You need to take the initiative to make it what you want from it. Thank you for sharing your story. Prep programs, for example, can work with districts to sequence courses to match the work that APs are doing. [ONLINE] Available at: https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/nassp-principal-turnover-insights-brief. Some years later, an opportunity dropped in my lap. I have had an AP and have not. Field Tip: When you need to communicate, start by identifying the purpose and critical information. I am glad to hear your story. is being an assistant principal worth it. "Heavy is the head that wears the grown. To whom much is given, much is expected!". Step 4: Think about whether is it worth to be an . Students and teachers need to see that the assistant. Understanding and addressing principal turnover: A review of the research. Updated: 5 hours ago. Equity audits to identify barriers can help districts address this issue, as well as examining data on who has access to mentoring and who is selected to pursue leadership roles, Rubin said. You know when principals make shitty decisions that all the teachers hate? Cassandra Washington is a Chicago-based educator. Assistant principals deal with sensitive information every day. Kelly, Melissa. ET. Either route, always make time to work with kids (clubs, student council, small tutoring groups, etc.) In Educational Leadership from National-Louis University. Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more. Spent 8 years as an assistant/associate principal at a k-6 and at a 9-12. Elementary school assistant principals' duties will most likely differ from that of a middle or high school assistant principal. Visibility 2.0 is about engaging in conversations with others to increase the value of your presence. From keeping track of the school calendar to evaluating teachers, assistant principals find that attention to detail is a necessary requirement. Currently she is semi-retired and works as a part-time Instructional Coach and Professional Learning Consultant. While days are fast-paced and often unpredictable, the assistant principal has a meaningful and influential role in educational environments. Andrew Houlihan, the superintendent of the Union County schools in North Carolina, led the development of a high-dosage tutoring strategy to combat student learning loss. Meeting with parents to discuss student behavioral or learning problems, Coordinating use of school facilities for day-to-day activities and special events, Working with teachers to develop curriculum standards, Developing and maintaining school safety procedures, Evaluating teachers and learning materials to determine areas where improvement is needed, Coordinating and planning class schedules, Assessing data such as state standards and test scores, Ordering and approving equipment and supply orders, Maintaining systems for attendance, performance, planning, and other reports, Supervising grounds and facilities maintenance, Walking the hallways and checking in on teachers and classrooms, Responding to emails from teachers, parents and community members, A desire and capacity to work with children and young adults, An ability to uphold rules and regulations, Flexibility to work in different environments, including but not limited to: classrooms, offices, buses, field trips, parent-teacher-faculty meetings, and official functions, Bachelors degree in a teachable subject including student teaching practicum, Successful completion of state-required testing and certification for teaching certification, At least 3-5 years teaching in the classroom, Completion of a masters program in administrative field, Successful completion of administrative testing and requirements for school administrative license or certification, Higher salary relative to other education professionals, Able to implement your vision for the school, The role is usually a precursor to becoming school principal, Spending time with children and making a difference in their lives, Disciplinary issues can consume many hours in the day, Schedules over 40 hours a week are common, The politics involved with students, parents, teachers, and other administrators. ago It sounds like you should go for it. The study states, Principal turnover is a serious issue across the country. You get good stories and I think the energy from running a building is exciting. discipline and parents can be very stressful. Develop standards and tasks that are consistent with the AP job and responsibilities; Create evaluations for APs that are separate from those for principals; Ensure principals have the skills, training, and professional development to mentor APs and that they offer APs experiences to develop their leadership skills; Prioritize people of color and women in leadership pipelines and plans. Assistant principals can play an important role in improving school culture and equity through their work with students and families. District leaders can also ensure that APs have equitable experiences to hone their managerial as well as instructional leadership skills. Field Tip: Color code your calendar. When I was just a teacher, I could ignore other colleagues drama and focus just on my specific classes. Principals and vice principals typically need a masters degreeand several years of teaching experience to qualify for employment. What roles do you do? Assist the principal in interviewing and evaluating instructional and non-instructional staff. Some offered after school tutoring, sports programs, chess teams, etc. Those things happen in admin. Then one day, the stress pushed my blood pressure to 199/120. Goldring, R., & Taie, S. (2018). Share responsibility for setting and meeting the school's budget. Cassandra promotes her book, Teach and Take Time for You: Strategies and Tips to Reduce Stress and Burnout, . Parents, students, and teachers may try to drive a wedge between you and the principal by asking leading questions. The halfway point in the school year is a good time to reassess goals, measure progress, and reflect. Reston, VA: National Association of Secondary School Principals. I don't think I'd want to be a principal or a superintendent. This content is provided by our sponsor. 2. Balance requires creating communications that are easy to read and ensuring they have a purpose. The role of assistant principal comes with many responsibilities. One is who gets into the pipeline. Assistant principals, also called vice-principals, wear more hats in a day than they take off students. Notre Dame has a great (almost free) program - Remick Leaders *, Edit: spelling - I didnt run it past the secretary first ;). Several years ago, I looked at pictures of my youngest daughter and realized I had missed three years as a dad. Adaptive Intelligence, a Powerful Tool for School Leaders, Adding Pop Culture to Your Lessons isn't Hard- Here's Why. But theres emerging research to suggest that working as an AP in their current school, in a more effective school, or being an effective AP could improve student outcomes. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Enjoy the journey and continue to find ways to maximize your impact. The Learning Institute and National Association of Secondary Schools Principals released a study in 2019, Principal Turnover: Insights from Current Principals. It's not worth it for you or anyone else. In elementary schools, assistant principals act more as instructional leaders, helping to guide teachers and shape curriculum. What I see them go through is not worth any amount of money or 'prestige.' The role of assistant principal at an elementary school can be different from that of a middle school or high school assistant principal. The assistant principalship is one of the most misunderstood and pivotal roles in our schools. Before I left my job as a principal, I was determined to stay for the students. Develop a plan for meeting them and share your plan with a colleague. Learning Policy Institute. The fourth reason is surely something relatable to many principals. Training programs for administrative positions often focus on the role of the building principal, providing minimal context to an assistant principal position. Yet, the expectations of raising test scores remained despite not being able to give the students necessary programs and resources. Unlike elementary assistant principals, secondary assistant principals cannot be expected to have expertise in all the subject areas their school covers. Now what? The brutal truth was that I did not have balance. ", Responsibilities of an Assistant Principal, Common Characteristics of Assistant Principals. She obtained an M.A. Thats just my perspective as an AP. They may directly supervise lunch, hallways, special events. If its okay to ask, what does your job in central office look like? I wanted to alleviate the difficulties or problems that they experienced. What I was not ready for is the amount of micromanagement that came from the district level. A study by the Wallace Foundation found elementary school principals were more involved in the educational process than secondary school principals, and this extends to assistant principals as well. Does anyone have experience on what it is like to be in those positions? An effective team starts with knowing how you complement each other and how you fit into the system. We worked through it together and formed a special bond. A good AP is worth 100billion dollars. wide instructional . Eventually, my health began to deteriorate. The days were spent putting out fires, handling emergencies, disciplining students, and communicating with district liaisons and reading too many emails with last-minute requests or directives. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff. Denisa R. Superville is an assistant editor at Education Week who focuses on principals and school leadership. Yordy teaches world history, civics, and freshman seminar and volunteers as a program mentor. Each assistant principalship carries a different set of expectations and challenges. Some days I felt like there were too many demands to answer. Additionally, School Principal typically reports to a superintendent. Nataliia Mostova points to molding pumpkins with Adrian Karmalita in a 2nd grade classroom at Jardine Elementary School in Topeka, Kan., last month. This can stretch your time and yourself if youre not willing to take feedback and grow where you are weak.