The New Principal's Playbook: Lead the Adults Well and Transform Your School's Culture

Stepping into the principalship, or any new leadership role, can feel overwhelming. The expectations are high, the pace is relentless, and the adults you lead are watching closely—wondering who you are, what you value, and whether you can be trusted to lead well.The New Principal’s Playbook is a practical roadmap for new and emerging school principals (and any leader responsible for guiding adults) who want to build trust quickly, set a clear direction, and create a healthy, high-functioning professional culture.Drawing from more than two decades of K–12 leadership, facilitation, and coaching, Dr. Jason Wenschlag provides a clear framework and actionable tools to help you:Build trust and authentic relationships through self-awareness and structured listening conversations.Launch with clarity through vision, alignment, and shared expectations.Develop people through coaching, connection, and shared leadership.Build systems that sustain culture and support long-term success.Whether you are entering your first year as a school principal, serving in that capacity but launching in a new school, or wanting to reboot your leadership, this book will help you develop greater confidence, deepen competence, and foster a professional culture where faculty and staff thrive….and students do, too.Bonus: the book includes access to an exclusive companion AI coaching tool, The Principal’s Playbook AI, designed around the framework and ideas in this book (details inside). Read more