https://www.theunorthodoxprincipal.com/

The Unorthodox Principal, 200 W Columbia Street, Farmington, MO (2026)

08/26/2026

💪🏽💃🏼Join HUNDREDS of principals and school leaders who are taking things OFF their plates, stopping the constant reinventing of the wheel, and using READY-TO-GO resources to transform the culture in their schools.⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

The ULTIMATE CULTURE SYSTEM is staying on sale through Labor Day…🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫

And then we are DONE.

It will NEVER be this price again.

This isn’t a resource you download, use once, and forget about.

This is the stuff you pull out YEAR. AFTER. YEAR.

🔥 Stock the Staff Lounge
🔥 Welcome new staff
🔥 Build student belonging
🔥 Strengthen family engagement
🔥 Celebrate your people
🔥 Reset culture when it starts slipping
🔥 Create traditions kids and staff actually REMEMBER
🔥 Build systems that make culture part of what you DO every day

Use it in August, Oct, Dec…..

Pull it back out in January.🎉🎉🎉🎉

Grab pieces when your staff needs a boost.

Then next year?

PULL THAT SUCKER BACK OUT AND DO IT AGAIN.

Because principals already have enough on their freaking plates.

You do NOT need to spend Sunday night creating another Canva graphic, Googling another staff appreciation idea, or trying to figure out how to make your building feel more connected.

I’VE ALREADY DONE THE WORK FOR YOU.

These are the actual ideas, resources, systems, and strategies I used as a principal to transform schools….and now HUNDREDS of school leaders are using them in THEIR buildings.

Because culture isn’t a theme.

It isn’t matching T-shirts.

And it sure as hell isn’t one freaking pep rally.

CULTURE IS WHAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCE IN YOUR BUILDING EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

The Ultimate Culture System stays on sale through LABOR DAY.

After that?

THIS PRICE IS GONE. AND IT IS NOT COMING BACK.

Stop reinventing the wheel.

Take something OFF your plate.

And join hundreds of school leaders who are creating schools where kids AND adults feel SEEN. SAFE. VALUED. AND LIKE THEY FREAKING BELONG. 🩷🔥

Comment CULTURE for the link!!!! Let’s GOOO!!!!!

08/21/2026

🚨 THIS MAY BE AN UNPOPULAR OPINION…BUT I’LL DIE ON THIS HILL. 😂💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

The first few days of school—hell, maybe even the first WEEK or TWO—should be about BUILDING YOUR CLASSROOM COMMUNITY.🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

YES, teach the routines.

YES, practice the procedures.

YES, establish expectations.

Because hear me clearly:

CONSISTENCY + ROUTINE = SAFETY.

And kids NEED safety.

They need to know what happens next.

They need to know what you expect.

They need to know that your response today will be the same response tomorrow.

PREDICTABILITY BUILDS TRUST.✅✅✅✅

But somewhere along the way, we started believing that teaching procedures meant spending the first five days PROCEDURING KIDS TO DEATH. 😂

When I was a principal, I encouraged my teachers to pull out their BEST, MOST LIFE-CHANGING LESSONS during those first days.

The lesson they LOVED teaching.

The one that made kids THINK.

LAUGH.

CREATE.

COLLABORATE.

CONNECT.

The one that reminded the TEACHER why they freaking loved teaching.

And something incredible happened…

Our teachers left ENERGIZED instead of exhausted.

Our kids left EXCITED to come back.

And while they were learning, laughing and connecting…

We were ALSO teaching the routines.

We were ALSO reinforcing expectations.

We were ALSO creating consistency.

We were ALSO building SAFETY.

Because it doesn’t have to be either/or.

STRUCTURE creates SAFETY.

RELATIONSHIPS create TRUST.

COMMUNITY creates BELONGING.

And when kids feel SAFE + SEEN + VALUED + CONNECTED, THAT is when we can really get down to the business of learning. 🔥

You have 180-ish days to teach your content.

But those first few days are your opportunity to answer the questions every kid is quietly asking:

Am I safe here?

Does my teacher see me?

Do I belong here?

Teach the routines.

Set the expectations.

Be CONSISTENT.

And while you’re doing it…

MAKE THEM FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR CLASSROOM. 🩷

Because before we can ask kids to take academic risks…

THEY HAVE TO KNOW IT’S SAFE TO DO SO.

SAFETY FIRST. SAFETY NEXT. SAFETY ALWAYS. 🩷🔥

08/18/2026

🚨 OH, THIS ONE IS PROBABLY GOING TO P**S SOME PEOPLE OFF. 😂😂😂😂😂

I keep seeing elementary and middle schools announcing:

“ENERGY DRINKS ARE NOW BANNED.”

And I’m sitting here thinking…

HOW IN THE HELL DID THIS BECOME THE SCHOOL’S JOB TOO?! 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

We’re talking about 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th graders walking into school with energy drinks loaded with caffeine.

And YES, schools absolutely have the right to say:

You’re not bringing that into our building.

But can we talk about the bigger issue?

WHY DOES THE SCHOOL HAVE TO BE THE ONE SAYING IT?! Shouldn’t PARENTS be policing this for their own KIDS HEALTH??????

We hear constantly by our POLITICIANS:

“Parents need more control.”

“Parents need more say.”

“Schools need to stay in their lane.”

“Government needs to get out of education.”

Okay.

Then explain to me why schools are now having to police ENERGY DRINKS FOR 10-YEAR-OLDS.

MAKE. IT. MAKE. SENSE.

Because somehow, no matter what happens in society, it eventually lands at the schoolhouse door.

Kids are hungry? Schools.

Mental health crisis? Schools.

Attendance problems? Schools.

Social media problems? Schools.

Phones? Schools.

Va**ng? Schools.

Energy drinks?

SCHOOLS.

Meanwhile, educators are told to do MORE with LESS, education funding gets fought over and cut, and teachers continue to be treated like s**t in way too many places.

But sure…

Let’s add CAFFEINE POLICE to the job description. 😂

And before somebody twists this:

YES, I believe schools should ban energy drinks for young kids.

But I also believe we need to ask ourselves why schools continually have to create policies for things that should never have made it through the front door in the first place.

You cannot scream “PARENTAL RIGHTS!” when it’s politically convenient and then expect schools to parent every behavior, choice and problem that walks through the doors.

Want parents empowered?

AWESOME. I DO TOO.

But empowerment comes with responsibility.

Schools have a role.

Parents have a role.

Communities have a role.

Government has a role.

WE CANNOT KEEP DUMPING EVERY FREAKING THING ON EDUCATORS AND THEN ACT SHOCKED WHEN THEY’RE EXHAUSTED.

So yes…

Ban the energy drinks.

But maybe the bigger conversation is:

WHY THE HELL ARE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVING TO BAN THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE?

There. I said it. 😂🔥

08/18/2026

🩷🏴‍☠️Wow!!!!! I’m still buzzing a day later after leaving Bath Elementary!!!!!!! Such an INCREDIBLE STAFF & LEADERSHIP!!!!!!!!!! True

08/18/2026

🚨 CAN WE PLEASE STOP TREATING SEL AND TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES LIKE THEY ARE SOMETHING SEPARATE FROM LEARNING?!

Seriously.

I keep hearing stories about kids being pulled OUT of class for SEL.

And I keep thinking…

WHY ARE WE MAKING THIS ANOTHER THING?!

Social-emotional learning should be WOVEN INTO EVERYTHING WE DO.

Every decision we make.

Every student we interact with.

Every lesson we plan.

Every classroom routine.

Every hallway interaction.

Every freaking day.

Because these are DEVELOPMENTAL SKILLS THAT ARE GOOD FOR ALL KIDS.

And maybe I’m old school 😂, but back in the day, we didn’t even have a fancy name for a lot of this.

We called it:

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.

Getting to know your students.

Knowing when something is off.

Teaching kids how to communicate.

Helping them work through conflict.

Creating a classroom where kids feel SAFE enough to make mistakes.

Building TRUST.

Taking intentional time at the beginning of the year AND throughout the entire year to actually know the humans sitting in front of us.

That’s not something separate from academics.

THAT IS WHAT MAKES ACADEMICS POSSIBLE.

But somewhere along the way, we’ve become so focused on being a freaking FREIGHT TRAIN THROUGH THE CURRICULUM 🚂😂 that we’re terrified to slow down.

“We’ve got to stay on the pacing guide!”

“We don’t have time!”

And then SEL becomes one more box to check.

Another program.

Another lesson.

Another acronym.

Another “thing” we have to fit into the day.

Meanwhile, we are missing the whole damn point.

RELATIONSHIPS ARE NOT TAKING TIME AWAY FROM LEARNING.

They are an INVESTMENT IN LEARNING.

And educators, this doesn’t fall solely on YOU.

LEADERS, THIS STARTS WITH US.

If we want teachers building relationships with kids, what are WE doing to intentionally build relationships with our staff?

If we want teachers creating belonging in classrooms, are WE creating belonging for adults?

If we want teachers to slow down long enough to really SEE their students, are WE slowing down long enough to really SEE our teachers?

WE MUST MODEL WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE.

I talked about this yesterday with a school, and I watched veteran teacher after veteran teacher nodding their heads.

Because sometimes…

WE NEED TO BRING BACK SOME COMMON FREAKING SENSE.

Know your kids.

Know your people.

Build trust.

Create safety.

Foster belonging.

THEN TEACH.

As this school year begins for so many of us, don’t get so caught up in everything you have to COVER that you forget about the PEOPLE sitting in front of you.

Slow down.

Take the time.

Build the relationship.

Because that investment won’t just pay off next week.

IT WILL BE PRICELESS ALL YEAR LONG…AND SOMETIMES FOR YEARS TO COME. 🩷

BELONGING FIRST. BELONGING NEXT. BELONGING ALWAYS.

08/18/2026

I don’t know who needs this reminder today, but it’s a good one before school starts!

08/18/2026

Legendary Relationship Builder- Kid Advocate 💪🏽🩷
Drop yours in the comments below⬇️⬇️⬇️

08/17/2026

🏴‍☠️🩷A LITTLE PIECE OF MY HEART IS OFFICIALLY IN BATH, NC. 🩷🏴‍☠️

What. A. FABULOUS. DAY.

Bath is a community rooted in history and tradition dating all the way back to 1705…and you can FEEL that pride the minute you’re there.🙌🏽

And Bath Elementary is carrying that tradition forward with an INSANELY talented group of educators who absolutely LOVE their kids, their school, and their community.

We laughed. We cried. We learned. We connected. And I left knowing one thing for sure…

These kids are in GREAT hands. 🙌🏽 🙌🏽

Combine that kind of passion with dynamic leadership, and Bath Elementary is about to have one HECK of a year! 🔥

Thank you for trusting me to help kick off your school year. I came hoping to pour into YOU, but I left with a little piece of my heart in Bath.🩷🩷🩷

Honor the past. Love the kids in front of you. Keep the tradition alive.💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

Bath Elementary…go make this the BEST. YEAR. EVER. 🩷🌎🩷
You ARE WORLD CHANGERS!!!!!!!!!

08/16/2026

🔥 AUGUST IS ABSOLUTELY FREAKING CRAZY. 🔥

If you work in education, you already know. 😂😂

Everybody is running 100 MPH.💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼
Schools are opening.
PD is happening.
Teachers are coming back.
Kids are walking through the doors.
And principals are surviving on caffeine, adrenaline, and approximately 4 hours of sleep. 😂

But can I tell you what I freaking LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE about this season?!

THE PEOPLE. 💗🙌🏽

I absolutely LOVE getting to travel and CONNECT WITH EDUCATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE GLOBE.🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎

From keynotes…

To professional development…

To leadership teams…

To walking into a school and meeting a principal who says:

“WAIT! I’M IN YOUR COMMUNITY!” 😂🙌

Or…

“I FOLLOW YOU ON SOCIAL!”

And suddenly it feels like we’re old friends who just haven’t met in person yet. 😂💗

THAT never gets old.

Because social media is great.

Our community of 230+ school leaders across the nation is incredible.

But getting to actually walk into YOUR school, hug your neck, meet your people, hear your story, laugh together, learn together, and help you build something that makes your school better for KIDS AND ADULTS?!

THAT IS MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS WORK.

And I’m not slowing down.

🎤 2027 IS ALREADY BOOKING!

Keynotes.
Opening Day.
District-wide PD.
Leadership retreats.
Administrator conferences.
State conferences.
School culture + climate.
Belonging.
Engagement.
Trauma-informed practices.
Leadership.

And NONE of it is cookie-cutter.

I want to know YOUR people.

YOUR challenges.

YOUR goals.

And then we’re going to create an experience that actually freaking MATTERS.

So whether we’ve connected through social media, you’re inside The Unorthodox Principal Community, you’ve used one of my resources, or you’ve just been quietly following along…

LET’S CONNECT IN REAL LIFE. 💗🔥

If you’re planning 2027 professional development or looking for a keynote speaker, NOW is the time to reach out.

Drop 2027 below or send me a message.

I would absolutely LOVE to bring a little UNORTHODOX to your people. 😂🔥💗

DON’T TALK ABOUT IT. BE ABOUT IT.

08/16/2026

🚨 PRINCIPALS… YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO THIS JOB ALONE. 🚨

And if you’ve been looking for YOUR PEOPLE, this might be exactly what you need. 💗

There are now OVER 230 principals and school leaders from across the nation inside The Unorthodox Principal Community…and I freaking LOVE what this space has become.

Because being a principal can be LONELY.

Sometimes you need to ask:

“Has anyone dealt with this before?”

“What would you do?”

“Does anyone have a template for this?”

“Am I completely overthinking this?” 😂

And sometimes you just need another principal to say:

“Yep. Been there. Here’s what worked for me.”

THAT is what this community is about.

This isn’t another Facebook group with 47,000 people where your question disappears into the abyss. 😂

This is a space built specifically for REAL SCHOOL LEADERS DOING REAL WORK.

Inside, you get:

🔥 Access to our growing library of leadership resources, templates, tools + trainings

🔥 Practical support for school culture, staff culture, family engagement, leadership, difficult conversations, PD, systems + MORE

🔥 A network of 230+ leaders across the country who understand the freaking job

🔥 Opportunities to ask questions, share ideas, troubleshoot problems + learn from OTHER principals

🔥 A place to celebrate the wins that sometimes nobody outside the principal chair truly understands

🔥 New ideas and strategies WITHOUT having to reinvent the wheel every freaking week

🔥 And most importantly…

A COMMUNITY.

Not followers.

Not customers.

PEOPLE.

Principals helping principals.

Leaders sharing what works.

People saying, “Here…take this idea and make it better.”

Because I spent enough years sitting in the principal chair to know:

YOU CAN LEAD THE BUILDING WITHOUT CARRYING THE BUILDING BY YOURSELF.

And whether you’re a brand-new principal wondering what the HELL you got yourself into 😂 or a veteran leader who just wants fresh ideas and people who GET IT…

THERE IS A SEAT FOR YOU HERE. 💗

Come join 230+ incredible school leaders from across the nation who are doing this work together.

👇 Comment COMMUNITY and I’ll send you the link to check it out!

Come find your people.

Share your ideas.

Steal ours. 😂

Ask the question.

Get the resource.

Become a better leader.

And then go back into your building and BE ABOUT IT. 🔥

The Unorthodox Principal

08/26/2026

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