Update Communication Preferences*. Field Tip: Get an accountability partner. Policy | Reprint Policy | Built by Social Driver. What tips do you have for first-year administrators? z"4Nbk%KzT\G,\OEj`rt Leverage your new title to empower others to speak up and have a voice. An Inclusion Journey, Father/Son Leadership, Small Schools, Hi-Cap, and more in this issue of Washington Principal. Providing opportunities that support and increase the academic and social success of each and every student. Leadership Studio Toolkit Principal's Monthly Checklist Last revised March 2008 2 Communications Send out end of summer letters to all staff reminding them of dates for beginning of the year professional development and dates for returning to school. Neither Rome nor a healthy school culture was built in a day! When you do, share how its going (when its great and when theres room for improvement)! What could you do with 25 minutes a day? Use the opportunity for informal conversations. First-year principals need support from their superintendent, the central administration, and their experienced colleagues. Be patient. You're the "new kid," and learning is your first agenda. Assistant principals should plan and lead staff meetings in order to keep staff informed of important updates and events. Wedding Sage Press, 2001. . Miscellaneous (Actually, those principles probably apply to any responsible professional position!) Copyright 2021. A smooth transition helps alleviate concerns. Perception is reality, and if most teachers feel a certain way, act (or react) appropriately, instead of telling them "Too bad" or convincing yourself that "they deserve what's happening to them." Ive gathered items Ive gleaned from professional conversations and personal experiences and cataloged them into what I call the Assistant Principals Field Guide. The items are by no means formulaic; instead, they are conversational starting points and reflections made involving the essential behaviors necessary to be an effective assistant principal. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. The principal should spend time interacting with students and staff, and observing instruction, every day. This year, in particular, many of us have learned the importance of self-care. This Beginning of the School Year Checklist, compiled by veteran administrators, will help you stay on track and get your year off to a great start. Assistant principals who develop lasting, trusting relationships with their staff build on a foundation created by doing their job and doing it well. The relationships you developed at your old school will reappear in your professional life. 1 0 obj Mentoring for new principals, once rare, is now required by half the nation's states. I sure prefer the latter, but that isnt something you often stumble yourself into. As the years go by and we become more and more comfortable in what we do, it's important to not lose sight of what got us there in the first place. <> Atherton, CA. No part of the articles in NAESP magazines, newsletters, or website may be reproduced in any medium without the permission of the National Association of Elementary School Principals. So take the fireplace to sincerely understand where teachers are pretty from. So it would be better to use that time to extend the other 3 lunch periods. Thanks for your article. Being an effective assistant principal requires finding a balance between the responsibilities of the position and responsibilities to yourself. Im happy they want to share with me and I can always stay late if I need to. This is my first year as an AP. I'm looking for examples of exemplary instruction so that we can take advantage of our expertise during teacher-led professional development. 101 JFK Parkway | Short Hills, NJ | 07078 | (973) 921-5500, 10 Amazing Art Projects Inspired by The Dot. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . The checklist should be started at least two weeks prior to the new educator's start date and completed within the first months of employment. By Stephanie McConnell of Principal Principles. What do you think of the new schedule? What if you could pick your schedule next year; what would it look like ideally? Watch. Does it resonate with you?" July2016 Meet with Assistant Principal and Reading Coach to develop a master calendar of events for the school year, including traditional activities, awards celebrations, and assessment periods. Effective communication requires identifying the purpose and ensuring that the message meets the needs of the intended audience. Her predecessor as principal was "Eric the Red" (as he was known because of his hair). 0. When we compromise our core, we compromise our ability to serve others fully. Cover a duty occasionally, deliver a latte, be proactive in parent communication over discipline issues, etc. What seems vibrant and healthy in your new school and what needs oxygen? Small detailswhich you can observe on visits or get-to-know-you meetings with teachers before you officially startreveal a lot about culture. It takes planning and intentionality. District of Columbia Public Schools | Page 2 of 4 . I much prefer receiving this nourishment than being starved of it. Well get better together! While this strategy has its advantages, it can also be a hindrance, as each of us carries strengthsand weaknesses. Trials Of A First-Year Principal: Transition Plan. While the job description may be exhaustive, the job of principal is also worthy of praise. 2. Be sure to make frequent visits to all classrooms. % Asking about a teachers family can help us get to know teachers as a whole just like we often ask them to do with their students. Thanks for this great post. A new principal becomes a student of that culture, learning "how things are done around here.". And you'll need to have district office personnel as partners whennot ifyou make your first big mistake. Common observation checklist items include: Conduct an observation check on different key areas such as planning, teaching techniques, and student/ teacher relationships. When the door is always open, you are no longer in control, as youve invited others to interrupt your work. As I embark on my first year as a vice principal, these are helpful tips! Once a fourth-grade teacher, I recently began my work as an elementary assistant principal in another district. Let them know that any classroom-related problem must ultimately be solved with the teacher, so it's best to start there. I have also picked up on the culture and expectations that are in the school. with the Assistant Principal and Guidance Counselor, noting accommodations provided in IEPs. All rights reserved. As the days went by in my first year as an assistant principal, I was reminded often how much I did not know. Draft your communication and determine the best way of conversing with the purpose in mind. Travel One of the most important things I have done each year is to start by asking those I work with, What do you need from me? Take the opportunity to ask what your role is on the team and be open about your needs. Follow Dr. McEwan's seven steps for effective communication with your staff. Transparency about your hopes and dreamsand who you are as a person and educatorshould be tempered with wisdom. Create a checklist of all the things you need to do and set a time table of when they need to be completed. How are new teachers or students initiated into the school? Ideas, Inspiration, and Giveaways for Teachers, Practical advice, inspiration, and tools for K-12 school leaders. You need to take the initiative to make it what you want from it. One person's idea is no better than another's simply because he or she has a "higher-up" job title, and certain responsibilities should not belong entirely to specific workers just because they happen to be in a department that has traditionally taken care of such tasks. Baby I was an Assistant Principal for a year and a half for Marion Community Schools, then I served as the district RTI Coordinator for the last semester of the 2017-2018 school year. October 30, 2020 . Real Estate Teachers kept lists of "chewers," and after the third offense, they reported the student to the assistant principal. New to building leadership? Assure teachers they can manage the majority of discipline issues themselves. Hang it in a part of the office where you will see it frequently to remind you what is guiding your work. Chewing gum was forbidden in my school when I arrived as principal. Also, when appropriate, do what you can to make teachers' ideas a reality. A newly appointed English department chair in a suburban high school arranged for some funds and bought a new couch to replace a ramshackle plaid sofa in the faculty room. (This also applies to your personal balance. The goal was to get me away from the leadership style of guiding dialogue and toward the style of actively listening. The interviews are over. Taking that time to engage makes a huge difference! 5. 1. The assistant principal, assistant school administrator, and coordinator of a school-based program is an educational leader who assists the principal with developing the professional capacity and practice of school personnel to promote each student's academic success and well-being. (Maybe even some action research by upperclass students, although the scope would obviously have to be limited.) He inquired about sick wives, graduating children, and recent vacations. We have all received emails that resembled dissertations or appeared to be sent just to send something. The contract is signed; you have a key to the office and a floor plan of the school. Education Lori packed the pictures in a crate and suggested that teachers dress "appropriately" for their next staff picture. Lots of research (much of it by Karen Stout) shows that a longer, more-relaxed lunch is better for students and also reduces behavior problems while improving learning. And thats not quite fair. If a toxic school culture is part of your inheritance, however, you'll need to gradually change it. I think back to all of the items I listed during that interview and my first 100 days. How does the school celebrate holidays and staff birthdays? So take the time to sincerely understand where teachers are coming from. In larger school systems, a head teacher principal is often assisted by someone known as a vice-principal, deputy principal, or assistant/associate principal. Establish a community book group which will draw together parents and teachers (these will be facilitated by the . These findings can then be brought in-house to enhance what is already taking place. Field Tip: Develop personal professional growth goals each year. Principalsnot othersmust be in control of their own time. Coaching must take place in the schools, be ongoing, and incorporate frequent classroom walkthroughs with the school principal. Meeting with staff weekly will ensure a coordinated effort and clear delegation of assignments and work functions. Welcoming parents and teachers to meet with you individually or in small groups during summer can build relationships that the rush of the school year doesn't always allow for. Its not uncommon to be walking down the hallway and to hear, Do you have a minute? As much as I can, I answer, yes, sure. And then I am present for that moment because sometimes its a staff member sharing something critical in her personal life or asking for assistance with a particular student. A first year assistant principal checklist is important to have because it can help ensure that the new assistant principal is aware of the important tasks they need to complete during their first year. I'm the new superintendent. Ill be the first to say that each path toward trust is unique, but its never bad to start by managing the referrals that come your way fairly and efficiently, committing to being a learner in your leadership role, and moving toward each new year looking for ways to serve students and teachers in new ways. Assistant principals should familiarize themselves with the school's policies and procedures in order to effectively carry out their duties. March 30, 2021 Step 5: Mid-Year Conference: Meeting to discuss progress of goal attainment Commit to the development and mentoring of aspiring school administrators that includes providing professional guidance and support for the principal intern. Lori learned the hard way. Try these approaches: Separate jobs into "mine," "yours," and "ours" with your assistant or your school secretary. Field Tip: Try trash can diplomacy. At lunch, take the trash cans around the cafeteria to collect trash from students. Share some of your own dreams. If you truly want what is best for your co-workers and students, none of these interactions will actually feel like work. Smile a lot. Goals of each person first year assistant principal assists the road. Your work is to build a school that meets the needs of students and becomes a community of educators dedicated to that purpose. The first year at this in my experience, Create a master list of any changes to distribute at the first staff meeting. The principal must establish clear boundaries and good working relationships with each of them. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

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