is being an assistant principal worth it

Unfortunately, the central office administrators hardly ever said anything positive. there are also campus specialist jobs that require masters degree. GrayHerman 1 min. Learning Policy Institute. The 10th annual Rhythm and Ribs Festival kicks off. Although behavior issues and disciplinary actions are still a part of an elementary assistant principals day, they are often less frequent and less time consuming. Each year I watched my school budget decrease by $100,000 or more. Kelly, Melissa. Equity audits to identify barriers can help districts address this issue, as well as examining data on who has access to mentoring and who is selected to pursue leadership roles, Rubin said. In Educational Leadership from National-Louis University. Practicing Self-Care to Avoid Teacher Burnout- An 8 Week Course, Teacher Branding 101:Teachers are The Experts. Thank you. We worked through it together and formed a special bond. Nataliia Mostova points to molding pumpkins with Adrian Karmalita in a 2nd grade classroom at Jardine Elementary School in Topeka, Kan., last month. A 2017 national survey of public school principals found that, overall, approximately 18 percent of principals had left their position since the year before. The assistant principalship is one of the most misunderstood and pivotal roles in our schools. The transition is quickin one day you move from a teacher contract to an administrative contract. Melissa Kelly, M.Ed., is a secondary school teacher, instructional designer, and the author of "The Everything New Teacher Book: A Survival Guide for the First Year and Beyond. Student population is another difference for elementary assistant principals. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/what-is-an-assistant-principal-7652. Cassandra promotes her book, Teach and Take Time for You: Strategies and Tips to Reduce Stress and Burnout. Thanks for sharing the experience. I'm in my 15th year as an administrator and I could have written that piece because it is exactly what I'm living as a principal. The assistant principalship is incredibly rewarding. Jun 2020 - Present2 years 10 months. Its a big decision to go the admin route, but I think its worth it! The never-ending demands are based on demographics, socio-economics, politics, and more. I am looking forward to be one. Many were easy to work with, but some were difficult and did not like to be told, no. My decisions were always on what was best for the students and staff, not the politics. Assistant principals have many important responsibilities. It's physically exhausting. In high-poverty schools, the turnover rate was 21 percent. One year, my budget lost $500,000. But the research is nascent, Rubin said. Additionally, Assistant School Principal typically reports to a school principal. Thank you for reading and responding to the story. Whether a school is in a rural, urban, or suburban area, issues of violence, drugs, homelessness, joblessness, and mental health issues make teaching and learning more difficult. Assistant Principal Svg . As a result, high school and middle school assistant principals interact more with students and spend less time with teachers or in meetings. In Educational Leadership from National-Louis University. I have become so thankful for my role in the school (teacher), for my schedule, and for the pay, honestly. Spent 8 years as an assistant/associate principal at a k-6 and at a 9-12. Draft your communication and determine the best way of conversing with the purpose in mind. Secondary trauma becomes a reality for many educators, including myself. Training programs for administrative positions often focus on the role of the building principal, providing minimal context to an assistant principal position. Therefore, they must be honest and discreet. One major difference for elementary assistant principals is a better ongoing focus on instructional leadership. Example answer: 'An assistant principal requires several different skills and qualities to help them succeed and be an effective member of the senior leadership team. dealing with parent issues. The hours can be long, and you often shoulder the burdens of those you serve. They may directly supervise lunch, hallways, special events. Afterward, a principal job was a few years away, but I quickly found an assistant principal position. Some days I felt like there were too many demands to answer. If you enjoy teaching and just want to make more money, there are better ways to do it. Kelly, Melissa. But being a hero in a world of dragons is deadly, and even without a hero complex, most administrators barely keep their heads above water in their first few years. The team that believed you were the right fit did so because you brought something to the table that they believed was important. I Saved Myself: Five Reasons Why Principals Leave Their Schools. Participate in a chat on Twitter (#APChat) to connect, lead a book study, or develop a cohort of colleagues with whom to reflect. Whether a principal is in an urban, suburban, or rural district, the job is tough. Lets explore five reasons why I and other principals leave their school. 2. Ive been through a ton of Superintendent changes and they almost always lead to chaos and turnover. Reston, VA: National Association of Secondary School Principals. The new report affirms some findings from a recent study that the Council of the Great City Schools, the organization that represents some of the nations largest school districts, found when it looked at APs and principals in its member districts, said Michael Casserly, the executive director. But in particular for principals who have spent some years "on the ground" in the classroom and know the realities, but now have to navigate political minefields to appease bosses with little/no classroom experience. The assistant principal oversees the day-to-day running of a school. My advice to those people is to not go back to school because you have unfulfilled feelings but because you are setting yourself up to do something you are actually passionate about. I wish you the best with your career. Principal attrition and mobility: Results from the 201617 Principal Follow-up Survey First Look(NCES 2018-066). Hutton said APs should be treated as principals in training or as the lead principals co-pilot and provided with training and job experiences to match those roles. I had to deal with every single issue that came up, and while sometimes you get to talk with a student and mentor them, the actual teaching side of being in education is not really there day-to-day in an active sense (more of a passive sense). They are usually tasked with handling student discipline. Ask The Educator's Room: I cried in front of my students. STOCKTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. curriculum/professional development. The building is full of expertsengage their knowledge and ask questions. Our district has 30 schools and 34000 students. Assistant principals deal with the issues of school management, student activities and services, community relations, personnel, and curriculum instruction. To join our mailing list, click here. "Why Become an Assistant Principal in a Middle or High School?" Use your opportunities in classrooms and hallways to ask for perspective and guidance. Thank you for your vulnerability. Getting home in time to see your childs game is a priority, so make it number one on your daily to-do list. You know when principals make shitty decisions that all the teachers hate? Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide elementary, middle, high school and more. Then it will take you a while to decompress. Levin, S., & Bradley, K. (2019). Elementary school assistant principals also interact more with parents than their secondary school counterparts. Elementary school assistant principals' duties will most likely differ from that of a middle or high school assistant principal. The five reasons why this principal left her school were, l social issues, lack of funding, micromanagement, politics, and stress, and burnout. I always looked at the job of being the CEO of the school. We have all received emails that resembled dissertations or appeared to be sent just to send something. The desire to be active and visible. Tue., March 07, 2023, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Check out our being an assistant principal is easy selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our digital shops. . These include: Insuring the safety of students and staff. No one cared because it was all about the data and not the humans. Designer tags . As with teachers, the higher the grade level, the more concentrated the knowledge base. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-an-assistant-principal-7652 (accessed March 4, 2023). When I left my principal job, the scores on the state test declined 10 percentage points on most every exam but the new admin didnt care because the person who replaced me was friends with the new Supt. They used scores as an excuse to get him in there. Im at a central office job now. Currently she is semi-retired and works as a part-time Instructional Coach and Professional Learning Consultant. I hired teachers, aides, and other staff members. I just wanted to run my school based on the needs of students, culture, and inner workings. She obtained an M.A. Parents, students, and teachers may try to drive a wedge between you and the principal by asking leading questions. If the principal has bad ideas, the assistant principal has to sell those ideas. An assistant principal often takes on the odd jobs that a school needs to be done, so if youre craving some variet Since you already are a teacher, what are some things that make you interested in admin? However, the principal job is where real change can be made, but also, everything ends at you; which means some headaches that cant always be solved, but youre always to blame) Setting up and developing key leaders within your building is crucial to making an impact. When I became a principal, I had no idea that I would become a part of the turnover statistics. wide instructional . The goal of r/Education is to provide a community in which educational stakeholders can participate in meaningful, reflective, and thought-provoking discourse about educational policy, research, technology, and politics. It's not as hard as being a principal and it pays a little better. I honestly don't think people should be principals unless they seriously want to provide students with a better educational experience. Several assistant principals may be organized to be responsible for a specific duty day-to-day tasks. leadership is exciting. The Occupational Employment Statistics reported these annual mean wages for 2016: The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6 percent growth in jobs for principals in the decade from 2016to 2024. Don't be a "yes, man". The Educator's Room was launched in 2012 to amplify the voice of educators. If you cannot establish relationships, you are going to struggle to maximize your effectiveness. Job Description / Essential Elements: Print. Interesting, thank you! ET. Being an Assistant Principal has taught me that it is important to communicate with honesty and transparency to the staff about the needs of our students, which may take Teachers out of their comfort zones. 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. Cassandra Washington is a Chicago-based educator. When the master schedule is developed, observe the process and ask how the schedule is designed to balance needs. The researchers found a higher percentage of people of color serving as APs than as teachers and principals. I almost thought someone was writing about my own personal experience until I learned that Cassandra is writing from the US and I am in Kenya, East Africa. Am a principal of a secondary school in Kenya and I thought you have summarized my challenges as a leader,feel like quoting but I may not get I well paying job like this one ,and have many loans to service . Alpha Public Schools. K-8 Humanities (ELA & S. Studies) and Elementary (K-2) Instructional Coach. Some years later, an opportunity dropped in my lap. On my calendar, any item in red is considered untouchable time. Managing the responsibilities can become daunting, especially when pop-up items such as discipline can take large portions of your time. Assistant principals are in a pivotal position to shape school culture and student outcomes if the role is carefully considered. Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles. Employment growth may depend on state and local government budgets. Hold yourself accountable throughout the year. The day to day?