Dan got some good advice. Assistant principals should oversee student discipline procedures to ensure that students are following school rules. Balance requires creating communications that are easy to read and ensuring they have a purpose. This is an encouraging blog to help assistant principals find their voice and strength in their role on campus! Find someone who will text you or stop by your office at the end of the day to remind you to close out the day. C&M|36L0$SZ0!b[g2D)!5FS&cU/St4:h}H3#4c)Dxbqi@"eV@( :+FeV.`T`t uR0%V`!3s"gNdXQ\iw\ |eBP|+y;NU6+ 9iI54Ndbxb[5Ee;Usayrno8ZWII.j2qc'|EoL&*~|3#-bRjg|Nw6Lp|8gmfr2o7x{5Y^q +u^~S }3s-{U((b{E6Zd~J5Hb.WV You received the exciting call saying that you are the new principal. 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). 3. Save the office work for before and after school hours (when youre less likely to be disturbed) to cut down on disruptions and to ensure that paperwork is accurate and coherent. You're the "new kid," and learning is your first agenda. So take the time to sincerely understand where teachers are coming from. Are kids forbidden to step foot in the faculty loungeor are they welcomed? Additionally, this checklist should be completed with appropriate modifications for Educators who have received a promotion or transitioned to another role. Goals of each person first year assistant principal assists the road. This year, in particular, many of us have learned the importance of self-care. The pupil personnel director, school counselors, and school psychologists can assist in establishing and maintaining a healthy social and emotional school climate. 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. This person should share how political influence impacts the school, and how principals can gain community members support. 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. Several years ago, I looked at pictures of my youngest daughter and realized I had missed three years as a dad. <>>> 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. component of my first year. The role of assistant principal comes with many responsibilities. Copyright 2019. Today. Then, post to your wall articles and resources that could be of benefit. Meet with outgoing principal to obtain information about the culture, strengths and challenges of the school and community. It covers PLACE VALUE, MULTIPLICATION, DIVISION, CHARTS AND GRAPHS, SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW AND FINANCIAL LITERACY- NEW TEKS! Recognize these, and set them aside. I also know I still have work to do, getting to know them more personally. By Stephanie McConnell of Principal Principles. Despite the many pulls, relationship building must be a top priority. 4E}]x_'5hyw+q4 Z|8CUq}i}p(1@v{k34mfggFdfl[2s[K5TBTgfRdIq*rF J`?[[PZ)Mgf/ SfMsGju\4 {Om'/W'2$jEjInNHA 9IzW! If you have any questions about the first year assistant principal checklist, you can contact your school district or consult a professional organization such as the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Listen. Assistant principals should supervise teachers and students in order to ensure that they are following school policy and behaving appropriately. endobj As we prepare for this upcoming year and discuss tweaks and changes that we want to make, I have learned a lot about my Principal and his way of thinking and his vision. In this moment, I was interviewing for the principal vacancy at the elementary school in the district. 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. Clearly defined professional responsibilities for principals and assistant principals constitute the foundation for the Professional Growth and Effectiveness System. 2. Copyright 2021. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Student assessment administration training begins. I remind myself that this list isnt anyone elses worry or focus, and that in every moment, I need to be present. To enforce the shared responsibility for discipline, principals should insist that teachers join them in responding to students who misbehave in the classroom. Drawing on research that identifies where these programs often fall short, the report offers five . As you leave school for the day, stop by a few classrooms and make small talk. New principals need to walk the talk. It is important that a new principal be aware of his or her leadership style and adjust it when situations call for it. Good points really care. 4 0 obj The first 90 days of any job is crucial. qD1%Y}Oo|__oLRqdl[}l1 {/. For more information, view NAESPs reprint policy. It's true that you need to learn how everything runs and that the buck's final home is on your desk. Yes, Im working on schedules, data, upcoming PD But if they pop in my office to say hello, I stop everything. Pinterest. Though that trust must be earned, your work as an AP is far from overwhen you reach that point. Teachers may come to dislike one another, gossip may substitute for communication, and discipline can become a power game in which both kids and teachers lose. 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. . His leadership was, Lori thought, a bit "loosey-goosey." |B}]N=.~ve\Y9T}`5(_f 7O1t*"/k1{Qv4DLSj@OJ@S3~9hkcwWMWq(:T ae Here's a bit of what I've learned in my first 100 days as a first-year principal. And thats not quite fair. The internship in many administrative programs is completed under the guidance of a building principal, with few opportunities to see the day-to-day work of an assistant principal.On day one, where does the assistant principal begin? 3. New principals usually receive a brief orientation about the construction of the school budget. with the school year calendar and school map Identify where an E.A. Chewing gum was forbidden in my school when I arrived as principal. I still use this trusty notebook to take notes in throughout the year at all the meetings I attend. :C1X1RpA2fkLYD4 Meet teachers on their turfin classrooms and staff roomswhich are their safety zones. These are great. 1. District of Columbia Public Schools | Page 2 of 4 . Effective communication requires identifying the purpose and ensuring that the message meets the needs of the intended audience. When the master schedule is developed, observe the process and ask how the schedule is designed to balance needs. . Update Personal Information. Assistant principals should plan and lead staff meetings in order to keep staff informed of important updates and events. Field Tip: Make a list of five students each week. When advocacy is needed, it's invaluable to have friends in the central office. 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. 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. Finally, I was surprised to see that cutting a lunch period out of the schedule would produce only 25 minutes. Keep the focus on you and how you can better serve your staff. This first year is the hardest as every "first-year" is. How does the school celebrate holidays and staff birthdays? The work of building a really good school is an endless journey. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Im happy they want to share with me and I can always stay late if I need to. 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 superintendent should ensure that discussion of effective leadership be part of every agenda. They will be your best mentors as you maneuver through the culture of your district. Even though faculty meetings and PD days are important arenas in which we must excel, we cant only show up then. We need to keep ourselves current, and we need to keep investing in our teachers. Mark promised to listen, be available, and carry on the school's good work. Begin faculty duty schedules 7. Review and revise Principals Planning Calendar Create a checklist of all the things you need to do and set a time table of when they need to be completed. Meet teachers. Field Tip: Get an accountability partner. Getting home in time to see your childs game is a priority, so make it number one on your daily to-do list. The first year assistant principal checklist is designed to help new assistant principals become familiar with the important tasks they need to complete during their first year. 0. Where are you doing your best work? Subscriptions available only as strength of membership. Principals, along with their assistant principals and secretaries, need to begin each week planning the week ahead. DCPS Assistant Principal Selection Process . Sitemap Be sure to ask July/August 2016 Disseminate class lists to teachers. As a new administrator, make a point of connecting with your teachers on Facebook, as this is most likely where they already are. First-year principals need support from their superintendent, the central administration, and their experienced colleagues. If you have any other ideas for ways to thrive in the role of assistant principal, please share! For many assistant principals, the move to the role comes straight from the classroom, the counseling office, or a dean position. If you'd like to share your own thoughts, start a blog and disseminate your posts through Facebook or possibly via email. Personal % Having the respect of the teachers is not the same as having a relationship with them. This person must be your strongest ally; if not, he or she can be your most formidable opponent. Thank you. Make sure you start this next step in your career on the right foot! Outside of school, you also have a number of options available to you. Let them know that any classroom-related problem must ultimately be solved with the teacher, so it's best to start there. Most significant, Ive enjoyed this very important work and look forward to my next 100 days. The most important lesson in leadership is, be you. Authenticity, including recognizing our strengths and weaknesses, makes us better leaders. Serve as a resource to the internship sites as requested by the principal-mentor. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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. You never know who it might encourage! and must remain in this plan for the first year (365 days) of employment. (Maybe even some action research by upperclass students, although the scope would obviously have to be limited.) 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. Real Estate This article has given me some things to think about as I start my first year as an Assistant Principal. I connect regularly with several other administrative colleagues to bounce ideas off one another or simply to vent. First aid / fire / safety rules / drills Staff introductions: ask staff to ensure the E.A. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Common observation checklist items include: Conduct an observation check on different key areas such as planning, teaching techniques, and student/ teacher relationships. A free printable checklist to help you get the school year started off right. The meetings I attend it 's invaluable to have friends in the faculty loungeor are they welcomed situations for. And PD days are important arenas in which we must excel, we cant SHOW... 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