Directors of Activities wear many hats, from event planning to student engagement, while fostering a positive school culture. It’s a role that requires creativity, empathy, and leadership. If you’re looking to up your game, these ten books provide the tools and insights you need to thrive in this dynamic position. Here’s why these titles should be on your radar.

1. School Culture by Design by Phil Boyte
   Creating an inviting school culture doesn’t happen by accident. Boyte’s School Culture by Design is a guide to fostering meaningful connections and traditions that energize your school community. For activities directors, this book is a playbook for turning your campus into a place students love.
2. Building the World’s Greatest High School Student Leaders by Richard Parkhouse
   Parkhouse provides practical strategies for developing student leaders who make a real difference. Packed with actionable advice, this book helps activity directors mentor students in leadership roles, fostering confidence and accountability.
3. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
   Decisions in activities often need to be quick and impactful. Gladwell’s Blink explores the power of intuitive decision-making, providing insights into trusting your gut while balancing logic and emotion. It is a must-read for handling on-the-fly situations.
4. Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
   Effective leaders embrace vulnerability, and Daring Greatly is a deep dive into why this matters. Brené Brown challenges readers to foster trust, authenticity, and meaningful connections—crucial for building strong relationships with students and staff.
5. Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader by Herminia Ibarra
   To lead effectively, you must first shift your mindset. Ibarra’s Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader provides practical strategies for confidently stepping into leadership roles. Activities directors can use these principles to balance visionary planning with day-to-day execution.
6. The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
   Memorable moments define our lives and, often, our leadership. The Heath brothers’ The Power of Moments explores how to create meaningful, transformative experiences. Activities directors can use these insights to craft unforgettable events and traditions that resonate deeply with students.
7. Connecting Through Conversation: A Playbook for Talking with Students by Erika Bare and Tiffany Burns
   Great activity directors know connection is key. Bare and Burns’ Connecting Through Conversation offers practical tools for fostering meaningful dialogue with students. It helps you build trust and engage with students on a deeper level.
8. The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias by Pamela Fuller, Mark Murphy, and Anne Chow
   Inclusivity is at the heart of a thriving school environment. This book equips readers with strategies to recognize and address bias, ensuring that activities and programs are equitable and welcoming for all students.
9. That’s Not How We Do It Here!: A Story about How Organizations Rise and Fall—and Can Rise Again by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber
   Change is inevitable, especially in schools. Kotter and Rathgeber’s That’s Not How We Do It Here! blends storytelling with leadership strategies to help activities directors navigate organizational change while preserving core values.
10. Deep Kindness by Houston Kraft
    Kindness is the secret weapon of any successful activities program. Kraft’s Deep Kindness challenges leaders to go beyond superficial gestures, creating a culture of genuine care and connection. It’s a powerful reminder of what really matters in education.

Each book offers unique insights that can transform how activities directors lead, plan, and connect. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the role, these reads will inspire you to make your school’s programs successful and unforgettable.

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