School Leaders' Think Tank

Before You Take the Keys: Knowing the Difference Between Turnaround and Sustainability

So you’re ready to lead a school—your own building, your own team, your own vision. The moment is exciting. You’ve done the coursework, built the resume, and shadowed strong leaders. But before you take the keys, there’s one question you must ask: What kind of school am I stepping into?

Because leading a turnaround school and leading a sustainability school are not the same. The mission, the mindset, and the methods differ dramatically. If you don’t recognize which one you’re inheriting—or which one you’re best suited for—you risk misalignment, burnout, or unintended stagnation.

---

Turnaround Leadership: The Work of Rebuilding

A turnaround school is often labeled “failing,” “low-performing,” or “in need of improvement.” These schools typically:

• Struggle with academic performance
• Have high staff turnover or fractured cultures
• Face student behavior issues and disengagement
• Operate with outdated systems—or no systems at all

If you’re stepping into a turnaround role, understand this: you are the change agent. The job is to revitalize, reconstruct, and reimagine. That means you’ll have to:

• Make difficult personnel decisions
• Cast a clear, courageous vision
• Redesign systems from the ground up
• Earn trust while holding the line
• Communicate with clarity and consistency every day

Turnaround work is gritty. It’s not glamorous. But it is meaningful beyond measure. You’ll see transformation that wouldn’t happen without your leadership. But be warned—you must be built for the storm.

---

Sustainability Leadership: The Work of Stewarding Excellence

On the other side of the spectrum are high-performing schools. These schools have strong reputations, stable teams, and embedded structures that have proven successful. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need leadership.

Sustainability schools require a different type of leader—one who can:

• Preserve what’s working without becoming stagnant
• Push for excellence through refinement, not revolution
• Build on existing success without disrupting morale
• Lead with humility, influence, and emotional intelligence

The challenge here isn’t transformation—it’s elevation. The bar is already high, and your job is to raise it gently, strategically, and without breaking what’s already working.

---

Aspiring Leaders: Choose with Purpose

Here’s the hard truth: not every leader is made for every school. That’s not weakness—it’s wisdom. Before you accept a position, ask yourself:

• Is this school calling for revival or preservation?
• Do I lead best in chaos or in culture?
• Am I energized by rebuilding from scratch—or refining what’s already strong?
• Do I want to be a disruptor or a steward?

These aren’t just philosophical questions. They’re leadership-defining decisions.

---

Final Thought

Leadership isn’t about wearing the title—it’s about walking into the right mission. Know the difference between turnaround and sustainability. Know yourself. Know what the school needs. When those three align, you won’t just survive—you’ll thrive.

— Joshua L. Yeager