Andrew Jordan Principal, the 2022 Illinois Principals Association Principal of the Year and current superintendent in Illinois, has released an open letter urging individuals to focus on small, practical steps to address challenges in schools, workplaces, and communities. Drawing on years of experience as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, Jordan argues that waiting for perfect conditions often prevents any change from happening. Instead, he advocates for taking one manageable step at a time.
In his letter, Jordan recalls a project where he transformed an underused school library by rearranging existing furniture and painting walls, rather than seeking new purchases. This small initiative created a space students wanted to use and later helped secure grant funding by demonstrating the concept's viability. 'You don't have to solve every challenge this week. You just have to solve the one sitting in front of you,' Jordan writes, emphasizing that progress often begins with what is already available.
The letter highlights research supporting the power of consistent, incremental improvements. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly one in five U.S. public school students attends a rural school. The Learning Policy Institute reports that regular progress monitoring can improve student intervention success by nearly 20 percent. RAND research found that schools using shorter review cycles achieve faster outcomes than those relying solely on annual planning. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education links strong family and community engagement to higher attendance, academic performance, and improved school climate.
Jordan provides a list of actionable steps individuals can take within a week, such as identifying one problem to improve, organizing a frequently used space, asking someone what would make their week easier, and celebrating small successes instead of waiting for major milestones. He stresses that consistency and preparation matter more than large, infrequent changes. 'Small adjustments made consistently usually beat one big adjustment made too late,' he notes.
The open letter concludes with a call to choose one action and commit to it for seven days, keeping it simple and consistent. Jordan encourages sharing the letter with others who may need a reminder that meaningful progress often starts with a single small decision. Throughout his career, Jordan has focused on improving student opportunities through practical leadership, community partnerships, innovative learning spaces, and grant-supported initiatives.
