As we enter the second third of the school year—a stretch often defined by steady routines, growing momentum, and the first signs of mid-year pressure—it becomes an ideal time for school leaders to reassess the cadence and purpose of our meetings. Every week, we participate in a wide range of conversations: one-on-one discussions with staff, full building staff meetings, IEP and 504 meetings, evaluation conferences, quick hallway check-ins, and the inevitable “pop-up” meetings that surface when schools are at their busiest. While meetings are essential to coordination, communication, and shared leadership, they also require intentionality to ensure they strengthen—not strain—your school culture.

In your building’s established culture, it is important to revisit the when and why of each meeting you lead or attend. Every meeting should have a clearly defined purpose and intended outcomes. Whether you set the agenda or another team member schedules the time, clarity is your greatest tool. When attendees know why they are gathering and what decisions, next steps, or shared understandings should result, meetings become more efficient, more meaningful, and more supportive of the work happening in classrooms every day.

As the year progresses, take a moment to audit your meeting structures. Tighten what needs refining. Clarify what feels unclear. And empower others to do the same. Setting strong expectations around purpose and outcomes doesn’t just save time—it reinforces a culture where communication is intentional, collaboration is valued, and every minute invested moves your school community forward.