As we gear up for the start of the new school year, our focus as administrators often turns to logistics, staffing, and data. We spend the summer preparing for the “what” and the “how” of the school year. But as the first bell approaches, it is worth asking: Are we modeling the culture of wellness we expect for our students and staff and community?

We often ask our teachers to stand at their classroom doors to greet students, knowing that a single, intentional connection can help a student regulate and prepare for learning. Yet, as leaders, we often sequester ourselves in offices or meetings. If we want our staff to prioritize wellness and relational connection, we must model it ourselves.

Here are three strategies to ground your leadership this year:

Identify and Occupy Your “Front Door”

Every campus has a “front door”—a physical space where the pulse of your building is most palpable. It might be the main office entrance, the bus drop-off, or a high-traffic hallway.

The Challenge: Identify your door and make it a point to be there consistently. Your presence is a reliable constant that signals to everyone—students and staff alike—that they are seen, safe, and welcome. Remember: you don’t know what burdens people are carrying when they walk through that door, and your positive interaction can change the entire trajectory of their day.

Prioritize People Over Paperwork

We frequently ask our teachers to build strong relationships with students, colleagues, and the community. As administrators, we must be the primary models of this expectation.

Move beyond the “How are you?” bypass: Seek out intentional conversations and actually follow up on the things people share with you.

The “Person in Front of You” Rule: I tell my front office staff that the most important task in any given moment is the person standing right in front of them. Everything else can wait. When you approach your job with the mindset that people are the most important aspect of your work, your community will sense it, and trust will flourish.

Grant Agency and “Get Out of the Way”

We know that the best classroom instruction involves students in their own learning—it gives them agency and voice. As leaders, we must do the same for our staff and community.

The Challenge: Give your team the agency to use their unique talents and passions to move the organization forward.

While you must hold the vision for your school or division, you don’t need to hold the map for every single step. Leverage the diverse talents in your building. When people find true meaning and value in their contributions, their engagement and performance naturally increase. This may mean stepping back from your original plan to let a teacher or staff member try their own approach. If it contributes to the overall mission, support them with the resources they need, and then get out of their way.

The Bottom Line

Wellness in schools isn’t just a program we implement; it’s a culture we model. By standing at our doors, prioritizing the person in front of us, and empowering others to lead, we create an environment where everyone can thrive.

As you prepare for the first day of school, ask yourself: How will I model these three pillars today?