What are school leaders reading in 2025?
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What is it about the new year that makes us all want to read more?
Is it that reading features in so many peoples’ resolutions, or just a general clean slate kind-of-feel that makes thinking about new ideas—and new ways to live your life—enticing? Or maybe it’s that while there is a general sense of rejuvenation associated with starting a new year, it’s still winter, and the days are short and the nights are long. For whatever reason, January feels like peak reading season, no matter what gets you there.
So, what are you reading?
We have a couple of recommendations of what our team is currently reading, but if you only ever respond to one of our newsletters, let this be it!
Team recommendation: “I read this book and found it so useful that I immediately wanted everyone to read it, and also no one to read it so that I could improve my communication skills without being so obvious! It’s all about what skills make a so-called supercommunicator, the kind of person who’s able to communicate so strongly that they make interaction and processes easier for everyone, a perfect read for a superintendent or school communicator.” — Brittany K
Team recommendation: "Ego gets in the way of everything - my ego, your ego, and everyone’s ego. This book is a great place to start a conversation among your team members about what gets in the way of your best work, how to take ownership of what is within your control, and ultimately how to get your people to recommit to what matters most and let go of the stories they’ve made up in their mind. Encourages self-reflection and has a number of practical questions to help manage others (and yourself) better." — Tyler V
Team recommendation: “This book is such a valuable read for teams because it dives into the psychology and science behind high-performing organizations—revealing how things like organizational structure, incentive systems, and leadership dynamics impact both individual and group success. Best of all is the book’s accessible approach to these concepts, so no trudging through tried self-help tropes or MBA-level terminology.” — Barrett G
Team recommendation: “This book has helped my team so much in thinking deeply about how to move from being a ‘tactically driven team’ to a ‘strategically driven team’. I’ve always appreciated how Seth takes a philosophical approach to marketing and how his ideas challenge the status quo.” — Heather P
One question for you
1. What are you reading in 2025? Let us know for a chance to be featured in our upcoming Spring 2025 issue of SchoolCEO magazine.
Email us at [email protected] or book a time on our calendar and let us know.
Two resources to help
1. Teacher shortages aren't new to school leaders. Yet, now more than ever, teacher recruitment and retention is a key priority for the success of your schools. Join Apptegy's VP of Marketing Tyler Vawser and Tyler ISD's Chief Communications Officer Jennifer Hines for a deep dive into what districts miss in recruiting talent. Register for our next webinar here!
2. "According to new research by SchoolCEO, school and district websites are families’ number-one way to learn new information about their child’s education—ahead of text messages, social media, and even phone calls from teachers. We also know that your district’s website is your community’s most powerful first impression of your school district.
With all that in mind, we’re highlighting the best school website designs that set the industry standard for excellence in 2024 and what lessons we can take from them as we move into 2025. Below you’ll find ten of our most inspiring school websites for 2024—in no particular order—as well as what we love about these websites and the districts behind them.” — The Best School Website Designs of 2024—and What to Learn in 2025
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Three ideas to ponder
1. “We know that sit-and-get learning isn’t effective for students, so why do we settle for it in our PD? Book studies are an easy way to elevate the learning of your staff while tailoring the content to your district’s specific needs. In fact, they’re so easy to implement that you could begin building a culture of growth in your own schools tomorrow.” — Book Smarts Using Book Studies to Create a Culture of Growth
2. “Our hope is that this collection will empower you to build a stronger culture, market your schools, and tell better stories. These books range in topics, but they share central themes: the power of being different and how small changes can lead to big results. They will unravel any preconceived notions you may have about marketing and challenge you to think differently about every facet of your district. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.” — From Required Reading: Books for Comms Teams and Superintendents to Read Together
3. Want to think more strategically in your schools—or even just in how you go about your day as a school leader? Marketing expert Seth Godin has compiled a few of his strategy questions to get you thinking. — Read The Strategy Questions from Seth Godin