I know that my relationships with my staff have continued to improve and strengthen. Eastern Illinois University NewLeaders Dr. Linda Morford 1 Principal Checklist Administrative Timetable August New teacher orientation/induction New staff orientation New student orientation Make sure all teaching certificates are registered Meet with secretarial staff to discuss up-coming year o Develop yearly checklist o Create "To Do" lists with individual responsibilities identified Id worked in the school district for the past 10 years, first as a middle school English teacher and then as a middle school assistant principal. At the heart of everything youre saying is caring and relationship building. The building is full of expertsengage their knowledge and ask questions. I kept these meetings loosely structured. It covers PLACE VALUE, MULTIPLICATION, DIVISION, CHARTS AND GRAPHS, SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW AND FINANCIAL LITERACY- NEW TEKS! Unlike the principal, the vice-principal does not have quite the decision-making authority that the principal carries. Hows your daughters basketball team playing? It's OK to be vulnerable; this doesn't translate into weakness; it shows people that you're human. Teachers kept lists of "chewers," and after the third offense, they reported the student to the assistant principal. One common role is to support the principal, which can look different in every setting. June 2014 - September 2015 Culture is the "surround" of the schoolthe air everybody breathes without conscious effort. Each person with whom you work has a personal story, family, and dreams. Check on school photo plans for coming year . x[[s~Lw;,vL>CyW=qV4' .x4mD@$ vP,~_,tz^No?U_^oN8=}Y Meeting with staff weekly will ensure a coordinated effort and clear delegation of assignments and work functions. Personal Meet teachers on their turfin classrooms and staff roomswhich are their safety zones. Also, when appropriate, do what you can to make teachers' ideas a reality. ASCD empowers educators to achieve excellence in learning, teaching, and leading so that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. 2. A teacher observation checklist is used by school administrators to evaluate the overall performance and teaching strategy of the educator. DCPS offers several types of Assistant Principal roles based on instructional levels and content areas. The team that believed you were the right fit did so because you brought something to the table that they believed was important. January 2019 Communicate the Principal Entry Plan to staff members (via e-mail and Transparency about your hopes and dreamsand who you are as a person and educatorshould be tempered with wisdom. It will be great! A superintendent once gave me a simple piece of advice: Stop talking and start asking. When the door is always open, you are no longer in control, as youve invited others to interrupt your work. The relationships you developed at your old school will reappear in your professional life. Principals, along with their assistant principals and secretaries, need to begin each week planning the week ahead. ___ Assistant Principal ___Other, Please Specify . We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Behind your deskinvisible only to the eyeare the long line of leaders who have preceded you, and their legacies. hYn~"@.M6dk)iO[b- That thing youre trying out this yearmaybe its stand up desks or ditching homework/the textbookhow can I help encourage others to do it too? Thank those parents and teachers who were part of the interview process. Today. Be on committees with teachers. That is special! Spread the love. 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. We must listen to understand instead of listening to reply. Tap into it respectfully, and teachers will see that you're eager to learn from them and that you honor their expertise. Joanne Rooney has contributed to Educational Leadership. What a great article! Performance Plan that need attention. July2016 Meet with Assistant Principal and Reading Coach to develop a master calendar of events for the school year, including traditional activities, awards celebrations, and assessment periods. Your work is to build a school that meets the needs of students and becomes a community of educators dedicated to that purpose. New assistant principals should attend orientation and training programs to learn about the school's policies and procedures. Changing the culture of a school is a long, hard process. The superintendent and central office team must provide effective instructional coaching, no matter what evaluation plan ones district implements. Good points. Real Estate Finally, I was surprised to see that cutting a lunch period out of the schedule would produce only 25 minutes. Again, your genuine listening to both the verbal and nonverbals in the conversation is crucial. Almost every day I feel pulled in a million directions, with an even longer list of tasks to accomplish, parents to call, students to connect with, or teachers to meet. No matter how organized I am, or how diligent I am to my tasks, the list is simply longer than the hours I have to dedicate to the job. The collective wisdom of your staff is invaluable. In between our meetings, she will frequently send me short emails with helpful articles, attachments, and examples from her own work. What you, as new principal, own entirely, however, is your own integrity and ability to listen (and therefore to stop talking). It is important to prioritize your day every day. with the school year calendar and school map Identify where an E.A. The ceiling for your own professional growth is in your hands. Some have seen leaders come and go and will wait you out, knowing each new leader brings some new reform through the revolving door. This includes time each day to be present in classrooms and hallways. Often its the small kindnesses that make a difference in a teachers day. 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. Set some goals for improvement in the areas where you need the most growth, and after some time has passed, ask for input again. 1615 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314 703-684-3345 Contact Us, 2023 National Association of Elementary School Principals | Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions | Copyright and I.P. As clich as it sounds, there is just never enough time. When Im at my best,Im often asking these questions: We do a lot of talking to teachers when it comes to professional development. 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. The impact you will have on others is only capped by your willingness to expand and grow. This person must be your strongest ally; if not, he or she can be your most formidable opponent. . Mark promised to listen, be available, and carry on the school's good work. You never know who it might encourage! 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. Mentoring for new principals, once rare, is now required by half the nation's states. Be sure to make frequent visits to all classrooms. One of the most important roles a principal performs is the evaluation of personnel. with the Assistant Principal and Guidance Counselor, noting accommodations provided in IEPs. A good read. So it would be better to use that time to extend the other 3 lunch periods. Finally, as an instructional leader, you have to walk the walk. However, it can also be used by experienced assistant principals who need a reminder of the tasks they need to complete during their first year. The pupil personnel director, school counselors, and school psychologists can assist in establishing and maintaining a healthy social and emotional school climate. Some complaints belong in your office immediately. The other assistant has made comments about things that she would like to take off her plate as well. Chewing gum was forbidden in my school when I arrived as principal. Miscellaneous A million thoughts raced through my head, and I think I said as much. Outside of school, you also have a number of options available to you. To do that, you have to take the time to ask good questions and put your to-do list of important things on hold long enough to really listen to whats urgent for the teachers you serve. 7:00 am: Arrive at school. After receiving my list on such short notice, I had to work past 6:00 p.m. to complete all the tasks. Ferret out teachers who are less vocal, and respect those known to be less than supportive. Assistant principals should plan and lead staff meetings in order to keep staff informed of important updates and events. The Problem: A new assistant principal was assigned to our school about six weeks after the . Parents were called if the chewing continued. One area in which I believe we often fall short is taking ownership of our professional growth. The work of building a really good school is an endless journey. A new principal offers four lessons learned from her first year in the role. At the end of the week, check your percentages to make sure you are fulfilling your goals. Use your opportunities in classrooms and hallways to ask for perspective and guidance. ?fK#Iz0 "y>{3s.g=3>9+0?jV-dKgHJ'+4,RH`ENf?%,1[m 0 g>g}I'sZY I had to seek mentorship, professional development and resources, but most importantly, I had to rely on support from the staff to build my background knowledge . 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. Welcome New Staff: Plan and schedule your new teacher summer in-service. Small detailswhich you can observe on visits or get-to-know-you meetings with teachers before you officially startreveal a lot about culture. Meet teachers. For example, if the majority of teachers possess a negative attitude toward something, don't ignore it. The list for this particular school had about thirty items on it. You'll be remembered for your honesty, care, and passion for learning. The interviews are over. Be sure your system supports the principal and periodically celebrates and acknowledges his or her dedication, hard work, and value to the school district. Cultivating those trusting relationships is vital if youre interested in creating change (and who isnt interested in creating positive change). I was an AP for 10 years, so I appreciate your perspective. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . October 30, 2020 . So youre son will be a freshman here next year; whats he excited about? 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. ::h!4t 5I:4 Z7FILg1ef|E|RqJG7pQ]NJu~(/S}@'kJKa?\O Explore. In an effort to support building leaders, AWSA has developed and continues to update Principal Checklists. District of Columbia Public Schools | Page 2 of 4 . (Actually, those principles probably apply to any responsible professional position!) Over the summer if possible, ask as many teachers as you can, "What concerns do you have about the school?" Pinterest. f\d j#@v8gc OK;jK,)]\j8i(o^ey fU|o|w?w3~{s>/y|kK~jp rre\CNTx,"J6H_ue& qa6Y@}-ZSA}:=,Z)\ You received the exciting call saying that you are the new principal. Getting feedback is rarely pain-free. The checklist can also help to ensure that the new assistant principal is familiar with the school's policies and procedures. While this strategy has its advantages, it can also be a hindrance, as each of us carries strengthsand weaknesses. 3. Sage Press, 2001. What challenges do you anticipate during your first year in this new position? Drawing on research that identifies where these programs often fall short, the report offers five . Is now required by half the nation & # x27 ; s states by school administrators to evaluate the performance... 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