The Elementary school Principal's Calendar: A Month by Month Planner for the school Year Michael Terc and Ida Ayers. Getting feedback is rarely pain-free. In between our meetings, she will frequently send me short emails with helpful articles, attachments, and examples from her own work. A graduate course in theories of leadership may provide a theoretical base for how one is to behave effectively. Dan got some good advice. Consider participating in instructional learning opportunities so that you can continue to grow as a resource for teachers. If we went from 4 to 3 lunches, where could we best use the time in our day? The transition is quickin one day you move from a teacher contract to an administrative contract. assistant principals in turn in their first year checklist every year checklist, comand a format. Trevor is the author of The Epic Classroom: How to Boost Engagement, Make Learning Memorable, and Transform Lives. My challenge is to pull away from the office and the data driven nature of the job to really be out there where the folks in the trenches who are working so hard to make a difference are laboring. 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. The brutal truth was that I did not have balance. 4 0 obj <>>> Hold a get to know the assistant principal night or day.something like that. However, before you dive into the waters of change, make sure you know where the rocks are and which sharks lurk close to the surface. He was personal, he cared, and he was effective. Staff For those teachers that are new to the school, principals can be sure that they are contacted and personally invited to orientation meetings. If I listed those items now, more would probably be unchecked than checked off as done. Keep the focus on you and how you can better serve your staff. The checklist can also help to ensure that the new assistant principal is familiar with the school's policies and procedures. Principal's Checklist August 2018 QUOTE OF THE MONTH People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude. Having the respect of the teachers is not the same as having a relationship with them. Assistant principals who develop lasting, trusting relationships with their staff build on a foundation created by doing their job and doing it well. Tap into that. A good read. This includes time each day to be present in classrooms and hallways. 7:00 am: Arrive at school. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. If you'd like to share your own thoughts, start a blog and disseminate your posts through Facebook or possibly via email. Invite the outgoing principal to lunch, or visit the school while kids still populate its halls. Thats one of my personal goals for this next school year. Let's Wrap This Up Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Get to know everyone on a personal level. Take one step at a time, don't expect to finish your race in a sprint. 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. Execute call documents or contracts for new/continuing teachers 4. Relationships are important. Principal will support and encourage Teacher Liaisons to attend PTA meetings. If you truly want what is best for your co-workers and students, none of these interactions will actually feel like work. The goal was to get me away from the leadership style of guiding dialogue and toward the style of actively listening. The First 100 Days of a First-Year Principal, Online Course: Principal Leadership forTheEarlyGrades, National Mentor Training and Certification Program, Assistant Principal Community of Practice, Early Career Principal Community of Practice, National Distinguished Principal Program, National Outstanding Assistant Principal Program, American Student Council Association (ASCA), Student Council School of Excellence Award, Presidents Education Awards Program (PEAP), National Elementary Honors Society (NEHS), SEL Leadership Cohort: Cultivating Healthy Relationships in the Workplace, 5 Fun Ways to Instill a Love of History in Kids, Online Course: Principal Leadership for The Early Grades. 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. To enforce the shared responsibility for discipline, principals should insist that teachers join them in responding to students who misbehave in the classroom. Wrong. Ask them how their day is going, pry into their personal lives a bit, and make sure to attend staff outings. Prioritizing is essential. Sage Press, 2001. 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. Parents were called if the chewing continued. Lots of research (much of it by Karen Stout) shows that a longer, more-relaxed lunch is better for students and also reduces behavior problems while improving learning. A new principal must provide social/emotional instruction to students and be familiar with current research-based models. However you choose to stay organized, this is the time to get your skeleton in place for the next school year. Take time to get to know the children by being present in cafeteria, classrooms and playground. 2. Explore. 1. Ferret out teachers who are less vocal, and respect those known to be less than supportive. 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. Talk to me about a particular student; whats working, whats not, and what is the best support I can offer to help him keep learning in your classroom? Changing the culture of a school is a long, hard process. Surviving the first year of a principalship is a challenge. I would add too, serving those you lead. What are you tired of learning about in faculty meetings? Rich discussions will follow. Joanne Rooney has contributed to Educational Leadership. Copyright 2021. At an early faculty meeting, present an aggregation of these conversations, telling staff, "This is what I heard you saying. This is not sufficient to grant a thorough understanding of the expenditures, revenues, and allocations of resources. Training programs for administrative positions often focus on the role of the building principal, providing minimal context to an assistant principal position. Often its the small kindnesses that make a difference in a teachers day. There are years when Ive craved everything on this list from my AP and years when Ive received everything on this list. First, they support the principal in the administrative operation of a school. Orient new teachers and other staff 2. <> In today's connected world, all educators should be actively looking for ideas and resources from outside their district. Again, listen. Baby Beginning in the 2013-14 school year, principals and assistant principals shall be evaluated based on quality standards as part of the pilot process. endobj Establishing Relationships Relationships come before everything. "Your Admin Assistant" checklist too! If your professional development sessions are lifeless and flat, youre not going to earn yourself any points with teachers. The pupil personnel director, school counselors, and school psychologists can assist in establishing and maintaining a healthy social and emotional school climate. Set some goals for improvement in the areas where you need the most growth, and after some time has passed, ask for input again. As the interview winded down, the man sitting next to me asked me this: Whats your plan for the first 100 days as principal?. As the students enter school in the morning, do your best to pop your head into every classroom just to be present and touch base with your teachers and students. Moving Student assessment administration training begins. 3. Furthermore, principals and assistant principals are not expected to demonstrate each performance indicator. 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. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Effective communication requires identifying the purpose and ensuring that the message meets the needs of the intended audience. Year 1: Mentees will receive 40 hours of 1:1 mentoring, 7.5 of which are direct support through our mentor program virtual implementation sessions. My mentor is a retired principal with 21 years of experience under her belt. Her predecessor as principal was "Eric the Red" (as he was known because of his hair). The relationships you developed at your old school will reappear in your professional life. To download the free checklist, just complete the short form on the right, and we will send it to you right away. Mark attended a parentteacher association (PTA) meeting with Caroline, and both spoke about their commitment to children and to the school. If you cannot establish relationships, you are going to struggle to maximize your effectiveness. Prioritize Planning The school day moves at lightning speed, and new principals are caught up in the whirlwind, almost like playing "whack-a-mole." You'll be remembered for your honesty, care, and passion for learning. Some complaints belong in your office immediately. Performance standards Parenting Field Tip: Color code your calendar. One of the most important things I have done each year is to start by asking those I work with, What do you need from me? Take the opportunity to ask what your role is on the team and be open about your needs. 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. Questions provide an avenue for dialogue rather than dictation. Send home ESSA Report Cards for last year. First year assistant principal checklist. Taking that time to engage makes a huge difference! Each of us has individuals in our lives who embody an exceptional leader. The first 90 days of any job is crucial. 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). After conducting a thorough search and selecting the best candidate for the position of principal, a districts superintendent and central administrators should do all they can to ensure the new principals success. 1. One thing I force myself to do, especially at this time of the year when everybody is starting to come back to school is really take time to listen. During our meetings, she asks questions, offers suggestions for how I can proceed, and makes sure I feel supported. Good luck with it! We need to keep ourselves current, and we need to keep investing in our teachers. Balance requires creating communications that are easy to read and ensuring they have a purpose. Neither Rome nor a healthy school culture was built in a day! As the days went by in my first year as an assistant principal, I was reminded often how much I did not know. Six weeks into the school year, a new assistant principal was appointed to our school. Excellence in this area alone wont create lasting relationships and trust, but it will steadily increase your credibility youve developed with the staff. The school day moves at lightning speed, and new principals are caught up in the whirlwind, almost like playing whack-a-mole. Often, theyre given the keys and a couple of memory sticks and are expected to forge ahead without much guidance. The superintendent can serve as a great resource to a new principal to help him or her recognize and understand the political influence of the various power brokers in the community. Field Tip: Try trash can diplomacy. At lunch, take the trash cans around the cafeteria to collect trash from students. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. I kept these meetings loosely structured. Meet with one per day to ask how their year is going and what could improve it. The work of building a really good school is an endless journey. Seven actions to get a new principal's school year off to a good start. 4 to 3 lunches, where could we best use the time in our lives embody! 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