5 Ways to Cultivate More Joy Next School Year

Now that summer is officially here, it’s only natural to turn your focus to next year—and we’re betting you have a short list of priorities that need your attention. Before you dive into your to-do list, we’d suggest adding another priority at the very top: creating the space for more joy in your school.

Before you dive into your to-do list, we’d suggest adding another priority at the very top: creating the space for more joy in your school.

Adding more moments of joy to the day-to-day life of everyone in your school building—and everyone that’s part of your school community—might not seem like the most critical part of your school improvement plans. And yet, it’s this emotion—and the openness and connection it can foster—that serves as the foundation for the larger changes and shifts you want to make for the upcoming school year. 

As part of this summer’s Restore. Retool. Recommit. series, we’re offering some small and intentional ways to cultivate more joy not only within your school, but within your personal leadership as well. We also have a few suggestions for additional resources you can check out to fuel your learning this summer because many of the greatest joys in life—for our students, our teachers, and ourselves—are related to our learning. 

Go with your flow

The quieter summer months are the perfect time to experiment with finding your flow—those moments where you feel entirely in your element, or “in the zone.” 

There are several characteristics of flow. One of them is that typically, the challenge of the task and the skill you’re using to complete that task are equal. There’s an effortlessness to the activity you’re doing, and the experience is intrinsically rewarding. You’re doing the task because you get pleasure out of it—not for any external validation.

The late psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who discovered the concept of flow, called it the “secret to happiness.” And, when you think about some of the times you’ve experienced this deep work, this makes sense. When a challenge causes you to stretch the limits of your skill—and the challenge gets accomplished—there’s a tangible euphoria that occurs. 

When a challenge causes you to stretch the limits of your skill—and the challenge gets accomplished—there’s a tangible euphoria that occurs. 

Pay attention to when and where those moments exist for you. And, listen to and support your teachers on their own journey to find flow. That will help create more of those moments where everyone in your care can do more of what they love and what lights them up.

Continue to foster inclusive environments

The counterpart to joy is belonging. And, when you create an inclusive environment, you’re allowing all of your faculty, staff, parents, and students to feel safe, valued, cared for, and seen for who they truly are.  

Representation is a part of this equation, too. As students and teachers of color get to see themselves reflected in the teachers and fellow educators that surround them at school, they start to imagine bigger, bolder dreams—dreams that can become a reality. And that’s joyful, too.

A caveat here: joy isn’t about pretending everything is great. It’s a reminder that even when things are challenging, and there’s work to be done, there are still pockets of happiness and contentment. And it’s these moments that we can use to influence the days ahead. It’s also good to remember that joy doesn’t have to be big to be impactful. It’s often the smallest moments, done consistently, that pack the biggest punch. 

Joy isn’t about pretending everything is great. It’s a reminder that even when things are challenging, and there’s work to be done, there are still pockets of happiness and contentment.

Put student learning at the center

Schools have an incredible opportunity to be joyful places of learning—and it begins with reimagining the experiences we offer our students. It’s these experiences that can be meaningful, empowering, and relevant for students, and it only takes one moment in the classroom to spark a lifelong interest.

New Leaders alum and principal Rictor Craig explains how creating these kinds of environments begins with our own actions as school leaders. “We often say to our adults: If learning and love are the only things that matter, how would you act?” he says. It’s an insightful question that serves as an important reminder: while our goal is ultimately to ensure our students get the highest quality education, it’s tough to get there without focusing on how to make the process enjoyable and meaningful. 

Create additional opportunities for impact‍

As school leaders, we all have our “why”—our story of what brought us to education, and why it’s so critical for us to do this work. Every time we see the brilliance and potential in someone else—and tap them on the shoulder—we create additional opportunities for joy.

Every time we see the brilliance and potential in someone else—and tap them on the shoulder—we create additional opportunities for joy.

Whether it’s giving a teacher or someone on your staff the chance to step into a leadership opportunity via an instructional leadership team, partnering with parents and families to strengthen communication and connection, or engaging with community organizations to share resources, further expanding your school’s support system gives you more resources to explore. It also gives your larger community a chance to experience their own dose of joy in forming stronger bonds with your school as well. 

And, remember to celebrate the wins

We get it—taking the time to acknowledge when milestones have been achieved isn’t something that comes naturally to school leaders. Our goal is to always be one step ahead, so we can be prepared for what’s next. 

However, it’s pausing and honoring the hard work—of both our teams and ourselves—that makes it that much easier to find the drive and motivation to climb the next rungs of our ladder. Because success sparks joy—and joy fuels further success. 

Restore. Retool. Recommit.

Our line-up of summer resources continues with these joy-focused reads and listens. As you’re prioritizing your own professional learning this summer, consider adding these to your mix!

Read On:

Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Curriculum and Instruction by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad

In this recently released book—a follow-up to Cultivating Genius—Dr. Muhammad defines joy as more than celebration and happiness, but also as wellness, beauty, healing, and justice for oneself and across humanity. Learn how to locate joy at the center of teaching and learning—and why stories matter. 

Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee 

For something a little different, try designer and TED speaker Lee’s book, who makes a case for the “aesthetics of joy,” and how our external environments can play a big part in creating happier personal and professional spaces. 

Listen In: 

Tales From the Principal’s Chair podcast with Cassandra Wilson

Join former Chicago Public Schools Principal Cassandra Wilson as she highlights the stories of principals around the world—taking a look at the frameworks, research, and work culture of being an education leader.

For more resources and effective strategies, explore our full series: How Education Leaders Can Restore. Retool. Recommit. Now and All School Year—Part 2.