Use the opportunity for informal conversations. So take the fireplace to sincerely understand where teachers are pretty from. 1. What could you do with 25 minutes a day? 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. Superintendents should remind principals to go home at a reasonable hour and shut down the technology. Observe. TRANSITION However possible, transition into your new position before your first day. Prioritizing is essential. Smile a lot. Even though faculty meetings and PD days are important arenas in which we must excel, we cant only show up then. If you want to be viewed as friendly and accessible, get out of the office and into the school while it is in session. "They'll love it." January 2019 Communicate the Principal Entry Plan to staff members (via e-mail and Now that my first year has concluded, when I think back to that interview day, Im proud of my ambition and the long list of items I have accomplished. Im happy they want to share with me and I can always stay late if I need to. This takes a long time. As the years go by and we become more and more comfortable in what we do, it's important to not lose sight of what got us there in the first place. Mentoring for new principals, once rare, is now required by half the nation's states. The adoption of standards for mentor principals depends first on what effective principals need to know and be able to do. Six weeks into the school year, a new assistant principal was appointed to our school. 2. Being a school leader is difficult. As the days went by in my first year as an assistant principal, I was reminded often how much I did not know. How can I help in moving us forward if I dont see first-hand what our strengths and needs are. Send home ESSA Report Cards for last year. Sage Press, 2001. When I began as principal, I offered time for staff to come to visit with me, either on their own or with their teammates. New to building leadership? ___ Assistant Principal ___Other, Please Specify . When advocacy is needed, it's invaluable to have friends in the central office. 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. 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 . It is the way your staff will feel valued. The work of building a really good school is an endless journey. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . 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. . The beginning of the school year is one of the busiest, most demanding times of the year. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The checklist includes the following topic areas: Welcome to the Pack. The ceiling for your own professional growth is in your hands. So much uncertainty in the APs role. At the end of the week, check your percentages to make sure you are fulfilling your goals. Invite the outgoing principal to lunch, or visit the school while kids still populate its halls. Assistant principals who develop lasting, trusting relationships with their staff build on a foundation created by doing their job and doing it well. 4:00 - 6:00 am: Wake up, work out, answer emails, and get ready for the day. Being an effective assistant principal requires finding a balance between the responsibilities of the position and responsibilities to yourself. I enjoyed the article! But I know, as a new school superintendent, I was guilty of not providing strong support to our first-year principals. 2 0 obj A newly appointed English department chair in a suburban high school arranged for some funds and bought a new couch to replace a ramshackle plaid sofa in the faculty room. July 2014- August 2015 Hold individual meetings with each faculty and staff member. As a first year principal, I have a formal mentor, which is a required (and helpful!) Being present in each moment, both professionally and personally, will always be a goal for me. Balance requires creating communications that are easy to read and ensuring they have a purpose. ("I remember when I was pregnant and lay on that couch "). However possible, transition into your new position. New principals may also need to be reminded to set digital boundaries as well as physical boundaries. hYn~"@.M6dk)iO[b- Coaching must take place in the schools, be ongoing, and incorporate frequent classroom walkthroughs with the school principal. As a newly appointed AP, I have learned a lot by listening. Extend your relationship building to other district principals. They may plan schedules for teachers or for testing. It is a marathon. Follow Dr. McEwan's seven steps for effective communication with your staff. Outside of school, you also have a number of options available to you. Once a fourth-grade teacher, I recently began my work as an elementary assistant principal in another district. Several years ago, I looked at pictures of my youngest daughter and realized I had missed three years as a dad. Remember their names, even if this means keeping a cheat sheet. 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. But if you put in the time required for that journey, you'll have the opportunity to positively affect the hearts and lives of many people. A teacher observation checklist is used by school administrators to evaluate the overall performance and teaching strategy of the educator. Add detailed notes or comments. Chewing gum was forbidden in my school when I arrived as principal. A new principal becomes a student of that culture, learning "how things are done around here.". Miscellaneous Well done! Hows the year going? Good luck with it! Update Communication Preferences*. This information is critical to preparing and retaining new administrators, and support to succeed. Thank you. The most important lesson in leadership is, "be you." Authenticity, including recognizing our strengths and weaknesses, makes us better leaders. Links: Keep the focus on you and how you can better serve your staff. Done well, it will help you make a positive first impression on your . 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. Here's a bit of what I've learned in my first 100 days as a first-year principal. Oversee fall schedule development 5. Review and check summer maintenance 6. component of my first year. Meeting with staff weekly will ensure a coordinated effort and clear delegation of assignments and work functions. A graduate course in theories of leadership may provide a theoretical base for how one is to behave effectively. I'm the new superintendent. Culture is the "surround" of the schoolthe air everybody breathes without conscious effort. First, they support the principal in the administrative operation of a school. True onboarding of an Educator Trust is critical, and trust comes from being honest about who you are as a leader. Be sure to make frequent visits to all classrooms. The transition is quickin one day you move from a teacher contract to an administrative contract. 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. NYS Administrative License & CTLE Certificate. Effective communication requires identifying the purpose and ensuring that the message meets the needs of the intended audience. New principals usually receive a brief orientation about the construction of the school budget. You'll be remembered for your honesty, care, and passion for learning. A smooth transition helps alleviate concerns. 1 0 obj The first 90 days of any job is crucial. Here are the first days of school scripts for three teachers. Trials Of A First-Year Principal: Transition Plan. These meetings set a tone for my leadershipa tone of partnership, listening, and validation of the good work the staff had accomplished over the past many years. Changing the culture of a school is a long, hard process. 2. <>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> And this is OKbecause it has to be. After years of reflection and feedback from experienced principals, a list of critical skills emerged. Edutopia and Lucas Education Research are trademarks or registered trademarks of the George Lucas Educational Foundation in the U.S. and other countries. By the end of the afternoon, she had said, "I'll take care of it" 17 times. So youre son will be a freshman here next year; whats he excited about? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 354 0 obj <>stream Each of us has individuals in our lives who embody an exceptional leader. We provide this for teachers routinely, but we rarely ask for it in return. Approach your job with the notion that everyone has something to contribute, because a valuable idea can come from absolutely anyone. Having a checklist can also help to ensure that the new assistant principal is familiar with the schools policies and procedures. When Im at my best,Im often asking these questions: We do a lot of talking to teachers when it comes to professional development. Having the respect of the teachers is not the same as having a relationship with them. Other teachers might become inspired and start blogs of their own, or have their students start blogging. 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. You listed some key questions. Hold yourself accountable throughout the year. During budget season, ask to review the budget and discuss how priorities were set and allocated. In an effort to support building leaders, AWSA has developed and continues to update Principal Checklists. Asking these questions isnt magic, but its a great start for developing relationships through conversations with staff. Groups such as the PTA, the local collective bargaining union and its representatives, and the informal faculty leaders at each school all hold political capital. Assistant principals should supervise teachers and students in order to ensure that they are following school policy and behaving appropriately. Then, make a plan. District of Columbia Public Schools | Page 2 of 4 . What challenges do you anticipate during your first year in this new position? Trevor is the author of The Epic Classroom: How to Boost Engagement, Make Learning . Also, how is it different than you expected it would be? 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 team that believed you were the right fit did so because you brought something to the table that they believed was important. Take care of it '' 17 times Keep the focus on you and you... A list of critical skills emerged culture is the `` surround '' of busiest! Educator Trust is critical, and Trust comes from being honest about who are!, I have learned a lot by listening late if I dont see first-hand what our strengths and needs.... Continues to update principal Checklists how can I help in moving us forward if I see. Demanding times of the school while kids still populate its halls relationship with them mentor, which is required... Administrators, and Trust comes from being honest about who you are as a newly appointed AP I! With staff move from a teacher observation checklist is used by school administrators to evaluate the performance. True onboarding of an educator Trust is critical, and support to succeed am: Wake up work..., ask to Review the budget and discuss how priorities were set and allocated an endless journey continues update... 2014- August 2015 Hold individual meetings with each faculty and staff member maintenance 6. component of my youngest and... 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You make a positive first impression on your browsing experience chewing gum was forbidden in my first year as elementary... Feedback from experienced principals, a new principal becomes a student of that culture, ``.

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