90 Days to Ignite Student Growth in Your School

A few months back, a principal I greatly admire shared a sentiment that resonated deeply with me: “I feel like I’m just running in place. We have a lot of programs and resources, but none actually help our students.” This is a reality that many schools face. You have HQIM, look at data all the time with your team, and yet it often feels like you’re not making any real progress.

Now, here’s the crucial question: How do you break free from this chaotic cycle and foster significant student growth in a short, focused time frame? If you're grappling with this issue, take a moment to breathe—you’re certainly not alone in this challenge. The good news? You can achieve meaningful progress in just 90 days, and I’m here to guide you through this journey!

The Problem: Overloaded Priorities and Stalled Student Growth

In schools, a common issue arises. Leaders often juggle too many goals, programs, and meetings. The result? A lack of focus that slows down student growth and leaves staff feeling frustrated.

As we approach midyear, the need to tackle these problems becomes more urgent. With spring testing around the corner, it's vital to streamline efforts and secure some wins now. This time is crucial for making sure students are ready and that teachers feel backed in their work.

Signs to Watch for in Your School

• Initiatives that start strong but fade quickly. You might launch a new literacy program or a math intervention, but the initial excitement wanes, and the implementation becomes inconsistent.

• Teachers feeling unsupported or unsure about priorities. Without a clear focus, your team struggles to work together, leading to uneven instruction.

• Data that doesn’t tell a clear story. You may collect assessment results, but can't connect them to specific actions or improvements in teaching and learning.

These challenges aren't about individual shortcomings. They reflect systems and habits that don’t support ongoing, focused growth. As we near midyear, it's crucial to confront these issues directly. By narrowing down priorities and concentrating on achievable goals, schools can create a more organized environment that promotes student success before the important spring testing period.

Focus Your Leadership: One Clear Objective for 90 Days

The core idea I want to share is this: You can’t do everything at once, but you can do one thing well—and 90 days is enough time to make a real difference.

Instead of spreading your energy across multiple initiatives, pick one clear, measurable goal tied directly to student growth. This could be improving reading fluency in third grade, increasing math problem-solving skills in fifth grade, or boosting engagement in science classes.

Why 90 days? It’s long enough to see progress but short enough to maintain urgency and focus. This timeframe helps you:

• Build momentum with your team

• Monitor progress and adjust quickly

• Celebrate early wins that fuel motivation

  
  

When you focus your leadership on one goal, you create clarity for your staff. Everyone knows what matters most, and you can align coaching, professional development, and resources around that goal.

Focused collaboration between a principal and teacher reviewing student work to drive instructional improvement

How to Jumpstart Your 90-Day Plan

Here’s a practical roadmap to get started:

1. Choose a Clear, Student-Centered Goal

Look at your data and pick one area where growth is both needed and possible within 90 days. Make sure it’s specific and measurable and translates to daily practice. For example:

• By May 2026, grades 3–5 teachers will implement a consistent daily reading block that includes: (1) teacher modeling with grade-level text, (2) at least 30 minutes of small-group instruction based on current reading data, and (3) daily independent reading with feedback, increasing the percentage of students reading on or above grade level from 42% to 52% on the district spring benchmark.

  
  

• Within 60 instructional days, Algebra I co-taught classes will use a daily cycle of: (1) clear learning targets, (2) quick checks for understanding during the lesson, (3) 3–5 item exit tickets, and (4) next-day small-group reteaching based on results, improving average unit quiz scores from 72% to 87% on common team-created quizzes.

  
  

2. Communicate the Goal and Why It Matters

Share the goal with your staff in a way that connects to their daily work. Explain why this focus will help students and how everyone’s role contributes.

3. Align Your Support and Resources

Use your coaching time, professional development, and team meetings to focus on this goal. Provide teachers with tools, strategies, and feedback that directly support the target.

4. Monitor Progress Weekly

Set up a simple system to track progress. This could be quick formative assessments, classroom observations, or student work samples. Use this data to celebrate wins and identify where to adjust.

5. Reflect and Adjust

At the end of 90 days, review what worked and what didn’t. Use this insight to plan your next 90-day cycle, building on your successes.

Why Leaders for Learning Can Help You Make It Happen

You don’t have to do this alone. Leaders for Learning, led by Dr. Anecca Robinson, specializes in partnering with school leaders like you to design focused, practical 90-day plans that drive real growth.

We bring experience, clear frameworks, and hands-on support to help you:

• Clarify your goals

• Build leadership capacity

• Implement with fidelity

• Track progress and adjust quickly

  
  

Our approach is straightforward and grounded in what works in real schools. We pull up a chair, tell the truth about what’s holding you back, and show you the next steps to move forward.

Book Your 90-Day Jumpstart to get started with transforming your school.

Moving Forward with Confidence

You have the power to break the cycle of scattered priorities and stalled progress. By focusing your leadership on one clear goal for 90 days, you’ll create momentum that lifts your whole school.

Start by choosing your goal today. Then commit to leading with clarity, supporting your teachers, and tracking progress closely. The next 90 days can be the turning point for your school’s growth.

If you want a trusted partner to walk alongside you, Leaders for Learning is ready to help you make it happen. Let’s get started.

Dr. Anecca Robinson is the founder of Leaders for Learning, and a former district leader who is dedicated to helping K–12 educators implement academic programs with clarity and consistency. She helps leaders to align their resources, strengthen professional learning, and support every student’s success. Visit www.leaders4learning.com to learn more about work or contact her at arobinson@leaders4learning.com.