AWSP
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Criterion Six: Managing Resources

Criterion six revolves around managing both staff and fiscal resources to support student achievement and legal responsibilities. Effective leaders manage themselves, their human resources, and fiscal resources in transparent ways such that the capacity of the school community to make complicated decisions grows.

Key Questions for Reflection

  • How do I prioritize my time and responsibilities to ensure alignment with school goals and staff/student needs?

  • In what ways do my hiring and recruitment practices promote equity and diversity?

  • How am I allocating staff assignments to maximize student learning and support our school improvement plan?

  • Are our school’s fiscal resources clearly tied to student achievement goals?

  • How can I empower my team to help make informed, transparent resource decisions?

Quick Wins

  • Review and adjust your weekly calendar to ensure time is protected for instructional leadership and visibility.

  • Standardize your hiring process with structured rubrics, consistent interview questions, and inclusive panels.

  • Conduct a mid-year review of staff assignments to ensure roles are still aligned to student needs.

  • Host a “budget walkthrough” with staff to increase transparency and understanding of spending priorities.

  • Use exit interview feedback from departing staff to improve hiring, onboarding, and team culture practices.

AI Prompts


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Tech Tips

  • Use Google/Outlook Calendar with color-coded blocks to reflect priorities and reduce time fragmentation.

  • Fully utilize your district's application program to streamline application tracking and hiring collaboration.

  • Create shared Google Sheets for budget tracking with formula-based notifications for overages.

  • Use Google Forms or SurveyMonkey to gather feedback from staff on resource needs and hiring experiences.

  • Leverage tools like Asana or Trello to build project boards for hiring, onboarding, and budget review workflows.

Examples of Proficient Behaviors

A proficient leader uses time, hiring, staffing, and finances to build schoolwide capacity:

  • Prioritizes time through systems that support consistency, reliability, and delegation.

  • Uses equity-centered hiring practices and thorough screening to build a diverse, capable staff.

  • Establishes consistent time management routines that prioritize visibility, classroom presence, and instructional leadership

  • Uses data (student performance, discipline trends, equity gaps) to inform staffing decisions—assigning the right people to the right roles based on student need, not convenience or seniority.

  • Manages the school budget with transparency, strategic alignment, and compliance with funding regulations.

Possible Evidence to Collect

  • Weekly, well-balanced calendar annotated with priority areas (observations, walkthroughs, family engagement).

  • Sample hiring materials: interview rubrics, reference check protocols, and recruitment messaging.

  • Comprehensive schedule with narrative rationale connected to student achievement and equity needs.

  • Year-long budget plan annotated with alignment to school improvement strategies.

  • Staff feedback surveys regarding onboarding, hiring, or professional support systems.

  • Documentation from finance meetings, resource audits, or spending reviews.

Continued Learning


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The AWSP Learning Lab is our online learning platform with various courses, live and asynchronous options. Check out what is available to support you learning.

Explore the Learning Lab


  • Schools That Succeed: How Educators Marshal the Power of Systems for Improvement – Karin Chenoweth
    Explores how successful schools manage systems, people, and time to ensure every student thrives.

  • Time for Change: Four Essential Skills for Transformational School and District Leaders – Anthony Muhammad and Luis F. Cruz 
    Offers insights into how leaders can manage time, teams, and systems for equity-focused school improvement.

  • Smarter Budgets, Smarter Schools, Second Edition: How to Survive and Thrive in Tight Times – Nathan Levenson
    Offers practical strategies to stretch resources and fund equity-driven student achievement.