A principal's job is astonishingly complex, and its competing demands can be overwhelming, especially in the first few years. In this book, Jen Schwanke, a principal herself, provides a mentor's guidance to steer new principals through the period of adjustment and set the foundation for a long and rewarding career. The topics you wish your graduate program had covered are covered here-directly, practically, and without the jargon. Drawing on her own experience, Schwanke provides strategies for tackling the most common yet most daunting challenges of the principalship, including: establishing productive professional relationships; building and maintaining a positive school culture; resolving conflict among staff and parents; supporting students' social-emotional needs; conducting staff evaluations and delivering feedback; keeping up with district, state, and federal mandates; and managing the facility and the budget.