How do I prevent "initiative fatigue" in my school?
By doing fewer things better. Initiative fatigue isn't caused by too much change — it's caused by too many simultaneous changes, none of which receive enough support to succeed. When a school is implementing a new math curriculum, a new behavior system, a new assessment platform, and a new PLC structure all at the same time, nothing gets the attention it deserves.
The discipline is saying no — or at least "not yet" — to good ideas that don't align with your current strategic focus. Every new initiative competes for the same finite resources: teacher time, professional development hours, and leadership attention. Adding one more thing doesn't just dilute your focus — it actively undermines the initiatives already underway.
Strategic focus means that some important work gets deferred. That's not a failure of ambition. It's a recognition that sustainable improvement happens one well-supported initiative at a time.
More on School Improvement and Change Leadership
Why do most school improvement initiatives fail to change classroom practice?
Because they rely on what I call "bulk change" — announcing a new initiative and expecting everyone to adopt it at once.
What is "Lean Change" and how does it work in schools?
Lean change means implementing a new initiative in deliberate waves rather than all at once.
How do I know if a school improvement initiative is actually working?
Look at practice, not just compliance.
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Answered by Justin Baeder, PhD, Director of The Principal Center and author of three books on instructional leadership.