We all know the feeling.
It hits you around dinner time on the last Sunday of break. The email notifications start pinging. The mental to-do list starts scrolling. The “Sunday Scaries” settle in.
For a long time, I thought that feeling was just burnout. I thought it meant I was tired of the classroom.
But looking back, I realize it was something else entirely.
That restlessness wasn’t just dread. It was capacity.
It was the quiet realization that I had outgrown my current container. I wasn’t just tired of the routine; I was hungry for a new challenge. I wanted to do more than just survive the semester—I wanted to impact the school, not just my four walls.
If you are staring down the start of this semester feeling a mix of anxiety and restlessness, I want to offer you a different perspective:
You aren’t trapped. You are just ready to lead.
Leading From Within (Right Now)
You don’t need a title to be a leader. You don’t need an office in the front, a radio, or a set of keys to change the culture of your building.
In fact, the best Assistant Principals are the ones who started leading before they ever got the job.
If you want to shake off the “Sunday Blues,” the answer isn’t to check out. It’s to lean in. Here is how you can “lead from within” starting tomorrow morning:
1. Be the Thermostat, Not the Thermometer
Martin Luther King Jr. famously said that a thermometer just records the temperature, but a thermostat changes it.
Tomorrow, the staff lounge will be full of complaints. It’s easy to join in.
The Leader’s Move: Be the thermostat. Validate the feelings, but shift the focus. “Yeah, it’s tough to be back, but I’m actually excited to try this new unit.” Your energy is contagious.
2. Mentor a Peer
Look around. There is a first-year teacher down the hall who is terrified of tomorrow morning.
The Leader’s Move: Stop by their room. Ask how they are doing. Offer a resource. That small act of service is exactly what “Administration” is supposed to be: removing barriers for others so they can succeed.
3. See the “Whole School”
Teachers see students. Leaders see systems.
Instead of just getting frustrated that the hallway is chaotic, ask yourself: “Why is it chaotic? Is it the bell schedule? Is it supervision? How would I fix this?”
Shift your mindset from “complaining about the problem” to “solving the puzzle.”
Pushing Through to Greater Things
This semester doesn’t have to be a grind. It can be a training ground.
If you feel that pull toward something bigger—that desire to support teachers, shape school culture, and lead a community—listen to it. That is a noble calling. Our schools are desperate for leaders who still remember what it feels like to be a teacher.
Don’t let the fear of the “next step” keep you playing small.
You have a voice. You have experience. And you have a perspective that your school needs.
Let this semester be the one where you stop waiting for permission and start walking in your purpose.
Have a great first week back. You are capable of more than you know.
Is this the year you make it official?
If you are ready to take that desire to lead and turn it into a career, I want to help you take the first step.
I created The “Hired at 29” Interview Kit not just to help you get a job, but to help you communicate why you want to lead. It helps you tell your story, showcase your impact, and walk into that interview with confidence.