teams.
  • Superintendents must create systems that empower school leaders to lead effectively.
  • Aspiring Administrators must prepare for leadership by learning from those who’ve paved the way.

Each of us plays a critical role in shaping schools that inspire, challenge, and uplift students. The question is not what title we hold, but how we lead within our role.

And so I leave you with this question often asked by Principal Kafele:

"Is your school a better school because you lead it?"

If you are interested in listening to this conversation, check out the video on YouTube:

AP & New Principals Academy: Principal & AP Leadership Through the Lenses of 3 Superintendents

Location: New Jersey, USA

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