7 Tips School Leaders Can Actually Use to Prevent Losing Great Admins
Great admins don’t leave because they don’t care — they leave because the system around them isn’t sustainable. Here’s how you can support, protect, and retain them:
🔑 1. Clarify Roles Regularly
Blurred responsibilities wear admins down fast. Make sure your admin knows exactly what they own versus what’s support, and revisit it whenever priorities shift. Clarity = confidence.
🔑 2. Protect Their Time
Admins often become the “catch-all” person. Encourage them to push back on tasks that don’t belong to them. Protect their time by funneling non-essential requests elsewhere or setting clear boundaries.
🔑 3. Recognize & Appreciate
Admins are the glue holding everything together — but they don’t always get recognition. Call out their wins both privately and in front of staff. Feeling valued reduces burnout.
🔑 4. Provide Professional Growth
Great admins want to grow, not just survive. Give them opportunities to learn, lead projects, or attend training. Growth opportunities show you see them as more than “support staff.”
🔑 5. Create a Healthy Support System
Admins shouldn’t carry everything alone. Build a balanced team where responsibilities are distributed, and create backup systems so they can take real breaks without chaos erupting.
🔑 6. Have Honest Check-Ins
Don’t wait until burnout shows. Ask directly:
“What’s feeling heavy right now?”
“What’s one thing I could take off your plate?”
Showing care opens the door before it’s too late.
🔑 7. Use Outside Support When Needed
Sometimes, admins are overloaded because the system itself needs reworking. That’s where outside partners (like TES) can help create clarity and alignment so your admin isn’t left to “patch the leaks.”
✨ These practical, heart-level steps will help you protect your best people and keep your school running strong.
👉 Want a deeper solution? Book a WOW Workshop with TES and let us help your entire team realign, clarify ownership, and build systems that keep your best admins engaged.
