Assistant Principal: Inside Jobs

Assistant Principal Career

The Captain of her school, a Principal charts an educational course for her students from admittance to graduation. The Assistant Principal is the First Mate in charge of keeping the school shipshape and supervising the Teachers and staff. The Assistant Principal lends a helping hand so the Principal can cover all her duties, and fills in when the Principal is away.

When you’re an Assistant Principal, your primary goal is creating a safe environment for learning. Top-notch Teachers, clear educational goals, and a well-maintained school all ensure that your students’ grades don’t sink. Planning is the first step of your journey, and you attend weekly or monthly meetings with the Principal and other staff members to discuss what’s working and what’s not.

During the day, you patrol the halls on the lookout for signs of trouble. You take disciplinary action if students misbehave or have attendance problems. You also oversee the day’s activities, and work with outside organizations to plan events from football games to fundraisers.

At the end of the month, you review the school’s finances and make adjustments to stay within budget. You divide limited funds among extracurricular activities and arts programs, and stay on top of ever-changing technologies. Gym renovations might be postponed another year to buy new laptops. Tight budgets require creative thinking and planning skills, but it all pays off in the end when your students hold the highest test scores in the state.

How do I become an Assistant Principal?

As an Assistant Principal, you juggle a lot of changing responsibilities. To arm yourself with the leadership and educational skills required for the job, you need at least a master’s degree. Education and business courses are popular choices for those who want to work in the school system. Some states require Assistant Principals to have a certificate in school leadership or administration. In addition, at least two years of experience in school administration or teaching is preferred.