Assistant principals, also called vice-principals, wear more hats in a day than they take off students. First, they support the principal in the administrative operation of a school. They may plan schedules for teachers or for testing. They may directly supervise lunch, hallways, special events. They may evaluate teachers. They are usually tasked with handling student discipline.
One reason for the multiple roles is that the assistant principal must be ready to take over all the responsibilities of the school principal in the event of an absence or illness. Another reason is that the assistant principal’s position can be a stepping stone to the principal’s job.
Typically, mid-size to large schools employ more than one assistant principal. They may be assigned a specific grade level or group. Several assistant principals may be organized to be responsible for a specific duty day-to-day tasks. As a school administrator, assistant principals typically work year-round. Most assistant principals start their careers as teachers. For our purposes, there will be 2 Assistant Principal namely:
- Vice Principal Academics (to take charge of learning and learning related issues including Students) and
- Vice Principal Administration (to take charge of staff and properties of the institution.
Responsibilities of an Assistant Principal (Both)
” Assist the principal in interviewing and evaluating instructional and non-instructional staff.
” Supervise instructional and non-instructional staff.
” Help create school-wide goals including those related to student learning and student behavior.
” Manage student behavioral issues including those in the cafeteria along with those referred by teachers and bus drivers.
” Supervise or arrange for supervision of student activities both during and after school hours including school assemblies, athletic activities, and music and drama productions.
” Share responsibility for setting and meeting the school’s budget.
” Set up the academic schedule for teachers and students.
” Keep track of all activities on the school calendar.
” Conduct staff meetings.
Common Characteristics of Assistant Principals
Effective assistant principals share many of the same characteristics, including:
” Strong organizational skills. Assistant principals often have to juggle a number of high priority tasks that require them to be organized in order to be successful.
” Attention to detail. From keeping track of the school calendar to evaluating teachers, assistant principals find that attention to detail is a necessary requirement.
” A desire to help students succeed. While many people see the assistant principals as the disciplinary arm of the administrative staff, their main goal should be to help students achieve to their greatest potential.
” Trustworthiness. Assistant principals deal with sensitive information every day. Therefore, they must be honest and discreet.
” Diplomacy. Assistant principals often have to deal with heated situations between students, parents, and teachers. Tact and diplomacy can go a long way towards dealing with difficult problems.
” Effective communicator. Assistant principals may often be the “voice of the school” in daily operations. They need to be proficient in the use of different media platforms (audio, visual, e-mail).
” Familiar with technology. Assistant principals may need to use multiple software platforms such as Power School Student Information System or Administrator’s Plus or Blackboard Collaborate for attendance/grades; SMART for agency compliance; Schoology or Curriculum Track for curriculum; Frontline Insights Platform for evaluation.
” The desire to be active and visible. Students and teachers need to see that the assistant principals are involved in the school in order for them to have the type of authority that makes others want to listen to them.
” Get to Know Your Teachers as People: Knowing teachers as people with families and concerns is important. Caring about them can help improve cooperation and give them a more positive outlook about their jobs.
” Be Involved: Notice who are the teachers and students who are the most engaged and the least engaged. Recognize and support the efforts of the most engaged and seek ways to motivate the least engaged. Offer to participate in programs or take students for a half hour mini-lesson.
” Celebrate Success: Recognize the efforts of teachers and how those efforts translate into success. Publicly acknowledge what is going right in the school. Encourage teachers and students in order to motivate them.
The school Vice Principal (Administration)
The vice principal shall provide support to the principal to achieve her key responsibilities which include but not limited to the following :
The school Vice Principal (Academics)
The vice principal shall provide support to the principal to achieve her key responsibilities which include but not limited to the following:
” Plans, supervises and evaluates teaching methods to ensure target academic achievements are met.
” Creates and implements staff training and refresher courses.
” Plans and prepares the Academic Budget of the year.
” Leads all operational aspects of the academic department
” Sets objectives for students to meet, and develop a plan of action for teachers to follow in helping students achieve those benchmarks
” Works towards the school achieving excellent results in all internal and external examinations
” Meets with the school board members in order to discuss and develop policies and procedures
” Possesses ability to drive a 21st century system of education in teaching, learning and evaluation.
” Integrates and develops students’ entrepreneurial Skills
” Effectively develops strategies to project the image of school globally for productive marketing
” Develops objectives for extra-curricular activities to include the sports program
” Evaluates student progress in order to determine whether an educational plan is being effective. Makes modifications to the plan as needed
” Develops innovative strategies to raise funds for developmental projects and charity projects for the community
” Develops and implements and effective instructional programme appropriate for the students. Careful attention should be given to the supervision of teachers and other personnel working in the school, including teaching and non- teaching staff.
” Provides oversight to ensure safety of students and all personnel within the school premises.
” Provides oversight to ensure the school is clean at all times and good housekeeping within and without the school building.
” Ensures teacher tracks, manages and documents the performance of student’s behaviour and academic performance.
” (Interfaces and actively engages each parent at least once in two weeks on student’s performance.
” Routinely organizes activities that will promote academic excellence and boost community relationship with the school
” Manages day to day activities of the College
” Sets weekly, monthly and academic -year-end goals and expectations for teachers to achieve school accelerated growth to meet the aims and objectives of the school
” Ensures school facilities are well maintained and functioning.
The individual shall have a weekly minimum of five periods of lesson.
