First-year principals need support from their superintendent, the central administration, and their experienced colleagues. We provide this for teachers routinely, but we rarely ask for it in return. 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. This checklist can be tailored to the particular needs of specific schools and can play large roles in keeping principals on task and organized. Explore. Develop a plan for meeting them and share your plan with a colleague. During the 2014-15 school year, principals and assistant principals shall continue to be evaluated based on these quality standards. This planner has daily pages in addition to monthly "at a glance" pages. Chewing gum was forbidden in my school when I arrived as principal. This forced me to see myself as a learner. Send home ESSA Report Cards for last year. Assistant principals should familiarize themselves with the school's policies and procedures in order to effectively carry out their duties. He believes life should not be boring; school either. Drawing on research that identifies where these programs often fall short, the report offers five . Having the respect of the teachers is not the same as having a relationship with them. Cultivating those trusting relationships is vital if youre interested in creating change (and who isnt interested in creating positive change). This will truly be a. You're the "new kid," and learning is your first agenda. Also, when appropriate, do what you can to make teachers' ideas a reality. The new assistant principal should meet with the principal to discuss their role in the school and what is expected of them. Regardless of what method the state requires, frequent, informal, positive, and constructive interaction between the principal and staff remains essential and should be promoted by the superintendent. Today. He sat with the men and women who ran the buses, kept roofs from leaking, mowed the grass, and shoveled the snow and said, "OK, guys. 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. Principals need to manage just how accessible they are, especially with regard to text messages, voicemails, and emails. Each person with whom you work has a personal story, family, and dreams. 1. endobj xref 4689 216 0000000016 00000 n 0000019600 00000 n 0000019786 00000 n 0000021190 00000 n 0000021725 00000 n 0000022157 00000 n 0000022525 00000 n 0000023076 00000 n 0000023407 00000 n 0000023473 00000 n 0000023588 00000 n 0000024043 00000 n 0000024617 00000 n 0000024705 00000 n 0000025216 00000 n 0000025819 00000 n . Welcome New Staff: Plan and schedule your new teacher summer in-service. January 2019 Communicate the Principal Entry Plan to staff members (via e-mail and Hang it in a part of the office where you will see it frequently to remind you what is guiding your work. I still use this trusty notebook to take notes in throughout the year at all the meetings I attend. 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. . Im happy they want to share with me and I can always stay late if I need to. ASCD empowers educators to achieve excellence in learning, teaching, and leading so that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. 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. A solid way to build relationships is what I term Visibility 2.0. We know that being present is important, but being present is more than standing in the hallway or walking to the door of a classroom. <>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>>
This year, in particular, many of us have learned the importance of self-care. What are you doing this year thats different/new? Several years ago, I looked at pictures of my youngest daughter and realized I had missed three years as a dad. Do something to engage in a different way. The collective wisdom of your staff is invaluable. Trials Of A First-Year Principal: Transition Plan. A positive student-teacher relationship is much more important than doling out consequences and is the cornerstone of future positive behavioral outcomes. There is a massive variety of professional learning opportunities available for assistant principalsthe most available and promising is the person in your very own building, your principal. Questions provide an avenue for dialogue rather than dictation. 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. Share some of your own dreams. Again, your genuine listening to both the verbal and nonverbals in the conversation is crucial. Again, listen. Thank you. July/August 2016 Disseminate class lists to teachers. A smooth transition helps alleviate concerns. Check on school photo plans for coming year . Parenting DCPS offers several types of Assistant Principal roles based on instructional levels and content areas. 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? 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). How can I help in moving us forward if I dont see first-hand what our strengths and needs are. 2. Winter '23 Magazine. The varimax rotation method was then used to determine which items loaded most highly onto which of the retained factors. It pays dividends in building trust. The checklist can also help to ensure that the new assistant principal is familiar with the school's policies and procedures. The principal should spend time interacting with students and staff, and observing instruction, every day. In today's connected world, all educators should be actively looking for ideas and resources from outside their district. The transition is quickin one day you move from a teacher contract to an administrative contract. Just as teachers should never forget what it's like to be a student, administrators should never forget what it's like to be a teacher. Matching our practice with our message builds trust with teachers. Yes, I realize that creates scheduling problems, but thats an opportunity for creative problem solving, not an excuse for inaction. As the days went by in my first year as an assistant principal, I was reminded often how much I did not know. I have also picked up on the culture and expectations that are in the school. October 30, 2020 . Sitemap When advocacy is needed, it's invaluable to have friends in the central office. Invite people to a Twitter chat, help out with an EdCamp, create a Voxer group to highlight great things happening on campus. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Uncategorized. 1 0 obj
Commit to the development and mentoring of aspiring school administrators that includes providing professional guidance and support for the principal intern. 1. Use your opportunities in classrooms and hallways to ask for perspective and guidance. It covers PLACE VALUE, MULTIPLICATION, DIVISION, CHARTS AND GRAPHS, SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW AND FINANCIAL LITERACY- NEW TEKS! Zero in on those issues that directly affect teaching and learning. Like anyone else, teachers do not want to listen to someone who doesn't genuinely care about them. The most important lesson in leadership is, "be you." Authenticity, including recognizing our strengths and weaknesses, makes us better leaders. Assistant principals should manage budget and financial resources for the school in order to ensure that funds are allocated wisely. ?fK#Iz0 "y>{3s.g=3>9+0?jV-dKgHJ'+4,RH`ENf?%,1[m 0 g>g}I'sZY Add detailed notes or comments. What seems vibrant and healthy in your new school and what needs oxygen? Although a summertime hire -- allowing for more one-on-one training time -- might have been nice, I had to come up with a plan for helping the new AP assimilate. Heres a bit of what Ive learned in my first 100 days as a first-year principal. Get to know everyone on a personal level. I was an AP for 10 years, so I appreciate your perspective. Field Tip: When you need to communicate, start by identifying the purpose and critical information. While this strategy has its advantages, it can also be a hindrance, as each of us carries strengthsand weaknesses. component of my first year. Field Tip: Make a list focused on your leadership responsibilities (e.g., instructional, technology, professional growth) and code your to-do list with the appropriate leadership term and assign a percentage to each. Field Tip: Develop personal professional growth goals each year. 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. Copyright 2019. Also, how is it different than you expected it would be? To help me with this, I find that keeping my actual list of to-do items written down in a notebook helps. During budget season, ask to review the budget and discuss how priorities were set and allocated. Whenever we met, a stranger could walk into the room and, based on our interaction, wouldn't know who was the teacher and who was the administrator. You have0 freearticles left this month. . Miscellaneous In this moment, I was interviewing for the principal vacancy at the elementary school in the district. His leadership was, Lori thought, a bit "loosey-goosey." Just because you can be available 24/7 doesnt mean you should be. Are kids forbidden to step foot in the faculty loungeor are they welcomed? Make sure you start this next step in your career on the right foot! I connect regularly with several other administrative colleagues to bounce ideas off one another or simply to vent. Hold a get to know the assistant principal night or day.something like that. 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. However, getting buy in on the front end of change can make a profound difference on the success of any attempt at change in a large organization like a school. Getting home in time to see your childs game is a priority, so make it number one on your daily to-do list. Cover a duty occasionally, deliver a latte, be proactive in parent communication over discipline issues, etc. Consider the following checklist as part of your 90-day plan to outline goals; clarify desired expectations for all players; and align plans, decisions, and actions to best serve students, stakeholders and staff. Listen more than you talk the first time you meet those with whom you will work. The relationships you developed at your old school will reappear in your professional life. Above all, build the best possible relationship with the school secretary. Field Tip: Get an accountability partner. John T. Fitzsimons is a retired superintendent of schools and former elementary and secondary assistant principal and principal. Let them know that any classroom-related problem must ultimately be solved with the teacher, so it's best to start there. The time-consuming gum battle slowly disappeared as we consistently addressed issues relating directly to teaching and learning. While this strategy has its advantages, it can also help to ensure that are! An EdCamp, create a Voxer group to highlight great things happening campus. Chewing gum was forbidden in my first 100 days as a learner chewing gum was in! Today 's connected world, all educators should be but we rarely ask for perspective and.. 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