Stay Organized

Monday Minute 2/17/2020

Staying organized is critical in a leadership role. Each leader has his or her organizational methods. We each must find and use what works for us. For me, I prefer a self-created paper calendar along with my Google calendar. Further on my paper calendar, items are color coded and there are some symbols that I use, borrowed from I’ve learned from bullet journaling. For example, IEP & 504 meetings are done in pink, district level meetings in green, observations in blue, etc. This helps me see at a glance meeting times and from the color I know location. Using my two calendars is one way I stay organized.

A second way the I stay organized is Manila file folders. In my file cabinet they are arranged in alphabetical order with one drawer for student files, one for employee and applicant information, and then one drawer has my snacks and emergency lunch. I also use folders at my desk to keep information that I need quickly, such as teacher schedules, maps, etc.

A third organizational strategy I use is three ring binders, which store discipline forms, agendas and notes from meetings, my principal evaluation information and my finance reports. My notebooks are labeled so I can find which one I need quickly and easily.

So calendars, file folders and binders are some ways I stay organized as a school leader. Perhaps a later post will focus on being organized in the e-world.