Share some of your own dreams. . 1. Ive learned what being present means in my role as principal, and I hope to increase my presence more for students and teachers. Coaching must take place in the schools, be ongoing, and incorporate frequent classroom walkthroughs with the school principal. They are on the front lines and sometimes small things can be a stress reliever to a teacher. Sage Press, 2001. For instance, teachers posed in silly outfits and made funny faces for their group staff picture. They will be your best mentors as you maneuver through the culture of your district. Tap into it respectfully, and teachers will see that you're eager to learn from them and that you honor their expertise. Set some goals for improvement in the areas where you need the most growth, and after some time has passed, ask for input again. Moving and "What must be absolutely honored?" This will truly be a. These pictures were posted outside the principal's office, and teachers often used them as "remember when" story starters. Field Tip: When you need to communicate, start by identifying the purpose and critical information. Based on my research and what I have experienced so far, I'd like to offer five ways for a rookie administrator to successfully navigate his or her new position. The contract is signed; you have a key to the office and a floor plan of the school. ASCD empowers educators to achieve excellence in learning, teaching, and leading so that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. Before school begins, get to know everyone you can. The only way to sift through all the tasks that it takes to get ready and get through your first year is to sit down and create a plan of what you are going to do. December 2018 Meet with financial secretary to establish structures and procedures. Providing opportunities that support and increase the academic and social success of each and every student. Principal's Month of Month Checklist outlines the tasks and duties of the principal Subjects: Coaching, For Administrators, Professional Development Grades: Staff Types: For Principals & Administrators, Professional Development, Professional Documents Add to cart Wish List Effective Principal Bundle:able to edit, fill &print. That is special! Thanks for offering up that reminder here. The new assistant principal should meet with the principal to discuss their role in the school and what is expected of them. Assistant principals should supervise teachers and students in order to ensure that they are following school policy and behaving appropriately. I believe that most teachers are more concerned with the new administrator validating their work, as opposed to wanting to be awed by that administrator's expertise. 11. 5. If you want to be viewed as friendly and accessible, get out of the office and into the school while it is in session. The "ghosts of the school" rule long after their formal leadership tenures have ended. Title I Principal - Monthly Checklist Page 2 Meet with interim principal, assistant principal and curriculum facilitators. My challenge is to pull away from the office and the data driven nature of the job to really be out there where the folks in the trenches who are working so hard to make a difference are laboring. What are you doing this year thats different/new? Sit with a student and do the practice problem, talk to teachers about their children, or ask parents how they feel the school year is going. Links: "They'll love it." Approach your job with the notion that everyone has something to contribute, because a valuable idea can come from absolutely anyone. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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. Smile a lot. Keep the focus on you and how you can better serve your staff. The first 90 days of any job is crucial. And this is OKbecause it has to be. Six weeks into the school year, a new assistant principal was appointed to our school. To streamline the Facebook process, consider starting a Facebook group that includes members of your staff. A 30-60-90 day plan is what it sounds like: a document that articulates your intentions for the first 30, 60, and 90 days of a new job. October 30, 2020 . It is important to prioritize your day every day. Privacy Policy, Health ), but that's another post all on its own. In other words, make sure to separate ideas and opinions from the individuals who are delivering them. Let secretaries, special education personnel, parent organizations, and so on manage their own spheres of responsibility. Add detailed notes or comments. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Surviving the first year of a principalship is a challenge. Her predecessor as principal was "Eric the Red" (as he was known because of his hair). Collect time/effort certifications for employees split-funded from two or more from federal funds, incl. 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. 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. Seven actions to get a new principal's school year off to a good start. Prioritizing is essential. He is a professor, speaker, and runs the Facebook page, The Epic Classroom. 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. Done well, it will help you make a positive first impression on your . with the school year calendar and school map Identify where an E.A. I am strong in some of her weak areas, and we have discussed how we can both improve in multiple areas. It pays dividends in building trust. endobj Effective mentors must be successful principals. Matching our practice with our message builds trust with teachers. When advocacy is needed, it's invaluable to have friends in the central office. Balance requires creating communications that are easy to read and ensuring they have a purpose. Rich discussions will follow. Real Estate I make sure to engage in the stories of their vacations and talk as long as they want. It lists your high-level priorities and actionable goals, as well as the metrics you'll use to measure success in those first three months. An AP needs a foundation of credibility before he can earn the relational capital that creates trust. For admins just starting out, its helpful to establish relationships, visit classrooms, understand others, flatten the hierarchy, and become an active social media presence. 3. 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. The work of building a really good school is an endless journey. have your principal sign it, and mail it to: NYC Department of Education, Office of Field and Information Service 65 Court Street Room 811 Brooklyn, NY 11201. . 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. However, putting theory into practice requires much training and reflection. 1615 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314 703-684-3345 Contact Us, 2023 National Association of Elementary School Principals | Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions | Copyright and I.P. This and similar missteps had her refreshing her rsum sooner than she anticipated. Don't take it personally if anyone challenges you on some level. Copyright 2021. New principals may also need to be reminded to set digital boundaries as well as physical boundaries. 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." The interviews are over. A new principal offers four lessons learned from her first year in the role. Edutopia and Lucas Education Research are trademarks or registered trademarks of the George Lucas Educational Foundation in the U.S. and other countries. This takes a long time. 1. It can be so busy that certain things can easily slip through the cracks. However, investing in these relationships will play huge dividends when you're ready to promote change. Recognize these, and set them aside. Dan got some good advice. Ask yourself what you've done during other new seasons to find your groove, and take similar steps in this one. Activate UW Email and 2FA/DUO. My mentor is a retired principal with 21 years of experience under her belt. Assistant principals should evaluate teacher performance in order to provide feedback and make recommendations for improvement. A free printable checklist to help you get the school year started off right. We have all received emails that resembled dissertations or appeared to be sent just to send something. Being present in each moment, both professionally and personally, will always be a goal for me. 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. After 365 days of employment, you will have the option of . Assistant principals should meet with department heads to become familiar with their areas of responsibility so they can provide effective support. He was personal, he cared, and he was effective. "Your Admin Assistant" checklist too! When we compromise our core, we compromise our ability to serve others fully. For more information, view NAESPs reprint policy. A graduate course in theories of leadership may provide a theoretical base for how one is to behave effectively. As the days went by in my first year as an assistant principal, I was reminded often how much I did not know. What a great article! Subscriptions available only as strength of membership. They may directly supervise lunch, hallways, special events. 3. She and I meet regularly, each week for one hour. 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. 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. I shared, in advance, with staff that I would love to hear about what makes the school special, what they were most proud of or looking forward to this school year, and what theyd like to see changed or what I could help them with this year. Be sure to make frequent visits to all classrooms. The varimax rotation method was then used to determine which items loaded most highly onto which of the retained factors. I also know I still have work to do, getting to know them more personally. Assistant principals, also called vice-principals, wear more hats in a day than they take off students. However possible, transition into your new position. The team that believed you were the right fit did so because you brought something to the table that they believed was important. Explore. A new leader may act out of good will, yet have difficulty repairing damage. You received the exciting call saying that you are the new principal. Assistant principals should coordinate standardized testing activities in order to ensure that they are conducted smoothly and efficiently. Mark promised to listen, be available, and carry on the school's good work. 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. Im happy they want to share with me and I can always stay late if I need to. Finding the right balance for communication is critical. Thanks for this great post. It will be great! The role of assistant principal comes with many responsibilities. Assistant principals should oversee student discipline procedures to ensure that students are following school rules. Grand visions of turning around a school are noble and possibly necessary, but such change should not be the first item on your agenda. Ferret out teachers who are less vocal, and respect those known to be less than supportive. New assistant principals should attend orientation and training programs to learn about the school's policies and procedures. Invite people to a Twitter chat, help out with an EdCamp, create a Voxer group to highlight great things happening on campus. This approach can be a non-intrusive way to professionally develop your teachers without constantly flooding their inboxes with "must read" editorials (although the occasional article sent via email isn't such a bad thing). Again, listen. The ceiling for your own professional growth is in your hands. Some battles can never be won. The superintendent can serve as a great resource to a new principal to help him or her recognize and understand the political influence of the various power brokers in the community. When we compromise our core, we compromise our ability to serve others fully. We provide this for teachers routinely, but we rarely ask for it in return. This is my first year as an AP. A smooth transition helps alleviate concerns. Be sure to ask New to building leadership? Get to know everyone on a personal level. Theres a difference in feeling capable at a job and feeling that you thrive in it. Be on committees with teachers. Changing the culture of a school is a long, hard process. Business Supporting K-12 educational programs for Washington state students. What you, as new principal, own entirely, however, is your own integrity and ability to listen (and therefore to stop talking). Today. What do you want to learn about during faculty meetings? 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. 1. Learn more effectively fulfill policy and resources that you can report one. On January 15 I began my first job as a principal, as the Elementary Principal of T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School (TBD) in the Old Tappan School District.About a month prior, as I was wrapping up my job as a curriculum supervisor, I started to prepare for my new job, mostly by (1) picking the brains of my educator friends and (2) reading The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins. . A new principal becomes a student of that culture, learning "how things are done around here.". 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