Conference Season

Conference Season Resources for School Leaders

Parent conferences ask a lot of your staff, on top of everything else on their plate. These resources help school leaders support teachers through long days and long nights.

Printable sheet of On a Tough Day note cards beside two completed When Things Feel Tough cards for a staff wellbeing activity
Printable sheet of On a Tough Day note cards beside two completed When Things Feel Tough cards for a staff wellbeing activity

Here for You Notes: A 3-Step Staff Wellbeing Activity

A staff wellbeing activity for a hard day
5-10 minutes
Staff gratitude jar printables, including the cover page and 3-step sign, with markers, sticky notes, tape, and twine on a yellow background

Gratitude Jar: A 4-Step Gratitude Activity for Staff

A gratitude activity for staff that collects 1-2 thank-you notes per person each week all month long.
2-3 min per note
Staff Thanksgiving potluck printables, including dip sign-up sheets and a staff appreciation sign, with a bag of chips and a napkin

Dipsgiving: A Staff Thanksgiving Potluck

A staff Thanksgiving food idea that offers a twist on the traditional potluck.
Ongoing
Notecards with handwritten notes on them lay diagonally on a light blue background.

Gratitude & Celebration: Teacher Appreciation Note Templates

Printable postcards for school leaders to thank staff in writing.
3-5 min
Several sheets of paper, one with writing on it, sit on a wooden desk. A blue pen, sticky notes, jar of pens, small plant, and coffee cup are placed around the paper.

TGIF Reflection: An End-of-Week Teacher Activity

A simple end-of-week reflection that helps staff reflect on positive moments.
5–10 min
Six pieces of paper are taped to a white wall with colorful sticky notes placed all around. Two people reach in from each side to place more sticky notes.

Sticky Note Staff Check-In

An easy way to ask your staff how they’re doing.
10–15 min
Four notecards taped to a desk chair. The chair is in front of a white desk with papers and jar of pencils.

Desk Drops & Daily Joy: Small Surprises that Boost Teacher Morale

A toolkit for school leaders to show appreciation, strengthen staff connection, and celebrate the everyday.
Ongoing
Several sheets of paper a clipboard, tape dispenser, and pencil lay on a green bac

Teacher Check-In Tracker: Stay Connected With Every Staff Member

A simple staff and teacher wellbeing system for tracking check-ins.
1-2 min
Someone passes a coupon on to another person in front of a white desk with a plan and pens on it.

Take Ten: A Mental Health Break for Teachers During the School Day

A simple way for school leaders to give teachers and staff a 10–15 minute break during the school day.
10–15 min
Three people stand in front of a yellow wall with pens in their hands, pointing and laughing. Sheets of paper that say BINGO are taped on the wall.

Little Wins Write-In Bingo: Teacher Bingo for Your School

A shared board for Little Wins that add up.
Ongoing
A side view of a piece of paper with a plant vine next to it on a bright green background.

Center & Ground: Mindfulness for Teachers with 4 Practices

Simple grounding exercises for your staff to breathe, reset, and start the day steady.
1 min
An array of snacks in blue bags sits in front of a wall with a poster and blue sticky-notes.

Out of the Blue: A Snack Cart Idea to Delight Your Staff

A snack cart idea that shows appreciation to your staff with a fun, blue-themed cart.
Ongoing
Two women sit at a table with pens in hands. they write on notecards.

Quick Quarterly Questions Icebreaker

A quick staff icebreaker activity for reflecting on quarterly wins, goals, and gratitude.
15-20 min
A card that says "question bank", notecard and part of a clipboard lays on a light blue background.

Classroom Walkthrough Tips for School Leaders

A guide to making quick, 5-10 minute classroom walkthroughs count.
5-10 min
A man sits at a desk, smiling at a woman sitting across from him. Papers and a plant are on the desk.

A Quick Guide to Honest Conversations

One-on-one check-in questions that help school leaders open honest conversations.
15–30 min
A person sitting at a table writes a hand-written note.

Celebration Notes

A ready-to-print stack of little notes that go a long way.
A man stands at a whiteboard writing on notecards with peoples' names on them.

Staff Superpowers

One of the easiest teacher recognition ideas for building a proud, connected school culture.
Ongoing
A stack of small bags of chips sits on a table with a sign posted on the wall behind them. A hand reaches in to grab a bag.

All That and a Bag of Chips

A themed snack cart to celebrate your staff as the full package.
30-45 min
Someone stands in front of a cart with pumpkins and orange treats on it.

Trick or Treat Trolley

A candy-filled cart leaders can wheel around to surprise staff with treats.
Ongoing
A tea station with flowers is set up on a table. A hand reaches in and pours water into a mug.

TEA-riffic Teachers

A simple, yet effective staff appreciation activity.
Ongoing
A man and a woman take a selfie in a stairwell. A woman goes down the stairs behind them.

Quick! Take a Pic

A fun team building activity for teachers.
10–15 min
A woman stands in a classroom in front of a large television screen pointing at it. A woman sits in front of her writing on a piece of paper on a clipboard.

Observation & Evaluation Jitters

A quick reflection activity with free printable cards for staff.
10-15 min
In a classroom, hands hold up a corded phone and a piece of paper.

Morning Mantras

A low-prep habit for school leaders: share a positive quote or phrase during morning or weekly announcements.
1-2 min
A bowl of jumbo marshmallows sits on a shelf. Three toothpicks with paper flags and names on them are stuck in the marshmallows.

Marshmallow Wars

A playful all-day staff game where teachers compete to collect colleague names.
Ongoing
A woman sits at a wooden desk with markers and a potted plant on it. She is writing with a green pen on a sheet of paper.

Look Back on My Day

A simple end-of-day reflection printable for school leaders.
5 min
Several sheets of paper, small notecards, pens, and a roll of tape lay on a light blue background.

A Collection of Little Wins

An activity to notice the people, moments, and memories that make your school special.
15-20 min
A women sits in a classroom at a desk grading papers.

Grading Grind

A quick reflection activity with free printable cards to help staff reset and refocus.
10-15 min
A colorful paper chain lays on a yellow table. Two hands reach in to add another link to the chain.

Family Connection Projects

A year-round family engagement project for school leaders.
Ongoing
A woman sits at a white table writing on a notecard. A piece of paper, marks in a jar, stapler and water bottle site on the table beside the notecard.

Creating a Positive Mindset

A printable graphic that helps school leaders and their staff reframe challenges with a solution-focused approach.
Ongoing
A poster hangs on a bright green bulletin board. A hand reaches in from the right and places a handwritten note underneath the poster.

Collaborative Positivity Boards

A shared bulletin board where staff and students contribute uplifting quotes, artwork, gratitude notes, and school accomplishments.
Ongoing
Coffee mugs, to-go cups, a kettle, and coffee supplies sit on a wooden table in front of a peg board. A poster and handwritten notes are taped to the peg board. A hand reaches in to grab a coffee mug.

Coffee & Compliments

A coffee station paired with a compliment board where staff leave anonymous notes of appreciation.
Ongoing
Someone stands in front of a wood table with paper cuttters and office supplies on it. They place items in a blue folder.

Classroom Support Program

A list of tips for organizing classroom volunteer programs.
Ongoing
Small boxes of cereal, plastic spoons and bowls lay on a table. In the background is a brown wall with a poster that says "our staff is cereal-iously the best."

Cereal-iously the Best Staff

A low-prep treat that gives staff a quick break and a sweet reminder that you appreciate them.
Ongoing
A bulletin board is covered in pieces of paper with gold stars on them. A hand reaches in from the right to place another sticker.

Four Square Responses

A simple way to ask your staff how they’re doing.
10–20 min
A large calendar lays on a table. A hand reaches in to cross out a date that says "staff meeting."

The "No-Meeting" Staff Meeting

Low-lift ways to keep staff informed and connected without another meeting.
Ongoing
Hands reach into a circle, each one holds a small piece of paper with an image on it.

One Piece at a Time

An activity to get staff moving around the building and talking to people outside their usual circle.
Ongoing
Hands hold up a small bag of pretzels and a small piece of paper in front of a white wall.

Snack Notes of Appreciation

Ready-to-go notes to pair with a snack for a fun, easy staff appreciation activity.
Ongoing
A woman in a black dress sits at a desk and fills out paperwork. A laptop, school supplies, and a coffee cup sit on the desk.

Purposeful Presence: Visibility Strategies for School Leaders

A guide for school leaders who want to build a more consistent presence in their building.
10-15 min
A poster that says "helping hands, happy hearts" is taped to yellow lockers. Around it are small notes and a hand reaches in to place another note.

Helping Hands, Happy Hearts

A simple staff appreciation activity where teachers share small requests.
5 min
A woman sits at a desk with a laptop and vase of flows on it in front of a brick wall. She writes on notecards.

First-Week Frenzy

A guide with practical tips for principals for the first week back.
10-15 min
A man sits at a desk with a notebook, coffee cup, and open laptop. He fills in a bingo card with a blue pen.

Family Connection Bingo

A bingo card full of family engagement activities.
Ongoing
An arm with a white wristwatch reaches in from the left side and a hands points to the watch in front of a white brick background.

Ideas to Give Your Staff More Time

Practical ideas to give teachers extra planning time.
10-60 min
A hand places a postcard into a cubby.

Positive Postcards

Send handwritten postcards to staff as a quick, personal appreciation activity.
5 min
A coffee maker, coffee supplies, and colorful mugs sit on a counter. A hand reaches in to grab a mug.

Mug Exchange

A simple team building activity for teachers where staff swap mugs.
15-20 min
A basket full of orange colored snack bags sits on a desk along with orange office supplies. On the wall is a sign and orange sticky notes with handwritten messages.

Orange You Glad It's Friday?

A low-effort, high-joy way to close out the week.
Ongoing

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