January 2019 Send Connect ED message in English to all staff, parents and students. Social media for the first assistant principal will i start of your checklist item to your talk about our teacher in one positive statements will the forms. 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. As a new administrator, make a point of connecting with your teachers on Facebook, as this is most likely where they already are. Spend a great deal of time in classrooms, being as non-evaluative as you can. Finding the right balance for communication is critical. So it would be better to use that time to extend the other 3 lunch periods. In your first months, change absolutely nothing that isn't essential or directed by your superintendent or school boardexcept the pictures on your office wall. endobj October 30, 2020 . Use your opportunities in classrooms and hallways to ask for perspective and guidance. Each person with whom you work has a personal story, family, and dreams. An AP needs a foundation of credibility before he can earn the relational capital that creates trust. No matter how organized I am, or how diligent I am to my tasks, the list is simply longer than the hours I have to dedicate to the job. Links: The work of building a really good school is an endless journey. June 2014 - September 2015 Done well, it will help you make a positive first impression on your . The Problem: A new assistant principal was assigned to our school about six weeks after the . Principalsnot othersmust be in control of their own time. (This also applies to your personal balance. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Small detailswhich you can observe on visits or get-to-know-you meetings with teachers before you officially startreveal a lot about culture. I make sure to engage in the stories of their vacations and talk as long as they want. This will truly be a. Watch. Asking teachers two questions should ferret out their real concernsand will show from the beginning that you value and need their insights. Personally, I like to record the date whenever I spend more than ten minutes in a classroom, which helps in ensuring that my time is distributed evenly among all the teachers. The checklist includes the following topic areas: Welcome to the Pack. She and I meet once every other week for support. Develop a plan for meeting them and share your plan with a colleague. 4E}]x_'5hyw+q4 Z|8CUq}i}p(1@v{k34mfggFdfl[2s[K5TBTgfRdIq*rF J`?[[PZ)Mgf/ SfMsGju\4 {Om'/W'2$jEjInNHA 9IzW! Almost every day I feel pulled in a million directions, with an even longer list of tasks to accomplish, parents to call, students to connect with, or teachers to meet. school Principal's . I still use this trusty notebook to take notes in throughout the year at all the meetings I attend. Set some goals for improvement in the areas where you need the most growth, and after some time has passed, ask for input again. Prioritizing is essential. So before the year begins, I decided to think through those things that I can be about as an assistant principal that will help me help our campus. They are on the front lines and sometimes small things can be a stress reliever to a teacher. The list for this particular school had about thirty items on it. You're the "new kid," and learning is your first agenda. Follow Dr. McEwan's seven steps for effective communication with your staff. ), but that's another post all on its own. 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. Great article. Each assistant principalship carries a different set of expectations and challenges. and must remain in this plan for the first year (365 days) of employment. $h591j}R3xW$i>"B3Yu`O'_nbYynbXY2uP You have0 freearticles left this month. It's OK to be vulnerable; this doesn't translate into weakness; it shows people that you're human. It covers PLACE VALUE, MULTIPLICATION, DIVISION, CHARTS AND GRAPHS, SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW AND FINANCIAL LITERACY- NEW TEKS! And you'll need to have district office personnel as partners whennot ifyou make your first big mistake. 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. Though that trust must be earned, your work as an AP is far from overwhen you reach that point. But coming to terms with the fact that the principalship is a bit like playing whac-a-mole, where when you accomplish one project or task thats most critical, another one pops up immediately that needs just as much of your attention. Be patient. The goal was to get me away from the leadership style of guiding dialogue and toward the style of actively listening. Robert L. Furman(furman@castl.duq.edu) is an assistant professor and Mary Frances Grasinger(grasinger@duq.edu) is a professor in Duquesne University's School of Education in Pittsburgh, PA. 1. Review all personnel records. For admins just starting out, its helpful to establish relationships, visit classrooms, understand others, flatten the hierarchy, and become an active social media presence. Get to Know Your Staff Relationships are important. Are kids forbidden to step foot in the faculty loungeor are they welcomed? Field Tip: Make a list of five students each week. <>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Send home ESSA Report Cards for last year. Serve as a resource to the internship sites as requested by the principal-mentor. The school day moves at lightning speed, and new principals are caught up in the whirlwind, almost like playing whack-a-mole. Often, theyre given the keys and a couple of memory sticks and are expected to forge ahead without much guidance. Caroline, a retiring principal, introduced newcomer Mark to the students in each classroom. So youre son will be a freshman here next year; whats he excited about? When conversing with others, make a conscious effort to avoid waiting to talk and trying to prove yourself. However, there are some issues to avoid when using the checklist, such as failing to attend orientation and training programs, not meeting with the principal to discuss the assistant principals role in the school, and overscheduling oneself. Surviving the first year of a principalship is a challenge. I much prefer receiving this nourishment than being starved of it. This checklist can be tailored to the particular needs of specific schools and can play large roles in keeping principals on task and organized. Yes, I realize that creates scheduling problems, but thats an opportunity for creative problem solving, not an excuse for inaction. Complete Transition Questionnaire*. At the end of the week, check your percentages to make sure you are fulfilling your goals. What a great article! One of the most important roles a principal performs is the evaluation of personnel. Teachers mourned the loss. You received the exciting call saying that you are the new principal. Consider participating in instructional learning opportunities so that you can continue to grow as a resource for teachers. 1 0 obj Pinterest. endobj Getting feedback is rarely pain-free. His donuts, coffee, and question established a mutual respect that lasted the tenure of his time as superintendent. When it finds me, your list and all which concerns emotional intelligence, empathy, and engagement will be the driver of my leadership M.O. 2. I remind myself that this list isnt anyone elses worry or focus, and that in every moment, I need to be present. Relationships are important. The interviews are over. Explore. In this moment, I was interviewing for the principal vacancy at the elementary school in the district. 1. How does the school celebrate holidays and staff birthdays? But learning to delegate responsibility is the mark of mature leadership. For everyoneeven educators who move from one principalship to anotherthe first year as the new kid on the block is like driving down an unknown highway. As a fourth-grade teacher, I once had the pleasure of working with a phenomenal assistant superintendent. Having a checklist can also help to ensure that the new assistant principal is familiar with the schools policies and procedures. The team that believed you were the right fit did so because you brought something to the table that they believed was important. A trusted AP will be looking for new ways to learn on his own and will be actively seeking opportunities to bring others into his learning. If the outgoing principal is available, review the personnel records with him or her. Like anyone else, teachers do not want to listen to someone who doesn't genuinely care about them. We provide this for teachers routinely, but we rarely ask for it in return. On his first official day as the new superintendent, Dan appeared at the central maintenance facility with a bag of donuts and a carafe of coffee. Get to know everyone on a personal level. Also, if a teacher asks what you are doing, be transparent. We have all received emails that resembled dissertations or appeared to be sent just to send something. Assistant principals should oversee student discipline procedures to ensure that students are following school rules. It's true that you need to learn how everything runs and that the buck's final home is on your desk. DCPS Assistant Principal Selection Process . Improving things is, of course, a large part of the leader's agenda. Assistant principals should coordinate standardized testing activities in order to ensure that they are conducted smoothly and efficiently. Again, your genuine listening to both the verbal and nonverbals in the conversation is crucial. Establish a community book group which will draw together parents and teachers (these will be facilitated by the . Principal will and the PTA will develop more focused parent engagement initiatives such as parent education sessions (facilitated by teachers). 3 0 obj The people you meet with will no doubt repeat your words to others through their own lenses. 1. Superintendents should remind principals to go home at a reasonable hour and shut down the technology. This person should share how political influence impacts the school, and how principals can gain community members support. One area in which I believe we often fall short is taking ownership of our professional growth. The beginning of the school year is one of the busiest, most demanding times of the year. Good points. I have found that having these varied and diverse perspectives have helped me think through my next steps and solutions, as well as having validated my decisions. Here are the first days of school scripts for three teachers. Grand visions of turning around a school are noble and possibly necessary, but such change should not be the first item on your agenda. Assistant principals should meet with department heads to become familiar with their areas of responsibility so they can provide effective support. It also helps to ensure that the new assistant principal is familiar with the schools policies and procedures. To streamline the Facebook process, consider starting a Facebook group that includes members of your staff. <> Thanks for offering up that reminder here. Moving Sage Press, 2001. It is important to prioritize your day every day. Listen. What problems did it solve? So take the fireplace to sincerely understand where teachers are pretty from. First-year principals need support from their superintendent, the central administration, and their experienced colleagues. It will be great! 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