When Purpose Fades, Leaders Leave

When Purpose Fades, Leaders Leave

Why principals are walking away—and what we can do about it.

Lately, I’ve been digging into the “why.”
Why are so many school leaders walking away from a role they once felt deeply called to?

After years in school leadership myself, and now coaching and walking alongside principals every day, I’ve seen it firsthand. The overwhelm. The isolation. The exhaustion. It’s not just about being tired; it’s about feeling disconnected from the very reason we started this work in the first place.

So I started reading. Reflecting. Researching. And what I found confirmed what I already suspected: this is a national—and even global—trend. Several studies show that principal turnover is increasing, especially in high-needs schools. Many of the leaders leaving are not new to the role; they’re seasoned educators who’ve hit a wall.

The Numbers Tell the Story

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 11% of public school principals left their positions between 2020–2022, an increase from previous years. And in schools serving higher percentages of low-income students or students of color, turnover is even more pronounced—some studies estimate 15–30% of principals leave annually in these settings.

But what’s harder to measure—and maybe even more important—is what’s happening in the hearts of leaders before they walk away.

It’s Not Just the Job. It’s the Loss of Joy.

For many principals, the breaking point isn’t one dramatic moment. It’s a slow erosion. It looks like saying yes when you want to say no. It sounds like sitting in another meeting that feels like a waste of time. It feels like being responsible for everything, but appreciated for nothing.

I’ve talked to leaders who feel invisible. Others who feel paralyzed by pressure to perform. Some who are just plain exhausted from managing behaviors, paperwork, complaints, and crises—with little time left to actually lead.

But here’s what cuts deepest for most: They’re no longer doing what they were called to do.

The spark that once drove them. The belief that they could shape a school’s culture, uplift teachers, support students, and make a real difference is buried under the weight of endless tasks.

And when the work no longer connects to the purpose, it stops being sustainable.

The Power of Reconnecting with Your Purpose

Here’s the good news: burnout doesn’t have to be the end of the story. But it does require a reset.

I’ve found that when school leaders intentionally reconnect with their purpose—when they remember why they started, revisit what they believe, and realign their days with what matters most—they don’t just survive.

They lead stronger. They stay longer. And they start to enjoy the work again.

Purpose is not a buzzword. It’s your anchor.

And that anchor is what allows you to lead with conviction, make hard decisions with clarity, and bounce back even when the weight of the role feels overwhelming.

What Helps Break the Cycle

So how do we help school leaders get back to purpose? Here are a few research-supported and practice-tested steps:

1. Make Space for Reflection

So many principals are sprinting through each day without time to pause. Build in intentional time—weekly or even daily—for quiet reflection. Journaling, walking, or simply asking “What matters most today?” can create powerful clarity.

Coaching helps too. I’ve seen leaders unlock fresh insight in just one session—because someone finally asked them the right question.

2. Find (or Build) a Safe Community

Isolation is one of the biggest threats to sustainable leadership. You were never meant to lead alone.

Joining a mastermind group, principal community, or trusted circle where you can be real, ask questions, and learn from others isn’t just helpful—it’s necessary. Research shows that leaders who feel supported by peers report lower stress and higher retention rates.

3. Simplify and Delegate

You don’t have to do it all. Let me say that again: you don’t have to do it all.

Some of the most effective leaders I’ve worked with are the best delegators. They empower their teams, streamline their calendars, and focus on the work only they can do. When you protect your time and energy for what really matters—coaching teachers, building culture, supporting students—you reconnect with the reason you lead in the first place.

4. Revisit Your Personal Leadership Mission

What do you believe about leadership? What kind of school are you trying to build? Who do you want to be as a leader this year?

When leaders write (or rewrite) a personal mission statement, it becomes a filter for decision-making and a source of courage when things get hard. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just honest and grounded in your “why.”

5. Celebrate

Purpose doesn’t always show up in big moments. Sometimes it’s in the teacher who tried a new strategy, the student who smiled for the first time all week, or the parent who thanked you for listening.

Recognizing small moments of progress brings joy back into the role—and reminds you that the work you’re doing does matter.

Final Thoughts: You Were Called for This

If you’re feeling like you’re drowning under the weight of school leadership right now, please hear me:

You’re not alone.
You’re not weak.
And it’s not too late to rediscover your purpose.

In fact, that might be the most important leadership move you make this year.

When leaders lead from a place of purpose—rather than pressure or performance—they create schools that thrive. They model clarity, conviction, and calm. They stay.

Let’s stop the cycle of burnout by investing in the hearts and health of our school leaders.
Let’s build communities that support them.
Let’s remind them—and ourselves—that we are called to lead.

And when we root ourselves in that calling, we don’t just survive school leadership.

We lead with purpose.
And that changes everything.