How Do You Focus on Learning When Everything Else Is on Fire?

The assistant principal’s voice cracked.

"Craig, I don’t know how to keep supporting my teachers when half the staff is out and the other half is barely holding it together. I’m covering classes, handling student crises, and trying to stay above water. The instructional work feels impossible right now.”

I felt their pain.

Right now, so many school leaders are struggling to maintain their focus on the core of teaching and learning when the day-to-day feels like pure survival.

🔹 Teachers are exhausted.
🔹 Students’ needs are overwhelming.
🔹 Leaders are stretched beyond their limits.

Some days, it feels like all you can do is put out fires. You’re constantly shifting from one crisis to the next—disciplinary issues, staff absences, overwhelmed teachers, frustrated parents. And somewhere in between all that, you’re supposed to still be moving the needle on instruction?

It feels impossible.

But here’s what I’ve learned: When everything feels like it’s falling apart, that’s when the core matters most.

If we abandon the core—teaching, learning, and the well-being of those who make it happen—we don’t just lose ground. We lose people.

So, where do we begin?

1. Simplify Your Goals: Do Less, but Do It Well

When everything feels urgent, nothing feels manageable. The reality is, you can’t fix every issue in a single staff meeting or strategy session. But you can focus on what matters most right now.

✅ Choose one or two key instructional priorities—and be realistic. What’s one area that, if strengthened, will make the biggest difference? Maybe it’s small-group instruction, student engagement strategies, or a focus on culturally responsive teaching. Whatever it is, commit to it.

✅ Cut the noise—If something isn’t essential right now, it can wait. This is not the time for extra committees, overwhelming PD sessions, or new initiatives. Simplify.

✅ Give teachers permission to focus on what’s manageable—No one can implement all the best practices at once. Find the non-negotiables and communicate them clearly.

This doesn’t mean lowering expectations—it means prioritizing what will have the greatest impact.

2. Empower Your Team: Leadership Shouldn’t Be a Solo Job

If you’re carrying all the weight, you will collapse. You need a team, and you likely already have one within your staff.

💡 Tap into teacher leaders—Who are the educators in your building that others naturally look to for support? Give them a voice in shaping the solutions.

💡 Build peer-to-peer support systems—Encourage teachers to lean on each other, whether through co-planning, collaborative problem-solving, or just checking in on one another.

💡 Trust your staff with leadership roles—Create space for teachers to lead meetings, mentor newer educators, or help make key decisions. This fosters a sense of shared responsibility rather than isolation.

When people feel like they have agency and support, they’re more likely to stay engaged—even during tough times.

3. Prioritize Staff Well-Being: Take Care of Your People

Burnout is real. And right now, far too many teachers and school leaders are running on empty.

👉 Make well-being part of the culture, not an afterthought.

• Create intentional spaces for connection. Sometimes, teachers just need a space to breathe, vent, or feel heard. Consider morning check-ins, small-group debriefs, or just informal moments of gratitude.

• Respect boundaries. If a task can wait, let it wait. If an email doesn’t need a response at 10 p.m., don’t send it.

• Encourage self-care without guilt. Too often, teachers and leaders feel like taking care of themselves means they’re neglecting their students. Flip the narrative: Taking care of yourself means you can show up stronger for your students.

• Model what you want to see. If you never pause, your staff won’t either. Be intentional about setting a tone of balance and sustainability.

The Work Won’t Wait—But Neither Should Your People

I know the pressure you’re under. I know how easy it is to feel like nothing is enough.

But I also know this: The best leaders are the ones who hold onto their core beliefs even when the world around them is spinning out of control.

You don’t have to fix everything overnight.
You don’t have to be the one holding it all together.

But you do have to start somewhere.

So, let me ask you:  What’s one small step you can take this week to keep your focus on the core while supporting your team?