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MindMup mind map: Assistant Principal: Training Future Leaders

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Building leaders, such as principals and assistant principals, play a key role in the academic success of their students. These leaders supervise and evaluate the teachers planning and providing instruction to students. They are also responsible for the safety and well-being for all of the students in the building. Further research on this topic will ensure that all leaders of a school are prepared in all facets of the job so that they are prepared to do the important work that is needed to lead a school.

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New administrators often take on the role of assistant principals before leading the building as the principal. These assistant positions often focus on the day-to-day operations of the building, while the principal position plays a larger role in instructional leadership and strategic planning. With these different roles, assistant principals are not fully prepared to take on the role of the principal.

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The assistant principalship is a role that involves wearing many hats.  The same is evermore true when looking at the role of the assistant principal in the middle school setting.  Middle school is a time of great change in adolescents, and teachers and principals must help to guide students in this process.  The assistant principal’s role is often of disciplinarian for those developing students who make poor choices.  The research explores the specific and unique requirements of an assistant principal at the middle school level.  While a disciplinarian is often the major responsibility, there is also a need for the role of informal counselor and mentor.  In addition to the needs of the students, assistant principals must also provide support to teachers by providing instructional leadership and feedback on lesson delivery and activities.  The research explores how these principals are trained and prepared to enter the field.  Principal preparation programs allow teachers to learn the skills and obtain the certification needed to take on that leadership role, however does these programs prepare them for their likely first step into administration:  the assistant principalship.  A third area to explore is the transition of assistant principal to principal.  As leaders change roles, are they trained and prepared to take on the new responsibilities and demands for this new positions.  Do districts organize building leadership to work in collaboration with each other, or are the two operating in different silos in order to manage and lead the building?

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1.  Continue the literature review to explore the gaps in the literature.
2.  Design a plan of study and conduct research.
3.  Conduct study
4. Evaluate findings

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Distinction between the term assistant principal at various levels.  Are there differences in job responsibilities specific to a middle school?

Training programs for new administrators in Pennsylvania or the northeastern United States.  Are there programs available?

What evaluation tools are available to determine the effectiveness of principals?

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What are key responsibilities of a middle school assistant principal?

How do principal preparation programs prepare new administrators for these responsibilities?

How prepared are assistant principals to carry out their roles as they transition into the role of principal?

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Research is needed in this area because of the critical role played by the assistant principal in every middle school.  It is not fair to our students for a school leader to not be prepared in all aspects of the job.  Our students and teachers look to the school leaders such as assistant principals, and so it is important that they are as prepared as possible to ensure that quality programming and instruction are taking place in our schools.

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Drexel Ed. D. Student
Principal
West York Area Middle School

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Administration - the school leaders responsible for carrying out the day-to-day operations and future planning in a school system.  This term can be applied generically to all principals, assistant principals, directors, and all central office personnel in a school district.

Principal -  The primary leader in a school building.  Theses administrators are responsible for all aspects in the operation of a school.  They oversee day-to-day operations, teacher and staff supervision, student conduct, future scheduling and planning, and instructional leadership.  If working with an assistant or vice principal, some of these tasks are delegated to this position.

Assistant Principal - a building-level administrator who typically serves at the direction of the principal.  These positions are typically found in middle and high schools.  The specific job duties vary, however they tend to address student conduct and other day-to-day building operations(teacher coverages, duties, etc.)

Vice Principal - another term to refer to the assistant principal.

Instructional Leadership - All of the practices and leadership needed in order to ensure that

Middle School - A school containing a combination of grades usually between 5th and 9th grades.  These years are marked with increased academic pressures and students often experience changes socially and emotionally as a result of puberty and advancing age.