Stacking Days: The Work That Actually Moves Schools Forward

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” — Stephen Covey

This time of year matters.

As we head into the final week before STAAR, there’s a natural tendency to feel the weight of everything, instruction, systems, walkthroughs, data, culture. And for many principals, that pressure shows up in one specific way: Am I in classrooms enough?

Let me be clear, this work is not about perfection.

We often talk about the goal of spending two full days each week in classrooms. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s impactful. And yes, there are weeks where that doesn’t happen. That’s normal. That’s leadership.

What I want us to avoid is reducing this work to compliance. Hitting a “required” 7–8 walkthroughs can easily become a box to check rather than a lever for improvement. When that happens, we lose the purpose.

This is where the idea of stacking days comes in. Stacking days is not about being perfect, t’s about being intentional, consistently.

We stack days when we:

• Get into classrooms with purpose, looking for trends that inform our next steps in PLCs.

• Engage teachers in real conversations about their practice, not just quick feedback loops.

• Talk to students about what they’re learning and how they know they’re successful.

• Build relationships during calm moments, before school, after school, so trust is there when it matters most.

• Hold mutual accountability with our teams, where both adults and systems are expected to improve.

  
  

We also stack days when we take care of ourselves.

Leaving work on time. Spending time with family. Getting a run in. Creating space to think.

That matters just as much as anything we do on campus. Because sustained leadership requires sustainability.

Why This Matters Right Now

April is not just about testing, it’s about clarity.

While many of your students will be testing, others will continue the daily work of learning and growing. At the same time, you have a unique opportunity as a leader to step back and observe:

• What patterns are you seeing in your academic data?

• Where are the gaps in Tier 1 instruction?

• What is your behavior data telling you about systems, not just students?

• How is your culture showing up in classrooms and PLCs?

  
  

This is systems work. And the best leaders I work with don’t guess they use data to name what needs to change.

Stacking Days Into Next Year

Now is the time to begin thinking about what you want to stack next year.

Take April to:

• Engage your teacher leaders in what you are seeing.

• Identify 1–3 key focus areas grounded in real data.

• Begin shaping what needs to be different in your systems.

  
  

Then use the time between now and the end of May to:

• Build a clear roadmap.

• Share thinking and gather input from your Guiding Coalition.

• Align expectations for what next year will look like.

  
  

What does this leave you with? Clarity. Clear priorities.Clear systems to build or refine.Clear direction heading into the summer.

And most importantly, your teacher leaders will not be surprised in August. They’ll be prepared. They’ll be part of the work.

Final Thought

The work you do now determines the days you’ll be able to stack next year.

If you’re clear, aligned, and focused, you’ll stack days with purpose.If you’re not, you’ll chase them.

As always, stay grounded in the work:

• Focus on Tier 1 and Tier 2/Enrichment.

• Use data to drive decisions.

• Build systems that outlast a single year.

• And do it alongside your people.

  
  

And for those of you heading into STAAR this week—wishing you, your students, and your staff the very best. You’ve put in the work. Now go stack the days that matter most.