Lead Happier This School Year

Lead Happier This School Year: Four Seasons of Strategies to Support Teachers, Students, and You

By Suzanne Dailey and Nadine Garvin

Book Details

Product Code: 126010

ISBN: 9781416634744

Release Date: September 2026

Length: 122 pages

2026 Quarter 3 Pro Default Member Book

When educational leaders increase their happiness, the whole organization benefits.

Administrators spend so much time juggling the needs and concerns of students, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders that they often neglect their own happiness, which can hinder their efficacy at work. In this practical book, veteran educational leaders Suzanne Dailey and Nadine Garvin draw from their collective experience, neuroscience, and positive psychology to offer strategies that help both administrators and those they lead have a happy, stable, and focused school year.

Aligned to the four seasons (and their respective rhythms, successes, and challenges), Lead Happier This School Year is replete with research- and practice-based guidelines, templates, and routines administrators can use to guarantee their schools and districts are positive and welcoming places for everyone. You’ll find page after page of tried-and-true ideas for

• Establishing a positive culture;
• Nurturing healthy relationships with and among colleagues;
• Balancing professional productivity with physical and emotional well-being;
• Ensuring staff get the most out of meetings, check-ins, and professional development sessions;
• Identifying and addressing staff needs and wants; and
• Reflecting on strengths, envisioning areas of growth, and resetting for what comes next.

Whether you are new to leadership or a seasoned administrator, this book is a perfect companion—the support you need to navigate a year’s worth of challenges and to thrive, both personally and professionally.

Table of contents

Opening Letter

1. Fall: Starting the Year Off Right

Establish Positive Culture and Relationships

Engage in the Work Productively

Embrace the Pace

2. Winter: Leveling Up Midyear

Sustain the Conditions for Success and Joy

Strengthen Relationships and Practices

Energize and Motivate Yourself and Others

3. Spring: Powering Through the Final Stretch

Summarize the School Year

Celebrate the Year’s Successes

Strategize for the Future

4. Summer: Preparing for the Year Ahead

Reflect and Plan for the Upcoming School Year

Rest

Reset for the New Year

Closing Letter

Acknowledgments

References

Index

About the Authors

About the authors

Suzanne Dailey is a professional developer for the Central Bucks School District in Pennsylvania, where she works with more than 500 elementary teachers and 8,000 students. She teaches model lessons, facilitates professional development sessions, and mentors both new and experienced teachers. She has 23 years of teaching experience. She is National Board–certified and has a master’s degree in reading. Suzanne is the host of the popular weekly podcast Teach Happier, author of the bestselling book Teach Happier This School Year: 40 Weeks of Inspiration and Reflection, coauthor of You’ve Got This: Finding Happiness and Success in Your First Years of Teaching, and coauthor of Lead Happier This School Year: Four Seasons of Strategies to Support Teachers, Students, and You.

Dr. Nadine Garvin is an educational leader, coach, and consultant with more than 30 years of experience in public education. Her career spans classroom teaching, multiple principalships, and district-level administration and is marked by a deep commitment to student success and educator growth. Nadine holds a doctorate in educational and organizational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a certified superintendent and principal. Now retired from full-time administration, Nadine continues to inspire the next generation of educators through coaching, mentorship, and authorship. She is the coauthor of Lead Happier This School Year: Four Seasons of Strategies to Support Teachers, Students, and You.

Praise for Lead Happier This School Year

“An essential guide for any leader looking to revitalize their school, Lead Happier This School Year cuts through the theory to deliver practical, high-impact shifts you can make right now to elevate school culture. No matter the season, Suzanne Dailey and Nadine Garvin provide the tools you need to create immediate, positive change.”

—Dr. Rachel Holler, assistant executive director, Bucks County (PA) Intermediate Unit

“Even in the chaotic month of May, I picked up this book and found myself completely unable to put it down. Suzanne Dailey and Nadine Garvin deliver an incredibly engaging essential guide that addresses the realities of school leadership with true optimism and grace. Lead Happier This School Year seamlessly blends inspiring stories from the field with turn-key strategies perfectly tailored to the unique challenges of each school season. This book is a powerful testament to the fact that supporting your staff starts with prioritizing well-being at the top.”

—Amanda Belhoken, director of education, New Hope–Solebury (PA) School District

“Lead Happier This School Year is a practical, well-organized resource for school leaders. Structured around the seasons of the school year, it is both accessible and easy to use in real time. I especially appreciate the book’s clever, catchy, and lighthearted language for serious leadership challenges and solutions. With relatable scenarios, reflection opportunities, and insights from respected authors and thought leaders, it offers meaningful support for leaders who want to sustain themselves while supporting others.”

—Dr. Tina Kane, superintendent, Marple Newtown School District (PA);

2025 Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year

“Lead Happier this School Year is an uplifting and practical resource for educators and school leaders who are committed to fostering both student success and staff well-being in sustainable ways. The authors thoughtfully frame the school year through four distinct seasons, offering a fresh perspective that acknowledges how the needs of teachers and students evolve over time. The spot-on insights and actionable strategies provided for each phase are both practical and impactful. As I read, I found myself already planning for next year—creating my own version of a WAAG and rethinking how I support, communicate with, and encourage both new and veteran teachers. This book offers meaningful tools that can immediately influence leadership practices and school culture.”

—Amber Potter, curriculum director, Dickson County (TN) Schools

“Lead Happier This School Year is a transformative resource for educational leadership, seamlessly blending positive psychology with practical, seasonal strategies that directly address the heavy cognitive and emotional demands our educators face daily. Dailey and Garvin provide a brilliant blueprint that district leaders should not just read in isolation but actively deploy as a collaborative framework for their administrative cabinets, staff, and school-level teams. Together, by implementing these small but impactful shifts in thought, language, and action, we can elevate school culture, reduce stress, and establish an empowering environment where an entire staff can grow and apply their talents.”

—Dr. Neil Gupta, superintendent, Oakwood (OH) City School District