Building Administrator Checklist

August

❏     Take a deep breath and organize your office

❏     Send WELCOME BACK letter to staff and families

❏     Finalize and communicate any bussing updates

❏     Check in with school nurse/health aide on immunization records and student health plans

❏     Meet with PTO/PTA officers to plan the year

❏     Schedule the year’s social activities for students

❏     Calendar a few extracurricular functions you can/will attend in the next two months

❏     Check/test bell signal system

❏     Establish fire drill schedule (min. 1 per month)

❏     Put in writing:

❏     Changes to cafeteria, playground, parking lot procedures

❏     Changes to bell schedule

❏     Changes to school rules/procedures

❏     Review first day procedures with all staff (transportation, pick up/drop off, assembly, etc)

❏     Create a school commitment form, meet with any new staff individually, communicate and have them sign

❏     Connect with district office for your role in new staff orientation

❏     Conduct a walkthrough with custodial/facilities staff to ensure that the classrooms, common spaces and exterior are ready for staff and students.  Thank them for their summer work!

❏     Draft a “new student” welcome activity for the first week of school

❏     Assign mentors/coaches for new staff or those on support plans

❏     Seek information on dates for:

❏     health screenings (vision, hearing, etc)

❏     science fair, book fair

❏     fine arts performances

❏     school/community competitions (spelling bee, math olympiad, etc)

❏     Finalize school goals/school improvement plan with building Leadership Team

❏     Provide badges, keys, etc. to new staff

❏     Identify language translation staff and volunteers

❏     Communicate expectations for staff use of social media and classroom websites

❏     Plan and strategize with your administrative assistant:

❏     How will incoming mail, phone calls, drop-in visits be handled?

❏     Newsletter timelines

❏     Confidentiality

❏     Managing your calendar

❏     Announcements, pledge of allegiance  

September

❏     Leave an encouraging note, piece of candy, etc in staff mailboxes on the first day of school

❏     Make schedule and class adjustments as needed

❏     Check in on new staff members regularly

❏     Register for annual AWSA conferences

❏     Expect the unexpected - stay calm, find solutions and be positive - YOU GOT THIS!

❏     Communicate professional development plan and its link to school improvement plan

❏     Review Crisis Plan and individual procedures with all staff

❏     Set-up classroom visitation/walkthrough schedule

❏     Meet with all staff who are on evaluation cycle.  Begin the teacher observation process with the establishment of growth or improvement plans and pre-observation conferences.

❏     Reiterate collaboration/PLC expectations

❏     Bus safety training for students

❏     Establish emergency calling tree

❏     Meet with social committee to plan year’s activities for staff

❏     Review attendance for the first month and note potential concerns

❏     Establish site plan (update) timelines and committee assignments

❏     Review District assessment calendar

❏     Finalize Problem Solving Team and expectations

❏     Review guidelines for celebration of religious holidays

❏     Confirm members of building Leadership Team

❏     Offer support opportunities to staff for SLO development

❏     Send a parent email, social media and website message the first week with a welcome and any important dates/reminders for the first week of school

❏     Send district Title I letter to parents (if a qualifying school)

❏     Plan for Homecoming week!  Winning is a team sport; all levels should get in the spirit!

October

❏     SLOs due - meet with individual teachers

❏     Establish and commit to a goal of a specified number of walkthroughs per week (e.g., minimum of five walkthroughs a week to include feedback)

❏     Student Council elections

❏     Homecoming (secondary)

❏     Consider potential capital budget requests

❏     Prepare for National Education Week

❏     Communicate scheduling procedures and expectations for Parent Teacher Conferences

❏     Review student performance data utilizing problem-solving team model

❏     Communicate expectations for intervention models and progress monitoring

❏     Conduct informal walkthroughs and share general “noticings and wonderings” with staff

❏     Consider high visibility supervision opportunities - put a student desk or small table and chair in the hallway and do your business.  Staff and students will appreciate your visibility!

November

❏     Consider an “I’m thankful for…” newsletter article, staff meeting activity, etc.

❏     Communicate expectations for report cards

❏     Share walkthrough data/observations with staff

❏     Review your calendar and schedule a winter “getaway” weekend for yourself

❏      Actively participate in formative assessment of your own performance

❏     Review district policies regarding holiday activities and displays and communicate verbally and in writing

❏     Review inclement weather procedures, communicate verbally and in writing

❏     Continue walkthrough and observation cycle

❏     Calendar a few extra-curricular functions you can/will attend in the next two months

❏     Facilitate building Leadership Team meeting to review:

❏     Progress on building goals

❏     Professional development needs

❏     Student performance data

❏     Stakeholder satisfaction

December

❏     Check “on target” schedule for the completion of  first semester teacher evaluations and reports

❏     Solicit input in preparation for next fiscal year’s budget

❏     Conduct mid-year assessments of physical plan and capital equipment needs

❏     Enjoy winter break -- read a book for pleasure, unplug your computer, travel

❏     Determine student scheduling and enrollment practices/processes for January

❏     Continue walkthrough and observation cycle

❏     Be sure to have a clear understanding of building usage while school is not in session

January

❏     Review first-semester performance and intervention data with building Leadership Team

❏     Finalize mid-year changes (new hires, class or schedule adjustments, etc)

❏     Make plans for kindergarten round-up and preschool screenings (elementary)

❏     Ensure college financial aid meetings are scheduled (secondary)

❏     Reiterate expectations and purpose of report cards

❏     Finalize course descriptions and scheduling preparations (secondary)

❏     Review status of students in danger of not graduating, and set parent meetings (secondary)

❏     Compile documentation for any terminations or non-renewals of staff

❏     Begin “mid year” SLO meetings with staff

❏     Continue walkthrough and observation cycles

❏     Document school goal progress and communicate to staff and stakeholders

❏     Celebrate first semester successes

February

❏     Continue “mid year” SLO meetings with staff.

❏     Begin planning for graduation (secondary)

❏     Ensure Academic Career Plans are being developed with students (secondary)

❏     Complete registration and enrollment for coming year (secondary)

❏     Communicate staffing needs with Central Office

❏     Review pre-testing procedures for ACT (secondary)

❏     Recommend any terminations or nonrenewals of staff

❏     Schedule some FUN for your own upcoming spring break!

❏     Begin preparing a schedule for state testing

❏     Continue walkthrough and observation cycle

March

❏     Initiate preparation of building orders and requisitions for coming year

❏     Reiterate expectations for spring parent teacher conferences

❏     Finalize and communicate a calendar for state testing

❏     Revisit initial drill schedule (fire, tornado, lock-down); commit to it for the remainder of the year.

❏     Draft a newsletter article on the benefits of testing, the information it provides, and how the school will accommodate students

❏     Continue walkthrough and observation cycle

❏     Identify students who will benefit from summer intervention.  Communicate opportunities and need for referral.

❏     Begin planning for students transitioning to a new level (elementary/middle/high) school (student visits, parent information)

❏     Calendar a few extra-curricular functions you can/will attend in the next two months

April

❏     Begin conducting end-of-year summative evaluation meetings

❏     Build master schedule for coming year -- seek input as appropriate

❏     Complete graduation arrangements (secondary)

❏     Communicate scheduled changes due to state testing

❏     Conduct a tornado drill

❏     Determine and communicate final exam schedule (secondary)

❏     Finalize summer school plans

❏     Recommend any terminations or non-renewals of probationary personnel

❏     Send 2^nd written notification to parents/students in danger of not graduating (secondary)

❏     Plan volunteer recognition

❏     Review school performance and intervention data with building Leadership Team -- determine method for face-to-face communication with students at risk of not meeting grade level expectations

❏     Consider stakeholder input process (district or building surveys, forums, etc)

❏     Consider opportunities for Teacher Appreciation Week (in May)

❏     Develop criteria for selecting new staff members.  Review district procedures and requirements for hiring.

❏     Continue observations and walkthrough commitments

❏     Meet with PTO/PTA to begin planning for the following year and to solidify end-of-year plans 

May

❏     Initiate goal-setting for the following year -- review performance data, professional development needs, district expectations.

❏     Thank all of the mothers in your life and school community!

❏     Collect required Title I end of year documentation

❏     Redistribute final examination schedule

❏     Remind Advanced Placement teachers of instructional expectations for the remainder of the school year after AP exams occur (secondary)

❏     Check status of probationary students and inform parents of possible failures

❏     Solicit dates for next year’s school calendar

❏     Plan and conduct awards programs/assemblies (athletic, academic, fine arts, etc)

❏     Finalize and communicate graduation plans.  Be clear about an “all hands on deck” approach for the final weeks of the year (secondary)

❏     Call for final reports from all ongoing and ad hoc committees

❏     Locker clean-out

❏     Solicit teachers’ summer addresses

❏     Prepare building year-end report

❏     Plan a refresher!  Schedule a “getaway” shortly after student and staff are finished for the year. 

❏     Begin planning for honoring retirees

❏     Meet with staff and volunteers to go over graduation procedures (secondary)

❏     Begin edits for staff, student and parent handbooks for the following year

❏     Tend to summer school planning/preparation responsibilities

❏     Hold a meeting with outgoing students (8th grade, seniors, etc) for feedback on strengths and opportunities for the school

June

❏     Reiterate expectations and purpose of report cards

❏     Communicate expectations for exam week (secondary)

❏     Recognize (celebrate) volunteers and substitute teachers

❏     Write a newsletter article about the benefits of reading in summer!

❏     Develop and communicate “end-of-year checklist” for staff - what needs to be collected, turned into the office, locked up, reported, etc.

❏     Final teacher evaluations due

❏     Summer school begins

❏     Conduct year-end inventory of textbooks, supplies, and equipment

❏     Complete book orders and supply requisitions for coming year

❏     Close-out and audit financial records

❏     Review state assessment, overall school performance results and stakeholder satisfaction data with building Leadership Team so as to inform the school improvement plan for the forthcoming school year

❏     Review summer maintenance, repair, remodeling, and grounds keeping schedules

❏     Summer curriculum writing begins

❏     Review/revise/finalize student and parent handbooks

❏     Change the outgoing school voicemail to reflect summer hours and your visibility

❏     Draft required “Seclusion and Restraint” information for School Board

July

❏      Review schedule to ensure collaboration time for staff

❏      Create a schedule of walkthroughs and identify any changes to or finalize walkthrough instrument

❏      Identify staff scheduled for formal evaluation

❏      Finalize before/after school service provider agreements

❏      Develop an observation schedule and plan for the year

❏      Review teacher evaluation procedures and deadlines

❏      Communicate class/course schedules to staff as early as possible

❏      Update building forms

❏      Consider upgrades/perks for the teachers lounge

❏      Do a community “walk about” and introduce yourself to local business owners and neighborhood associations in the immediate vicinity of the school

❏      School year preparations:

❏      Draft welcome back letter

❏      Communicate with building leadership team

❏      Review school improvement plan

❏      Finalize calendars for posting

❏      Finalize staffing needs