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The Middle School Playbook
High-Impact Leadership Strategies to Ensure Peak Performance
Middle school is a pivotal stage for students and educators. Chris Bennett shares strategies grounded in real experiences. He supports principals in the daily realities of leading a middle school and creating a school culture that strengthens their PLC, collaboration, tiered instruction, student engagement, and consistent growth.
Benefits
- Create working schedules that facilitate school operations and maximize student learning
- Design support systems to guide students through transitions in their educational journeys
- Use extracurricular activities and mentoring relationships to promote student agency
- Build stronger leadership teams by collaborating on decisions and solutions
- Grow and sustain educator teams via improved hiring and professional development
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Designing Middle School Structures
Chapter 2: Building Bridges to, From, and Within Middle School
Chapter 3: Developing and Fostering Student Agency in Middle School
Chapter 4: Using Collaborative Problem Solving and Data-Driven Decision Making in Middle School
Chapter 5: Hiring, Supporting, and Retaining Middle School Staff
PRINTABLE REPRODUCIBLES
Chapter 1: Designing Middle School Structures
- Figure 1.2: Reflective Questions to Consider for Creating a Master Schedule Play Sheet
- Figure 1.3: EC Scheduler Play Sheet
- Figure 1.4: Student Placement Rubric Options Play Sheet
Chapter 2: Building Bridges to, From, and Within Middle School
- Figure 2.1: Agenda for Elementary to Middle School Transition Meetings Play Sheet
- Figure 2.2: Parent Engagement Activity Planning and Reflection Play Sheet
- Figure 2.3: School-Home Learning Partnership Agreement Play Sheet
Chapter 3: Developing and Fostering Student Agency in Middle School
- Figure 3.1: Student-Led Conferences Planning and Reflection Guide Play Sheet
- Figure 3.2: Student SMART Goal Play Sheet
- Figure 3.3: SMART Goal Tracker Play Sheet
- Figure 3.4: Planner for Across Content Areas
- Figure 3.5: Service-Learning Activity Planner
- Figure 3.6: Application for Membership on School Improvement Team Play Sheet
Chapter 4: Using Collaborative Problem Solving and Data-Driven Decision Making in Middle School
- Figure 4.1: Leadership Team Organizer Play Sheet
- Figure 4.2: Student-Centered, Team-Based Meeting Agenda Play Sheet
- Figure 4.3: Student-Centered, Team-Based Meeting Recording Play Sheet
- Figure 4.4: Schoolwide Behavioral Data Review Play Sheet
- Figure 4.5: Guiding Questions for Instructional Walkthroughs Play Sheet
- Figure 4.6: Weekly Notes Play Sheet
- Figure 4.7: Tiered Supports Organizer Play Sheet
Chapter 5: Hiring, Supporting, and Retaining Middle School Staff
- Figure 5.1: Stay Interview Questions Play Sheet
- Figure 5.2: Professional Learning Staff Survey Play Sheet
- Figure 5.3: Professional Learning Plan Play Sheet
- Figure 5.4: Yearlong Plan to Support New Teachers Play Sheet
- Figure 5.5: Staff Wellness Activity Menu Play Sheet
- Figure 5.6: Wellness Bingo Card Play Sheet
- Figure 5.7: Celebration Tracker Play Sheet
SUGGESTED RESOURCES
Books
- Colburn, L., & Beggs, L. (2020). The wraparound guide: How to gather student voice, build community partnerships, and cultivate hope. Solution Tree Press.
- Conzemius, A. E., & O’Neill, J. (2014). The handbook for SMART school teams: Revitalizing best practices for collaboration (2nd ed.). Solution Tree Press.
- Donlan, R. (2022). All other duties as assigned: The assistant principal’s critical role in supporting schools inside and out. Solution Tree Press.
- DuFour, R., DuFour, R., Eaker, R., Many, T. W., Mattos, M., & Muhammad, A. (2024). Learning by doing: A handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work (4th ed.). Solution Tree Press.
- Hall, B. (2022). Powerful guiding coalitions: How to build and sustain the leadership team in your PLC at Work. Solution Tree Press.
- Hierck, T., & Weber, C. (2023). The road to success with MTSS: A ten-step process for schools. Solution Tree Press.
- Mattos, M., Buffum, A., Malone, J., Cruz, L. F., Dimich, N., & Schuhl, S. (2025). Taking action: A handbook for RTI at Work (2nd ed.). Solution Tree Press.
- Reason, C., & Larson, B. J. (2025). Rally! How outstanding activities and athletics improve academics and school culture. Solution Tree Press.
- Stuart, T. S., Heckmann, S., Mattos, M., & Buffum, A. (2018). Personalized learning in a PLC at Work: Student agency through the four critical questions. Solution Tree Press.
Websites
Chapter 1
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
- Panorama Education
- Devereux Student Strengths Assessment
- Student Risk Screening Scale
- Attendance Works
- Google Sheets
- Microsoft Excel
- Google Looker Studio
Chapter 5
