Are assistant principals the most overlooked, undervalued people in schools?While their numbers have exploded over the last 25 years, schools have little to no idea of whether this sizable group of second-in-command administrators influence student learning.Often, they dont have clearly defined roles. Soon, the weight becomes too heavy, and a decision must be made. These individuals exhibit specific characteristics that make them experts at their craft. In larger school districts, there are more elementary schools. Parents, students, and teachers may try to drive a wedge between you and the principal by asking leading questions. On my calendar, any item in red is considered untouchable time. there are also campus specialist jobs that require masters degree. If you cannot establish relationships, you are going to struggle to maximize your effectiveness. Most programs take 18 months online and require moderate effort. This involvement includes developing the curriculum, coaching teachers on instructional methods, and assessing student learning. Ive been through a ton of Superintendent changes and they almost always lead to chaos and turnover. Cassandra Washington graduated from Rockford University with a B.A. Training programs for administrative positions often focus on the role of the building principal, providing minimal context to an assistant principal position. If there is a staff concern that needs resolution, ask if you can observe the process to better understand the policies and procedures. school safety. Before You Quit Education, What's Your Plan? The stress of knowing I could be fired at any moment if my job stepped on anyone elses toes was hard. Therefore, assistant principals in secondary schools also have an extra level of responsibility to monitor truancy. A Valdosta elementary school assistant principal is being hailed a hero after saving a second-grader from choking. She worked as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, and principal. I remember a 16 year old kid getting sent to my office for yelling at a teacher. Its important for assistant principals to engage in professional development to stay up-to-date on educational trends and to hone leadership skills. There are many similarities for assistant principals, regardless of the education level, but there are some structural differences in academics and best practices for dealing with students of various age groups. But my friend who is on the board there said that they told the sup that the principals who he hired to replace the ones he fired had better be higher than when they started or he would lose his job it caused a ton of issues. The never-ending demands are based on demographics, socio-economics, politics, and more. Effective assistant principals share many of the same characteristics, including: Here are a few simple ideas that can help assistant principals improve relationships and contribute to a positive school culture: According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for principals, including assistants, in the United States in 2015 was $90,410. Another reasonis that the assistant principal's position can be a stepping stone to the principal's job. Job Description / Essential Elements: Print. The estimated total pay for a Assistant Principal is $102,736 per year in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX area, with an average salary of $92,763 per year. Goldring, R., & Taie, S. (2018). Becoming a principal was a goal and dream of mine. Afterward, a principal job was a few years away, but I quickly found an assistant principal position. Manage student behavioral issues including those in the cafeteria along with those referred by teachers and bus drivers. Its also possible that Black assistant principalsparticularly Black menwho are often steered toward student discipline, may not be getting the instructional leadership experience necessary for the principals job, Mollie Rubin, a research assistant professor at Vanderbilt and a co-author, said during a panel discussion and presentation of the reports findings. Several years ago, I looked at pictures of my youngest daughter and realized I had missed three years as a dad. For comparison, the expected percent change in employment for all occupations is 7 percent. I'm in my 15th year as an administrator and I could have written that piece because it is exactly what I'm living as a principal. Use the opportunity for informal conversations. I don't think I'd want to be a principal or a superintendent. Thank You! Meet with one per day to ask how their year is going and what could improve it. Eventually, my health began to deteriorate. Theres limited empirical evidence that having worked as an AP leads to better school outcomes or effectiveness as a principal. The salary will change depending on your location, job level, experience, education, and skills. 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. Those things happen in admin. Cassandra Washington graduated from Rockford University with a B.A. You can make a big impact on them when trying to get/keep them on track with discipline or grades. Step 4: Think about whether is it worth to be an . In its districts, there was little coaching and mentoring for assistant principals, few PD opportunities for principals on how to mentor APs, and a dearth of PD tailored to or differentiated for APs, Casserly said. Being a School Principal ensures all school activities are within budgetary guidelines. I always looked at the job of being the CEO of the school. A version of this article appeared in the April 28, 2021 edition of Education Week as Is the Assistant Principal the Most Overlooked, Undervalued Person at School? Salary range for an Assistant Principal $81,900 to $109,700 View average salary for the United States Adjust salary by state Average salary for Assistant Principal jobs One is who gets into the pipeline. Hold yourself accountable throughout the year. Students and teachers need to see that the assistant. She worked as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, and principal. A key finding from the report highlighted the disconnect between pre-service programs and the real world: Prep programs prepare candidates to work as principals even though the majority of graduates work as APs upon completion of their training. Many spend more time with disciplinary actions and less with instructional leadership. (Students of color comprised 34 percent of the enrollment in the six states that were included in this specific study that was part of the larger review.). Assistant principals can work at elementary, middle, or high schools. You'll be miserable and the people you serve will be miserable. Heres What Principals Can Do About It, Employee Morale Is Keeping Superintendents Up at Night, The School District That's Enrolling Ukrainian Refugeesand Hiring Their Parents, How a Successful Superintendent Takes Stock Mid-Year. Interpret and implement the educational and administrative programs of the K-8 school . In Political Science. One common role is to support the principal, which can look different in every setting. They may directly supervise lunch, hallways, special events. Despite adapting, the weight of dealing with social ills that enter into the school classrooms becomes too much to handle at times. This is reality,i have faced the same. I wish you the best with your career. Most states require teaching experience. (2020, August 28). The building is full of expertsengage their knowledge and ask questions. I am looking forward to be one. It was a great stepping stone to understand the day-to-day operations of a school. Here is a snapshot of average assistant principal salaries: Employment for elementary and secondary principals is expected to grow at a rate of 4% from 2018 to 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But currently in my new district we have a new sup who stepped up from within and should have been sup all along. Field Tip: Make a list focused on your leadership responsibilities (e.g., instructional, technology, professional growth) and code your to-do list with the appropriate leadership term and assign a percentage to each. Occasionally a few helpful colleagues shared or donated used materials or resources. PRINCIPAL, K-8 SCHOOL. I was an AP for three years at a relatively wealthy school and principal at a very poor middle school for three. It's not worth it for you or anyone else. An assistant principal is a school leader and supportive team player. I have become so thankful for my role in the school (teacher), for my schedule, and for the pay, honestly. Assistant principal definition: a person who assists a principal in their work | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Retirement will come quickly in the coming months. Not a principal but have had this conversation with principals. See if you qualify! Jul 2016 - Jun 20182 years. Thank you for your vulnerability. Less time involved dealing with conflicts allows elementary administration to focus on academic and school improvement priorities. During budget season, ask to review the budget and discuss how priorities were set and allocated. Thank you for sharing!!! Disciplinary issues may be a main reason for this difference. The loss of funds caused major damage to our growth, personnel numbers, and programming. Updated: 5 hours ago. My mileage may be different because I was also full time teaching, but heres what you can expect: +discipline issues of all kinds land on your office doorstep, +personnel issues of all kinds land on your office doorstep, +parent issues of all kinds land on your office doorstep. The Editorial Team, Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP), Teaching Careers and Professional Development, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, American Federation of School Administrators, Research Education Specialist Degree Programs, Research ALL Degree and Certificate Programs, Psychology Teacher: Job, Education and Salary Information, Special Education Teacher: Job, Education and Salary Information, Health Teacher: Job, Education and Salary Information, School Principal: Job, Education and Salary Information, Art Teacher: Job, Education, and Salary Information, Adjunct Professor: Job Outlook, Education, Salary, Masters in Trauma Education and Trauma-Informed Care. Ive also had very positive sup changes where they promote from within and everything improves. One reason for the multiple roles is that the assistant principal must be ready to take over all the responsibilities of the school principal in the event of an absence or illness. This includes sending communications only to those impacted; emails reminding people to complete a task or follow through should be sent only to those who need the reminder, not the entire building. Employment growth may depend on state and local government budgets. Learning Policy Institute. Having worked in a lot of schools, my impression is that most often assistant principles get most of the "dirty work" - particularly discipline and scheduling. Trustworthiness. I could not sleep at night, and the doctor diagnosed insomnia. Assistant principals deal with the issues of school management, student activities and services, community relations, personnel, and curriculum instruction. wide instructional . When I left my principal job, the scores on the state test declined 10 percentage points on most every exam but the new admin didnt care because the person who replaced me was friends with the new Supt. District leaders can also ensure that APs have equitable experiences to hone their managerial as well as instructional leadership skills. Statistics show many decide to leave. They coordinate with principals and board members to assist in defining and enforcing school policies and guidelines for students, staff, and faculty. Eventually, I began to suffer from secondary trauma and a few health issues. There is a big difference between AP and principal. 2019. One area in which I believe we often fall short is taking ownership of our professional growth. Discover how to create a learning environment where all students feel valued and supported, and how to accelerate learning for English learners and students of color. Parents of younger children tend to be more involved with their childs school. I always joke that I did not have gray hair until I became a principal. And principals of color were more likely to have worked as APs than their white peers and more likely to do so after finishing their leadership preparation programs. Help create school-wide goals including those related to student learning and. You can easily lose your career in a flash. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-an-assistant-principal-7652 (accessed March 4, 2023). The goal of r/Education is to provide a community in which educational stakeholders can participate in meaningful, reflective, and thought-provoking discourse about educational policy, research, technology, and politics. Addressing student discipline issues and helping students access resources to help them address problem behaviors. Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more. this helps a lot. This can stretch your time and yourself if youre not willing to take feedback and grow where you are weak. But the research is nascent, Rubin said. Jared C. Wastler is the assistant principal at Lower Dauphin High School in Hummelstown, PA. Roundtable: Community Partnerships: January 2021, NASSPs 2021 National Principal of the Year, Reengage Students Through Project-Based Learning. I have had various experiences with people who support and help and those who are trying to blame and move up on others hard work. Does anyone have experience on what it is like to be in those positions? Create a free account to save your favorite articles, follow important topics, sign up for email newsletters, and more. Most assistant principals start their careers as teachers. It is important to prioritize your day every day. However, the principal job is where real change can be made, but also, everything ends at you; which means some headaches that cant always be solved, but youre always to blame) Setting up and developing key leaders within your building is crucial to making an impact. Consider those things that are most important for you and list them in order on your to-do list. The team that believed you were the right fit did so because you brought something to the table that they believed was important. I Saved Myself: Five Reasons Why Principals Leave Their Schools. Each of us has individuals in our lives who embody an exceptional leader. Diplomacy. What roles do you do? SOURCE: The Role. In high-poverty schools, the turnover rate was 21 percent. She also wants to support educators in finding a. , and she speaks at national conferences about teacher and principal wellness. Each assistant principalship carries a different set of expectations and challenges. This includes time each day to be present in classrooms and hallways. Kelly, Melissa. Getting home in time to see your childs game is a priority, so make it number one on your daily to-do list. I felt like I was continually robbing Peter to pay Paul. Training programs for administrative positions often focus on the role . But being a hero in a world of dragons is deadly, and even without a hero complex, most administrators barely keep their heads above water in their first few years. Superintendents get fired a lot and it will cause you to lose your job if it happens. Although behavior issues and disciplinary actions are still a part of an elementary assistant principals day, they are often less frequent and less time consuming. Prep programs, for example, can work with districts to sequence courses to match the work that APs are doing. Working with faculty, assistant principals make suggestions, listen, and share experiences encouraging teacher improvement and motivation within classrooms. Just under a quarter of assistant principals were people of color, but they made up only 19 percent of those serving as principals and 13 percent of teachers. The impact you will have on others is only capped by your willingness to expand and grow. The never-ending demands are based on demographics, socio-economics, politics, and more. Take the time to ask your principal to observe or facilitate tasks that may not be traditional to the assistant principal role. Field Tip: Try trash can diplomacy. At lunch, take the trash cans around the cafeteria to collect trash from students. While the new report said that big-city and other large districts offered more professional development and mentoring opportunities for APs, the councils research found something quite different. At the end of the week, check your percentages to make sure you are fulfilling your goals. Each year I watched my school budget decrease by $100,000 or more. Yet, the expectations of raising test scores remained despite not being able to give the students necessary programs and resources. View job description, responsibilities and qualifications. As an assistant principal, one of the best things you can do is listen. 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. But in particular for principals who have spent some years "on the ground" in the classroom and know the realities, but now have to navigate political minefields to appease bosses with little/no classroom experience. There is a massive variety of professional learning opportunities available for assistant principalsthe most available and promising is the person in your very own building, your principal. The interviewer wants to know that you understand how your skills match those required in the role. First, once a sup is hired, the main admin gets let go or demoted and then the principals get let go next because the Supt knows there really arent problems but removing people allows them to put their people in place and to buy time. Denisa R. Superville is an assistant editor at Education Week who focuses on principals and school leadership.