One of my favorite things about being a superintendent is getting out of meetings and into schools. There’s just something grounding about walking the halls, chatting with kids, and checking in with principals that reminds you why you do this work in the first place. We put these visits on the calendar months in advance, and I always block off an hour—just enough time to make some rounds and soak up the energy of the building.
But let’s be honest: no matter how well you plan a visit, schools don’t follow scripts. You might walk into a peaceful morning meeting… or a kindergarten room covered in glitter and staff mortified because it’s pajama day. You just never know!
Case in point: one of my early-year visits to an elementary school with a brand-new principal. We’d planned the usual meet-and-greet, a quick office check-in, and some classroom walkthroughs. She greeted me with a big smile and a beautifully decorated office—think calm leadership meets Pinterest—and we settled in for a great conversation. We talked transitions, early wins, staff dynamics, and those ever-persistent “growth areas.” It was all going so smoothly.
We toured the building, saw happy kids, engaged teachers, and I left thinking, “She’s already thriving.”
What I didn’t know was that, just minutes before I arrived, her day had taken a turn straight out of a school sitcom.
Apparently, a staff member had reported an “odd smell” in the building. Not lunchroom weird. Not gym socks weird. No, distinctly skunky weird.
A quick investigation led to the discovery of a small bag of marijuana. Now, this isn’t your typical elementary school find, although honestly, after the things I’ve seen in lost-and-found boxes and lockers, nothing shocks me anymore.
Normally, our school resource officer would handle that kind of thing. But, because the timing gods have a sense of humor, he was out sick. So, with no backup, the principal did what any multitasking school leader would do: she tucked it in her pocket and kept moving. Because there were still 43 other things demanding her attention.
Oh, and also—the superintendent was on the way!
Cue the mild panic.
She spent our entire visit quietly stressing that I might somehow catch a whiff, or worse, assume she was running an after-school dispensary. I didn’t notice a thing (my nose is apparently retired from active duty that day), but it made for a much more memorable visit than I realized at the time.
It also made me think about how much happens behind the scenes – things I never see or hear about. Sometimes, principals are leading instructional situations. Other times, they’re stashing contraband in their pockets and praying no one asks any questions.
Key Takeaways for School Visits
- School life doesn’t pause for visits. Just because someone with a district badge shows up doesn’t mean the weird stuff takes the day off. Rest assured: somewhere, something is always on fire (hopefully not in the staff microwave or a bathroom trash can).
- Flexibility is your best friend. If something unexpected comes up—like a mystery smell, a surprise parent meeting, or a squirrel loose in the library—it’s okay to reschedule. Principals juggle enough without trying to host a VIP tour mid-chaos.
- Timing is everything. Coordinate visits around the school’s actual rhythm. It gives everyone the best chance to shine—and reduces the odds of catching someone mid-cleanup from an erupting science experiment.
- Surprise visits aren’t always helpful. In theory, they sound efficient. In practice, they often lead to panic cleaning, wild speculation, and at least one person thinking they’re in trouble. A little warning goes a long way.
- Use your time to really connect. Pop into classrooms, chat in the lunch line, and wave at dismissal. Whether it’s a hallway conversation or an impromptu game of four square, it all counts—and it all builds trust.
- Consistency builds connection. Make visits a regular part of your week, not just a once-a-semester checkbox. When you’re a familiar face, people stop wondering why you’re there and start looking forward to seeing you.
Even when the unexpected pops up (and it will), school visits are one of the best parts of leadership. You see the magic, the mess, and the meaningful moments—and if you’re lucky, only some of them end up in stories that start with, “You’re not going to believe this, but…”
Jane