Announcing Your Resignation

Resigning as principal is often more confronting than applying for the job in the first place. After months of quiet deliberation, once the new appointment is accepted, you’re suddenly faced with the difficult task of telling your community. The news often comes as a shock. For many, it’s the first they’ve heard that you were even considering a move.

Some are happy. Some are disappointed. Some are happy for you, but sad for the school. Others begin to reflect on what leadership change might mean for them. And some want to know what’s wrong. Why would you want to leave them?

I found this moment deeply personal. I had poured everything into the school, leading from the front, supporting from the side, and walking behind. Telling my staff that I was leaving to take up a position overseas was not easy.

There are layers to the resignation process. Once my appointment and start date were confirmed, I followed Stephen Covey’s principle of “beginning with the end in mind.” That end was the day I flew out to join my new school.

From there, I worked backwards.

Four weeks before my last day, I set a final date to submit my resignation. That gave me time to plan how and when to inform my team and the broader community. Simple in theory but far more emotional in practice.

Sharing the news with staff was daunting. Our years together had been filled with professional growth and genuine relationships. I had seen colleagues flourish in their roles and navigate personal milestones. I took the time to prepare a short resignation speech, enough to share the news and express my thanks.

It helped me honour the moment.

The next challenge is speaking to the students at the farewell assembly. But that’s a story for another day.

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Dr Jake Madden

I’m Jake Madden (Dip Teach; B.Ed; Grad Dip: Leadership; M. Ed: Leadership; EdD; FACEL; MACE), and I’ve had the privilege of working in education for over thirty years as a teacher and principal. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on supporting teachers to build their capacity, developing learning approaches that respond to the needs of today’s world, creating flexible learning spaces for 21st-century learners, and designing curriculum that encourages global mindedness. I’m particularly passionate about the concept of teacher-as-researcher, and I’ve been fortunate to contribute to this area by sharing my experiences through books and journal articles. My work reflects what I’ve learned from leading and navigating educational change, and I’m always eager to continue learning from others in the field.

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Author: Dr Jake Madden

I’m Jake Madden (Dip Teach; B.Ed; Grad Dip: Leadership; M. Ed: Leadership; EdD; FACEL; MACE), and I’ve had the privilege of working in education for over thirty years as a teacher and principal. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on supporting teachers to build their capacity, developing learning approaches that respond to the needs of today’s world, creating flexible learning spaces for 21st-century learners, and designing curriculum that encourages global mindedness. I’m particularly passionate about the concept of teacher-as-researcher, and I’ve been fortunate to contribute to this area by sharing my experiences through books and journal articles. My work reflects what I’ve learned from leading and navigating educational change, and I’m always eager to continue learning from others in the field. View all posts by Dr Jake Madden