The Assistant Principalship Is Not For The Weak

There are a few misconceptions that some people have about being a campus administrator. Some think that they will have it easier because they won’t be in a classroom anymore. Some think that it’s glamorous because of their title. Still others think that they’ll be able to tell other people what to do and they will listen.

I’m here to tell you that there is so much more to being an Assistant Principal. Most of the things you have to do you won’t fully understand until you begin to do the job. Your resolve will be continuously stretched.

As an Assistant Principal, you are the workhorse in the building. There are things that will be asked of you several times throughout the day. Teachers will request things, other staff members will require your help, students will need assistance, and parents will have questions to be answered.

You have to be mentally sharp. Daily, you will make hundreds of decisions. There are also meetings that you will be required to attend. Keeping an accurate calendar is of the utmost importance.

Being visible is extremely important. Your presence helps set the tone for the academic day. Greeting students and staff as they arrive, quick hallway conversations, being in the cafeteria for duty, and of course dismissal to see students off safely.

Among other duties, you need to also have an instructional presence. Frequent visits to classrooms helps you to know what is happening. This gives you insight into how students are learning and allows you to give feedback to teachers to help their instruction. You will also need to attend grade level team meetings and PLC’s.

As an Assistant Principal you are important part of what has to happen everyday for students and staff to be successful. You have to remember that your role is to assist your campus Principal. You are there to carry out his or her vision for the campus.

I could go on and on about being an Assistant Principal. The work can be hard but it is also very rewarding. You will seldom be thanked for all that you do and when you are accept it and do not deflect.

I love what I do! My days are sometimes long, but it’s worth it. I take very seriously the impact that my presence, body language, and words have on my school community. I aim to help everyone have the best experience possible on our campus.