The assistant principal is often the unsung hero in the daily school operation, with a title that can understate the job鈥檚 sweeping duties. A step away from the principal鈥檚 chair, the assistant can be called on to juggle everything from nuts-and-bolts logistics to social and emotional interactions with students and staff.
In a pair of recent articles, Education Week鈥檚 Denisa R. Superville interviewed school leaders with first-hand experience in the assistant principal鈥檚 post.
Here鈥檚 a summary of their top advice for aspiring assistant principals.
Relationships are crucial with people above and below, inside the building and out
Whether it鈥檚 the relationship with your principal, the teachers you supervise, the students you鈥檙e responsible for, or the community at large, nurturing those bonds takes work. Put a premium on collaboration. And be expansive about who you build bridges with.
鈥淐ollaborate with your students, collaborate with your parent community, collaborate with your district office,鈥� says Dana Perez, an assistant principal at Rogers Park Middle School in Danbury, Conn. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know everything. That鈥檚 something I鈥檝e learned over time. The best way to solve anything is with your community members.鈥�
You won鈥檛 fully learn the job until you do it
You might have come to the job with years of experience as a teacher. You might have been through a leadership training program.
All well and good鈥攂ut 鈥測ou鈥檙e not ready until you鈥檝e had to live in those shoes for a few months,鈥� says Randy Oliver, an associate principal at Van Horn High School in Independence, Mo., and a former principal.
In addition to on-the-job learning, APs should be reading voraciously, attending conferences, and actively looking for professional development opportunities.
Build a network of outside support
鈥淭here are times when you can鈥檛 go to your principal,鈥� said Oliver, who is part of the Missouri Secondary School Principals Association and a former president of the Greater Kansas City Principals Association. 鈥淢aybe you don鈥檛 feel comfortable enough just yet because it may make you feel a bit vulnerable. You鈥檝e got to have somebody to call.鈥�
In Delaware, a new administrators鈥� program had a network that let Holly Langley, an assistant principal at Sussex Technical High School in Georgetown, Del., check in with fellow first-year colleagues. They could swap ideas on professional development and book studies, but also say, 鈥� 鈥楬ey, how do you handle this in your school? What do you do?鈥� 鈥� she said.
If APs are not getting support at school, look elsewhere, advises Kristin Eng an assistant principal of CICS Bucktown Chicago.
鈥淪eek out other assistant principals,鈥� said Eng. 鈥淵ou have to think outside of the box. If you want to do a PD or you need support, lean on other folks.鈥�
Put yourself forward in building opportunities
Queesha Tillman, the principal at 71st Classical Middle School in Fayetteville, N.C., sought to grow beyond the AP duties at a previous school, which included overseeing transportation, discipline, and testing. So she worked three summers with the district鈥檚 associate superintendent in charge of student services and federal programs on a summer program for at-risk students.
鈥淚t did afford me an opportunity to be visible, for others to see my work, notice my skill set, and then other opportunities started [to present themselves],鈥� said Tillman. She also sought out learning opportunities closer to home with the help of a supportive principal. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 wait to be asked, You take the initiative to create a seat at the table.鈥�
Mentoring is huge
It doesn鈥檛 have to part of a formal program鈥攁 mentor could be a retired administrator, somebody who鈥檚 been through the scenarios you鈥檙e confronting, can listen and offer a safety net.
And branch out in looking for mentors鈥擳illman built relationships with those in the district office, at the state level, and in universities. 鈥淵ou are shaped and molded by those you associate with,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, if you are working under principals and your entire network is just principals, you are kind of limited to just what principals know.鈥�
Know your principal鈥檚 goals鈥攁nd make sure the principal knows yours
That can keep you from getting pigeonholed in certain areas areas of responsibility鈥攄iscipline, for example鈥攁t the expense of others. It goes hand in hand with building a transparent and collaborative relationship with your principal.
Perez, the Connecticut AP, who has a 鈥渇abulous鈥� relationship with her principal, suggests regularly setting aside time to meet with the principal鈥攆or example, every Monday for 30 minutes鈥攖o discuss both school and professional topics. 鈥淪ome principals aren鈥檛 aware of the role of an AP or don鈥檛 know how to use an AP,鈥� she said.
Know your people, and have their backs
Teaching can be incredibly taxing, so remember that teachers need a break. Find ways to get to know them, show them that you care鈥攁nd get out from behind your desk.
鈥淧roximity breeds empathy,鈥� said Langley, the Georgetown, Del., AP. 鈥淪o, physically get near [your teachers]鈥攇et to know them, talk to them, know if they have a sick child, if they need to leave a little bit early, so that you can make that connection.鈥�
And don鈥檛 be afraid to show your vulnerability. That can mean getting feedback from your staff, listening, and getting to know your own strengths and weaknesses. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 have to have a negative connotation,鈥� Langley said. 鈥淰ulnerability does not equal weakness.鈥�
Know yourself and the implications of change
Set aside time to reflect on the decisions you鈥檝e made, why you made them, and what you could have done differently. Spend some time listening, observing, and learning before changing anything鈥攊t can be OK to do nothing, rather than make change for the sake of change.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really important to observe in your first 30 days and talk to the folks who have been there, talk to families, talk to students,鈥� said Eng. 鈥淛ust observe the day-in and day-out operations of the school, the systems, and structures in place.鈥�
Smile. Enjoy the rewards.
The job can draw Type-A personalities tethered to their to-do list and iPhone. Achieving a work-life balance is crucial not only for you but for those you work with.
鈥淔ind the glimmer every single day about why you are doing this work and why it鈥檚 important,鈥� Eng said. 鈥淭hat will push you past the stressors, past the tough days. You have to enjoy your work.鈥�
