is being an assistant principal worth it

This isnt an assistant to the principal; these are assistant principalskey school leadership positions, Goldring said, adding that she hopes the report will help provide new opportunities and experiences for current APs and educators who want to become principals. Principals, Students Need to Know You Care! Ask The Educator's Room: I cried in front of my students. A Brief Look at the U.S. Department of Labor, A Comprehensive Breakdown of the Roles of School Personnel, Examining The Role of an Effective School Superintendent, How Principals Can Provide Teacher Support, Guidelines for Establishing Effective School Discipline for Principals, 10 Pros and Cons of Being a School Principal, An Educational Leadership Philosophy for School Leaders, Twelve Reasons I Love and Hate Being a Principal of a School, End of the School Year Checklist for Principals, M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Florida. Spent 8 years as an assistant/associate principal at a k-6 and at a 9-12. This leadership position includes interactions with students, teachers, other administrators, board members, and parents. Eventually, politics won, and I was pushed out and left the job. Potential job titles within the umbrella of school administration include the following: Principal Assistant principal Superintendent Dean of students Dean of admissions Provost Department chair I always joke that I did not have gray hair until I became a principal. Tact and diplomacy can go a long way towards dealing with difficult problems. Salary range for an Assistant Principal $81,900 to $109,700 View average salary for the United States Adjust salary by state Average salary for Assistant Principal jobs It is important to prioritize your day every day. For comparison, the expected percent change in employment for all occupations is 7 percent. The Best and Worst Things About Being a Principal | Education World I have become so thankful for my role in the school (teacher), for my schedule, and for the pay, honestly. The transition is quickin one day you move from a teacher contract to an administrative contract. Most states require a background check as part of the certification process. Black principals and assistant principals come close to matching Black student enrollment, but Hispanic school leaders still fall short of mirroring the districts share of Hispanic students. Sometimes, it was possible to make their lives easier, but often that was not the case. During budget season, ask to review the budget and discuss how priorities were set and allocated. At some point, it becomes a losing and stressful battle. 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. Required fields are marked *. There are a number of possible explanations for why the higher numbers of women and people of color in the AP role doesnt transfer to the principalship. See if you qualify! every day is a new adventure. Admin is a great job but the politics make it hard. Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more. 10 Pros and Cons of Being a School Principal - ThoughtCo Learning Policy Institute. macklegravy 1 yr. ago. Kelly, Melissa. Assistant Principal Job Description, Skills, and Salary But they knew what my strengths and weaknesses were and we would do things that would compliment one another as opposed to say "that is a job for the principal" 2. Therefore, they must be honest and discreet. you get a chance to work closely with at-risk kids/families. The Learning Institute and National Association of Secondary Schools Principals released a study in 2019, Principal Turnover: Insights from Current Principals. I wish you the best in the upcoming school year. No one cared because it was all about the data and not the humans. How To Become An Assistant Principal - Career Igniter Regardless of how you might feel, sometimes people are just looking for a "crack" in the unity. Working with everyone at the company. In admin, you are always at risk of being fired . Additionally, School Principal typically reports to a superintendent. . Elementary school assistant principals also interact more with parents than their secondary school counterparts. Field Tip: Color code your calendar. U.S. Department of Education. A Valdosta elementary school assistant principal is being hailed a hero after saving a second-grader from choking. As requirements vary by state, visit TeachingCertification.coms Administrative Certification page to see requirements relevant to you. Rememberyou were hired for who you are. Secondary trauma becomes a reality for many educators, including myself. These five issues beat me down and pushed me out of the profession. I loved the job, but I didn't love it every day. Your email address will not be published. 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. Those things happen in admin. I was willing to go to war with whomever to make sure my students had all available opportunities for their education. Not all coordinator need a masters but it usually helps. Top 10 Benefits Of Being An Executive Assistant - SnackNation As with teachers, the higher the grade level, the more concentrated the knowledge base. Communication, relationships, management, data, instruction, money. DEFINITION. Also, I'd like start a family soon and with the salary I'm making now, it just won't cut it (especially in the city I'm living in). Is It Worth Going From Teacher To Administrator? - Educator FI Goldring and colleagues note, however, that recent data indicate APs responsibilities, in some cases, are becoming more instructionally-focused, possibly because more detailed teacher evaluation requirements that may lead principals to share those duties with their APs. its a great opportunity to support teachers. On my calendar, any item in red is considered untouchable time. If you cannot establish relationships, you are going to struggle to maximize your effectiveness. Thats just my perspective as an AP. The loss of funds caused major damage to our growth, personnel numbers, and programming. [ONLINE] Available at: https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/nassp-principal-turnover-insights-brief. So I have been looking into a coordinator job as well. Ive been through a ton of Superintendent changes and they almost always lead to chaos and turnover. Diplomacy. A fourth of principals leave their schools each year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Medical Assistant field is expected to grow much faster than average, at 19%, from 2019 to 2029. You get good stories and I think the energy from running a building is exciting. Check out our books on teaching and learning! Although many private schools may not require a school administrator license to be an assistant principal, a masters degree can increase employment opportunities. Lets explore five reasons why I and other principals leave their school. 2023 Editorial Projects in Education, Inc. Theres no consensusin theory or practiceon what assistant principals do or should do; Too many APs experiences fall short of leading them to the principals role, and. If you have concerns and you've voiced them, then you will need to learn when to let it go. The Learning Institute and National Association of Secondary Schools Principals released a study in 2019, Principal Turnover: Insights from Current Principals. The report also relies on data from the National Teacher and Principal Staffing Survey and longitudinal assistant principal and principal data from Pennsylvania and Tennessee and job descriptions from districts. Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles. Educators train to teach not to be psychologists or social workers. 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. The most important lesson in leadership is be you.. In its districts, there was little coaching and mentoring for assistant principals, few PD opportunities for principals on how to mentor APs, and a dearth of PD tailored to or differentiated for APs, Casserly said. When I became a principal, I had no idea that I would become a part of the turnover statistics. Take the time to ask your principal to observe or facilitate tasks that may not be traditional to the assistant principal role. Am writing my masters so that I can What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack? They are involved in overseeing teaching staff, and must ensure that the school standards for curriculum and discipline are followed. 4 Attributes of a Great Assistant Principal - George Couros There are definitely some great positives to administration, especially if you like being a problem solver, proactive leader, and sounding board/counselor. 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. It never hurts to get it to keep possibilities open. 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). Can you describe your experience with the principals or the vice principal in more detail? I just wanted to run my school based on the needs of students, culture, and inner workings. What has being an Assistant Principal taught you? - Blogger Having worked in a lot of schools, my impression is that most often assistant principles get most of the "dirty work" - particularly discipline and scheduling. The Role of Assistant Principals: Evidence and Insights for Advancing School Leadership. In high-poverty schools, the turnover rate was 21 percent. Disciplinary issues may be a main reason for this difference. Thanks for sharing!! Honestly, after teaching for a few years, I just can't see myself teaching for 30 years. Assistant principals are in a pivotal position to shape school culture and student outcomes if the role is carefully considered. Either route, always make time to work with kids (clubs, student council, small tutoring groups, etc.) --dealing with people who are largely not glad to see you, --dropping your work anytime a child decides that it's time to misbehave, --listening to parents defend actions by their children which are indefensible, --being caught between overpaid (but well-meaning) central office staff and underpaid (but well-meaning) teaching staff. Kelly, Melissa. The assistant principal oversees the day-to-day running of a school. Learning mathematics cannot be achieved through memorization alone. I started as a classroom teacher, and a few years later, I returned to graduate school to receive a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership. Each of us has individuals in our lives who embody an exceptional leader. dealing with parent issues. I am a teacher searching for an administrator position. It is a 24-hour gig. Field Tip: Get an accountability partner. Visibility 2.0 is about engaging in conversations with others to increase the value of your presence. When necessary, they'll help teachers with strategies for implementing the curriculum. You will often have to call parents with information they dont want to hear. My old admin team still gets together every Christmas and we had a great rapport. The average salary range for an Assistant Principal is from $81,900 to $109,700. When the master schedule is developed, observe the process and ask how the schedule is designed to balance needs. 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. 1. An assistant principal, also known as a vice principal, is an education administrator responsible for facilitating the day-to-day requirements of their school. But, he said, theres not enough research to fully answer the question. budgets. It's not as hard as being a principal and it pays a little better. T. Keung Hui, The News & Observer (Raleigh) 15 hrs ago. A key finding from the report highlighted the disconnect between pre-service programs and the real world: Prep programs prepare candidates to work as principals even though the majority of graduates work as APs upon completion of their training. Currently she is semi-retired and works as a part-time Instructional Coach and Professional Learning Consultant. If this sounds like something you may be interested in, here are a few other reasons becoming a Medical Assistant may be worth it for you. If the only reason you're asking about becoming an administrator is to make more money, then my clear answer is no. Not a Single State Meets the Bar, How One School's Mentorship Program Paid Off Big in Academic Gains, What Superintendents Are Saying About Staff Shortages, The Right MTSS Platform Should Empower Educators, Improving Indoor Air Quality = Keeping Students + Staff in School, Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff, Big Goals, Small Start: Building MTSS to Scale, How Culturally Responsive Leadership Leads to Student Success, Every School Has Bias. You're pretty much caught between the teachers and the superintendents, Board of Ed, etc., and sometimes other political representatives. I love my job but it's killing me. Designer tags . Tact and diplomacy can go a long way towards dealing with difficult problems. According to Payscale.com, the average salary of an assistant principal falls between $53,000 and $101,000. Do you know how many coordinator jobs there really are in a district? She also wants to support educators in finding a. , and she speaks at national conferences about teacher and principal wellness. Then one day, the stress pushed my blood pressure to 199/120. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-an-assistant-principal-7652 (accessed March 4, 2023). And while the ranks of school leadership were more diverse in the big cities, they did not fully reflect students. Is the Assistant Principal the Most Overlooked, Undervalued Person at