The Principal's Handbook

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!Discipline is one of the most draining parts of a principal’s job—not just because of student behavior, but also the ripple effects with staff, parents, and even your own energy. Without the right systems and boundaries, discipline can feel like it takes over your entire life.In this episode, I’ll walk you through practical ways to lead discipline with confidence without burning out in the process.You’ll learn:Why strong structures and routines in your building prevent chaos before it starts.How to reframe parent defensiveness and use discipline conversations to build relationships.The four parent archetypes (and what they all have in common).Boundaries that protect your time and sanity so discipline doesn’t follow you home.Finally, I’ll leave you with a simple challenge: create one new boundary around discipline this week. Because when you protect yourself first, discipline feels lighter and leadership becomes more sustainable.FREE DOWNLOADS*The Principal's Email DetoxDecisive Leadership- Free WorkshopPrincipal Checklist to Disconnect From SchoolBehavior Blueprint for PrincipalsThe Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!Do you ever think, “If they really knew me, they’d realize I’m not ready for this”? You’re not alone. In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, Barb dives into the reality of imposter syndrome—the self-doubt that makes you question your skills, experience, and belonging.Drawing from her own journey as a young administrator and seasoned principal, Barb normalizes these feelings and shares practical strategies to quiet your inner critic. You’ll learn:What imposter syndrome looks like for principals at every stage of leadership.Three tools to silence self-doubt: naming your inner critic, reframing with the TEA cycle, and building evidence of your wins.How to strengthen your confidence so you can lead with clarity and calm.By the end, you’ll walk away with mindset shifts and daily practices to push past self-doubt and step fully into your role as a leader.Listen to episode 3: Dealing with Imposter SyndromeGet the 8 to 4 Principal Planner

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!As principals, most of us entered education because we care deeply about kids—we’re naturally empathetic. But leadership also requires authority: the ability to set direction, uphold standards, and make tough calls. The challenge? Finding the balance between the two.In this episode, Barb Flowers unpacks the tension between empathy and authority and why both are essential for effective leadership. You’ll learn:How empathy builds trust and connection, while authority creates safety and consistencyThe dangers of leaning too far in either direction (people-pleasing vs. rigidity)Three practical tips to balance empathy with authority in daily leadership conversationsFREE DOWNLOADS*The Principal's Email DetoxDecisive Leadership- Free WorkshopPrincipal Checklist to Disconnect From SchoolBehavior Blueprint for PrincipalsThe Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!Struggling to feel confident in your leadership role? This episode with AP and doctoral researcher Stan Koterba explores how self-efficacy—your belief in your ability to lead—directly connects to how you manage your time, set boundaries, and build sustainable routines. We’ll talk imposter syndrome, email habits, delegation, and the mindset shifts that help principals stop overworking and start leading with clarity.Have questions for Stan? Contact Stan at stankoterba@gmail.comGet The 8 to 4 Principal PlannerGet The 8 to 4 Principal Blueprint

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!What if your identity as a principal isn’t fixed—but a choice you get to make every day? In this episode, we’re diving into the powerful concept of identity and how it shapes your leadership. Barb unpacks the 1.0 vs. 2.0 self exercise—one of her favorite coaching tools—to help you reflect on who you’ve been and intentionally step into who you want to become.You’ll walk away with a practical strategy you can use for yourself and your teachers to foster growth, boost confidence, and shift out of burnout-inducing patterns.Inside this episode:Why identity is more than a personality trait—it's a story you're telling yourselfCommon leadership identities that lead to burnoutHow to use the 1.0 vs. 2.0 tool to shift your mindset and habitsWays to model and share this strategy with your staffThe key to building a culture of growth, reflection, and empowermentThis episode will inspire you to take control of your narrative and lead with intention. Your 2.0 self is waiting—tune in now!This activity is part of The 8 to 4 Principal Blueprint, which you can get HERE!FREE DOWNLOADS*The Principal's Email DetoxDecisive Leadership- Free WorkshopPrincipal Checklist to Disconnect From SchoolBehavior Blueprint for PrincipalsThe Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for PrincipalsLeadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit SystemThe Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit*SOCIAL MEDIA*Barb Flowers, Ph.D- LinkedinDrBarbFlowers- Instagramthe8to4principal- TikTok

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!In this episode, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges principals face: discipline. If you’ve ever felt like student behavior consumes your entire day, leaving you drained and reactive, you’re not alone.I’ll walk you through the common traps principals fall into — reacting emotionally, taking behavior personally, and rushing to consequences — and share mindset shifts that will help you lead discipline with clarity, calm, and confidence.Whether you’re handling discipline with or without an assistant principal, these strategies will help you reclaim your time, reduce stress, and actually change behavior in the long run.Get my FREE 5-Step Behavior Blueprint for PrincipalsGet The Principal's Discipline Blueprint.

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!Is your PBIS Tier 2 system supporting students—or overwhelming your staff? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, Barb Flowers shares why Tier 2 behavior systems are often the trickiest to implement and exactly how her team transformed theirs from a paperwork-heavy burden into a simple, sustainable support system for students and teachers.You’ll learn:Why Tier 2 matters and the common mistakes schools makeThe exact steps Barb’s team took—from team formation to intervention deliveryThe mindset shifts that helped staff embrace Tier 2 as support, not judgmentHow to start small, stay consistent, and avoid overwhelmListen to Episode 105: Why Tier 1 Behavior Systems Are a Game Changer (And What to Do If You Don’t Have One)If you're building your Tier 2 system (or need to fix a broken one), this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and practical next steps.Grab the PBIS Tier 2 Toolkit mentioned in the episode.Follow Barb on TikTok @the8to4principal for more leadership tips.

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!Are you tired of feeling like there’s never enough time to get it all done? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we dive into Master Your Week: Planning Tips for Principals. Join Barb Flowers, certified life coach and experienced principal, as she unpacks how intentional planning can transform your efficiency, reduce stress, and even help you walk out the door by 4 p.m.Barb shares her personal planning system — blending digital and paper calendars — and reveals how a simple weekly planning session can create mental clarity, improve meetings, boost productivity, and even support better delegation. You'll also hear mindset shifts that will change how you think about your time and effectiveness as a school leader.Whether you’re a seasoned planner or someone who avoids calendars, this episode will give you practical strategies to reclaim your time and lead with confidence. Tune in to learn how to structure your week so your priorities get done — without taking work home every night.Click HERE to get the 8 to 4 Principal PlannerClick HERE to get the 8 to 4 Principal Blueprint

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!Do you wish you could lead with more intention and less stress this year? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we’re diving into how to create leadership routines that actually stick—so you can be more proactive, visible, and grounded throughout the school year.I’ll walk you through:Why routines are the secret to consistent leadershipHow to build routines that align with your prioritiesCommon reasons principals struggle with routines (and how to fix them)Practical examples of daily and weekly routines that create structure, build trust, and reduce decision fatigueIf you want to lead with more confidence and clarity—while protecting your time and energy—this episode is for you. Plus, learn how to turn routines into habits with my custom habit system for principals, Leadership by Design.Click HERE to get the 8 to 4 Principal Planner.Click HERE to get Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System.

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!Struggling with behavior challenges in your school? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, Barb Flowers explains why a strong Tier One PBIS system is a game changer for improving school-wide behavior. Whether you don’t have a system yet or yours feels stale, Barb shares simple, practical steps to set clear expectations, reinforce positive behavior, and use consistent consequences.Get ready to refresh your approach and create a positive, calm school climate that supports both students and teachers.Click HERE to get the Free PBIS Tier 1 Toolkit. 

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!What does a successful school year look like for your building? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we explore how to set clear, purposeful goals that guide your school forward. I’ll share my personal approach to creating a vision and drafting goals before the year begins — rooted in district priorities, building data, and staff input — so you can lead with confidence and intention.You'll learn: Why starting with your own vision is essential — and how it actually makes shared leadership stronger Five key reasons to draft goals before the year starts How to involve your Building Leadership Team (BLT) and staff so goals become truly collectiveTips for making your planning time efficient and aligned to what matters mostPlus, I’ll give you a quick look at my Lead with Clarity: Vision & Goals Workbook and how ChatGPT prompts can help you organize your thoughts and simplify this process.Start your year anchored in clarity and purpose — and set your building up for success!

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!Are you stepping into a new school year feeling nervous or unsure how to start strong? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we dive into a powerful back-to-school mindset reset to help you kick off the year with confidence and clarity. Whether you're a seasoned principal or stepping into a new building like I am this year, it's completely normal to feel those back-to-school butterflies.We'll explore why the natural reset of a new school year is a gift you can leverage to grow as a leader. I’ll guide you through intentional reflection questions to help you examine how you showed up last year—through your values, thoughts, emotions, and actions—so you can decide who you want to be this year.You’ll learn: ✅ Why confidence is a choice, not a trait ✅ How to identify thoughts that support or sabotage your leadership ✅ How to set clear priorities and show up as the leader you want to bePlus, I’ll share a simple mindset shift exercise to ground you as you step into the year ahead. If you’re ready to lead with more calm, confidence, and purpose, this episode is for you.Get my free workshop, Stop Doubting Your Decisions. Check out my other principal freebies, HERE.

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!Are you letting your mindset get in the way of leading challenging teachers effectively?In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, Barb shares three powerful mindset shifts every school leader needs when working with challenging teachers. From taking things personally, to labeling staff as “negative” or “toxic,” to simply avoiding tough personalities altogether — Barb unpacks the traps that many principals fall into and shows how reframing your thoughts can transform tough dynamics.Barb also introduces Byron Katie’s four questions as a tool to challenge assumptions and highlights the power of shifting your thinking to create more positive emotions, better relationships, and stronger leadership.Grab her free Quick Guide to Navigating Challenging Teacher Dynamics to go deeper, and start experimenting with just one mindset shift this week.FREE DOWNLOADS*The Principal's Email DetoxDecisive Leadership- Free WorkshopPrincipal Checklist to Disconnect From SchoolBehavior Blueprint for PrincipalsThe Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!Are you being intentional about building parent connections this year — or just hoping relationships fall into place? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we continue our summer planning mini-series with Part #4, diving into three strategies I’m using right now to plan for meaningful parent engagement in my new school. From being truly present at key events, to sending clear, proactive communication that eases parent worries, to planning ways to keep families involved all year long — these ideas will help you foster trust and build a strong school community from day one. Tune in and get inspired to strengthen your parent partnerships before the year even starts!FREE DOWNLOADS*The Principal's Email DetoxDecisive Leadership- Free WorkshopPrincipal Checklist to Disconnect From SchoolBehavior Blueprint for PrincipalsThe Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!Are you truly prepared to lead instruction next year, or are you hoping to figure it out on the fly? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we dive into Part #3 of our summer planning mini-series: the three key steps I’m taking right now to plan for instructional leadership in my new school. From digging into curriculum (and why you can’t skip this), to analyzing building data trends, to strengthening collaboration structures like PLCs and TBTs—this episode is packed with practical ways you can set your staff and students up for academic success.Whether you’re leading a brand-new building, changing grade levels, or just want a smarter plan for next year, tune in for insights that will help you be a more intentional instructional leader. Plus, grab my 8 to 4 Principal Planner—the tool I use to stay on top of meetings, classroom visits, and keep the focus on what matters most. 

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, I’m pulling back the curtain on how I’m planning to lead a new staff through a major change—merging two buildings into one. From anticipating the emotions that come with uncertainty to crafting an opening staff meeting that fosters trust, empathy, and connection, I’ll share the intentional steps I’m taking this summer to set the stage for a smooth transition. Whether you're navigating your own building shifts or just want fresh ideas for supporting teachers through change, this episode will give you practical ways to start the year on solid ground.Get my Free Quick Guide to Navigating Challenging Teacher Dynamics.Get the more in depth Guide for Navigating Challenging Teacher Dynamics.

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!In this first episode of my summer planning mini-series, I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly how I’m preparing for student behavior — before the first day of school even starts.  Whether you’re a new principal, moving buildings like me, or just want a fresh approach for your current school, this episode will give you practical ideas to set the stage for a calmer year. If you want to start the year with fewer fires to put out, this episode is for you!Get The Principal’s Discipline Toolkit: Tools for Principals to Respond with Clarity and Confidence to have a clear system for handling behaviors and creating consequences.Get The Behavior Blueprint for Principals to get my 5-Step process for reducing office refferals. 

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!Supporting Teachers with Classroom Management: Are We Missing the Basics?How often do we overlook the fundamentals of classroom management in favor of the latest trends? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, I dive into the critical role principals play in supporting teachers to get back to the basics—establishing solid routines and clear expectations that create a foundation for effective teaching and learning. But that’s not all. We’ll also explore the often-overlooked components of teacher presence and confidence—key factors that influence classroom control and student engagement.Join me as I share common challenges teachers face, including:Teachers not seeing themselves as classroom leadersConfusing connection with friendshipInconsistency caused by self-doubtLack of developed authority presenceForgetting the importance of student engagement strategiesIf you’re a principal looking to empower your teachers and reduce office referrals by strengthening classroom management at the source, this episode is for you!Check out the The Classroom Management Blueprint with my The Companion Guide for Principals to coach teachers. 

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!In this episode of The Principal's Handbook, we’re diving into how to manage your time effectively over the summer while still making the most of your break. It may sound counterintuitive, but creating a productive break can help you recharge and set yourself up for success when the school year begins.Tune in for tips on:Defining what you truly need from your summer breakCreating a balanced structure that allows for both rest and productivityBuilding habits now that will set you up for a successful school yearIf you’ve ever felt like the summer slipped away too quickly, this episode is for you. Stay tuned as we explore how to use the summer as an opportunity for both relaxation and professional growth!Check out Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System!FREE DOWNLOADS*The Principal's Email DetoxDecisive Leadership- Free WorkshopPrincipal Checklist to Disconnect From SchoolBehavior Blueprint for PrincipalsThe Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for PrincipalsThe Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit*SOCIAL MEDIA*Barb Flowers, Ph.D- LinkedinDrBarbFlowers- Instagramthe8to4principal- TikTok

Introducing my new membership for principals: practical coaching + ready-to-use resources to help you lead with confidence and protect your time. Click here to learn more!In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, Barb dives into how principals can create a personal summer professional development (PD) plan. It's time to reflect on your leadership growth, set intentional goals for improvement, and find the right resources to sharpen your skills for the upcoming school year.Key Points:Reflect on the past school year: Celebrate successes and identify areas for growth.Find the right resources: Podcasts, books, online courses, or coaching can help you develop in areas like communication, behavior management, and confidence.Set actionable goals: Visualize success and break goals into manageable tasks with a clear timeline.Tune in for a roadmap to help you grow as a leader this summer and come back ready to tackle next school year with confidence!FREE DOWNLOADS*The Principal's Email DetoxDecisive Leadership- Free WorkshopPrincipal Checklist to Disconnect From SchoolBehavior Blueprint for PrincipalsThe Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for PrincipalsLeadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit SystemThe Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit*SOCIAL MEDIA*Barb Flowers, Ph.D- LinkedinDrBarbFlowers- Instagramthe8to4principal- TikTok