Sticky Note Stations
A simple way for teachers to share honest feedback and ideas anonymously.
Ongoing
If I Were Principal...
A quick staff feedback activity that gives every teacher a voice.
Wendy Thamm
Hand each staff member a card with the prompt "If I were principal for a day, I would..." and collect their answers. You'll get a mix of silly, thoughtful, and creative responses that reveal what your team values and how they think. It's a low-key way to open the door to honest feedback.
Why try it
Give staff a fun, comfortable way to share ideas they might not bring up in a meeting. The playful, low-pressure format encourages honest feedback and gives you valuable insight into what your team notices, appreciates, and hopes for. You may even discover simple ideas you can put into action right away, along with bigger opportunities to explore together over time.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Instructions
1
Hand out and collect cards
Give each staff member a card with the prompt "If I were principal for a day, I would..." and a few minutes to write their answer. All responses are welcome, serious or silly. Run it at the start or end of a meeting, during a PD session, or leave cards out in the staff lounge for a day.
2
Sort and share
Read through the responses and group them by theme. At your next meeting, share a handful of highlights. Celebrate the funny ones out loud and follow up on thoughtful suggestions privately or in small groups.
3
Close the loop
Let staff know what you heard and what you're doing with it. Even a quick "I read every card and here's what stood out" goes a long way toward building trust.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
Anonymous drop box
Leave a stack of cards and a box in the staff lounge for a few days instead of running it as a group activity. Staff can contribute on their own time, which sometimes brings in voices you wouldn't hear otherwise.
Leadership team version
Run the same prompt with your leadership team or grade-level chairs. Their responses can shape how you approach planning conversations or staff meetings for the rest of the year.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Act on something small
If a response is easy to act on, do it and say so. Showing staff their input leads somewhere keeps participation high next time.
Leader Tip #2
Revisit it seasonally
Run the activity at different points in the year. Responses in September will look different from responses in March, and tracking the shift can tell you a lot.
Built by Educators, for School Leaders
This resource was created in collaboration with passionate educators and school leaders who believe in the power of intentional connection.
Wendy Thamm
Behavior Interventionist
Alpaca Pulse Check-In
Turn insights into action
With just three simple questions, Alpaca's Pulse Check-In helps school leaders listen to their teams and act where support is needed most.
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