“I have learned that it’s possible to maintain visibility, build strong relationships, and coach instruction without the need to work 65+ hours a week.”

CHALLENGE: FIRST-YEAR OVERWHELM

As a first-year principal in 2020, Wendy Sturdevant of Canyon Ridge Middle School in the Leander Independent School District, Leander, TX, found herself immersed in the whirlwind of responsibilities brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Focused entirely on addressing the immediate needs of her students, parents, and teachers, she responded to every email, answered every phone call, and met with every community member who requested her attention. In that high-pressure environment, delegation often proved difficult for her. “Everyone seemed overwhelmed,” she reflected, “and my servant leadership style took over. I felt compelled to do whatever was needed.” 

As a result, her presence in classrooms was extremely limited, primarily restricted to conducting evaluation observations and handling disciplinary issues, and she rarely had time to run her school’s Professional Learning Communities. 

Despite maintaining high expectations for herself and her team, and receiving positive feedback from the community, she soon recognized the tornado pace was untenable. Driven by a sense of duty, “I was nonstop, 65+ hours a week, often late into the night, and I eventually burned out,” she admitted. “I finally realized my approach was unsustainable if I wanted to be an effective instructional leader.”

MINDSET SHIFT: BE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, NOT THE CHIEF EXECUTOR

This turning point prompted Wendy to reassess her leadership style. She had cultivated a strong school culture and a team-oriented environment “But I knew I needed to find a way to make delegation possible and allow collaboration to truly thrive,” she explained. 

To take that next step, she enrolled in The Breakthrough Coach School Leadership Program. During Phase 1, Wendy came to a crucial realization: As her school’s “chief executive” it was no longer her job to always be the “do-er.” Her appropriate role was to create the context and conditions in which her staff could successfully run Canyon Ridge MS, with her coaching, oversight, and support.

SOLUTION: BUILD SYSTEMS, NOT TO-DO LISTS

Working closely with her administrative assistant, Wendy returned from The Breakthrough Coach Program and established systems and practices that significantly improved her school’s overall efficiency. The first action she took was to declutter her own office and turn it into a conference room, which motivated her to get out of the front office and into classrooms. 

Wendy and her secretary, Megan, then initiated a practice of meeting every day for 20-30 minutes, a step she described as “monumental.” These meetings, built around a shared agenda, helped to streamline their communication, confirm their requests of one another and their team, and track delegated tasks through to completion. By strategically scheduling her work and being able to monitor her staff’s progress, Wendy was able to intentionally focus on instructional coaching, while Megan acted as her gatekeeper, aligning her daily actions with her priorities.

OUTCOMES: COACHING, COACHING AND MORE COACHING

At the start of the 2024-25 school year, Wendy encouraged her administrative team to increase their visibility in hallways and classrooms, and set the expectation that at least one administrator would be present at all times. “This was a priority for us,” she said.

With her attention now squarely on instruction, Wendy found herself more present in hallways and classrooms, engaging with students and staff. And as her visibility increased, her weekly hours decreased– proof that her leadership could be both effective and sustainable.

• By the Fall of 2024, discipline referrals to her office had decreased by 20%, compared to the prior Fall.
• By December 2024, Wendy’s administrative team had completed 181 deeper learning walk-through feedback forms, and she had observed 77.9% of CRMS’ classrooms. 
• Wendy completed all of her required documented walk-throughs and observations before Spring Break 2025.
• Currently, Wendy dedicates 8-12 hours per week to coaching teachers, maintaining visibility throughout the campus, and actively participating in her school’s Professional Learning Communities.
• She has reduced her total work week to approximately 50 hours.

“These outcomes have benefitted students, staff and me, and reflect a positive shift in my role as an instructional leader. Most importantly, I’ve learned that it’s possible to maintain visibility and build strong relationships without working 65+ hours a week,” said Wendy. 

CONCLUSION:

Wendy’s Breakthrough Coach experience demonstrates a meaningful evolution in her leadership outlook and practice. Canyon Ridge Middle School now functions in accordance with intentional systems, shared responsibility, and a renewed focus on instructional impact. By shifting from doing to empowering, Wendy has strengthened her team, increased classroom visibility, and deepened her role as an instructional coach. Most importantly, this transformation has led to tangible results for her students.