Hi friend! 😃
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re carrying responsibility that doesn’t fit neatly into job descriptions, leadership books, or well-meaning advice.
I see you.
I was you.
I’m here for you.
When I first stepped into the Principal role, I was given five years to turn my school around.
We did it in less than three.
Today, as a Superintendent and School Turnaround Strategist, leaders across the country ask me the same question…
How?
How did we increase math and reading proficiency from 35% to over 90%? How did we build a vision that staff actually believed in and wanted to work toward together? How did we hire the right people and develop them into a strong, aligned team? How did we earn the trust of families and build extracurricular programs that made students genuinely excited to come to school?
And most importantly…
How did we build systems strong enough to last beyond my tenure?
Enter Harper Haven.
Harper Haven exists for school leaders responsible for consequential change. Whether you’re turning around an entire school, repairing a broken system, or being held accountable for outcomes that carry real weight.
This ain’t your typical motivation newsletter.
It’s your field guide.
And this isn’t about theory.
We’ll be talking about the real systems behind the work.
I’ve been doing school turnaround work for 15+ years, and I’m sharing it all with you — the wins, the loses, the lessons learned, the messy middle, and everything in between.
I’m taking the guesswork out of it so you can focus on what’s important: building a joyful and high-performing school.
One where achievement and morale is high.
One where there’s strong culture and strong instruction.
One where alignment is so strong that the whole staff passes the vibe check.
Here we’ll talk honestly about how to:
💜 Lead from your values and standards
💜 Lead through resistance, especially from adults
💜 Make decisions when there’s no “good” option
💜 Navigate pressure, politics, and accountability
And so much more!
Some weeks will be strategic.
Some weeks will be reflective.
All weeks will be grounded in the real work of leadership.
Harper Haven will be the big sister mentor you always wanted.
The manager Blue Ivy to your Beyonce.
The Issa to your Molly.
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Harper Haven is meant to be a place of clarity, honesty, and protection.
✨ You don’t have to perform optimism. (Cuz it can be real bootleg in these streets.)
✨ You don’t have to pretend this work is easy. (Because it ain’t. And it won’t ever be.)
✨ And you don’t have to carry it alone. (Because I’m here for you.)
If your leadership decisions carry real consequences, this newsletter is for you. If your choices impact people, outcomes, and systems, this newsletter is for you. If you’re in the business of changing the trajectory of the lives of your students, this newsletter is for you.
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Because I sure am!
I’m glad you’re here, fam.
#LetsDoThis #ForTheCulture
💜 Alicia
Founder, Harper Haven
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