Preparation for A.P.’s to become Principals

[Stephanie Young]

There has been a recent surge of energy in how school districts are preparing APs to transition to principalships. In the past, it was seen as a natural progression, after serving a few years at your local school as an AP, to apply or be promoted to Principal. In recent years of tougher accountability and empowerment, many APs have voiced that they are content with staying where they are then take the “risk” of becoming a principal. I must say that when I was an AP in NY, I had the same feeling. As more and more schools become “empowered”, the pressure to make the numbers seemed to rise as the amount of support waned. The stress of the job and the system at large pushed me further and further away from the thought of seeking a principalship. Now that I am on the outside looking in, I’m confused even more as to the direction I will take. Our school system as a whole needs an overhaul, but it will take me time to even put to words where I think we should begin. Now that I’m in the south, I see some of the same issues/challenges that principals faced in the north: being pulled out the building too much, being bogged down with paperwork yet needs to be in the classroom supporting the teachers, being challenged by the “powers that be” to make changes that aren’t necessarily best for the school at the time, getting 5 different directives from 5 different people, etc, etc. I hope that as time progresses, district personnel will take more time to visit schools and spend more than a few hours observing – take the time to sit down and talk to parents, students and staff to get an accurate picture of the school.

I am glad to see that the NASSP has started an AP task force. I am also glad to see that school districts are setting up programs to support and mentor APs who seek principalships (Unum Gives $100,000 For New Principal Leadership Academy ).

Let’s hope that more companies can donate money to school systems to prepare and support school leaders that are not only effective and productive, but also passionate, creative and long-standing.

Stephanie S Young

Forner NYC public school administrator

Doctoral Student in Educational Leadership and Learning, University of TN @ Chattanooga

http://adminwings10.wordpress.com/

[Michelle Smart]

It is interesting that I would come across your post when I just had a similar discussion with my principal this week. I am from Saskatchewan, Canada, so some of our issues are different but it sounds like quite a few of them are similar. We talk here about life time vice-principals. It would appear that it happens for the same reasons-it does not always look like a desirable seat to take over. We attending an administrators meeting last week that left a lot of us feeling overwhelmed with some of this things you mentioned like paperwork, different directives, budget constraints etc. I agree with you and my principal who said that we need to start standing up and voicing about opinions about enough is enough. We don't want to do it out of fear, but the alternative looks pretty scary too.