I did, I didn’t and I do work in an outstanding school. So, good results; but working on two, very different types of leadership teams! Assistant principals can make an important difference in a school’s instructional leadership, organization, and sense of community. Conversely, his warm heart and willingness to freely give hugs or a deep belly laugh was infectious. What qualities do assistants think you need to be a great assistant? 7. Can a great/awful leadership team still raise standards? That's why you hired one, right? Empathy. Eli Broad. I ain't ashamed of it, though. Sample answers . You may also be the go-to person internally. "Children and teachers have important things to say, and a lot can be learned and gained from listening well to them." Patience is another key quality an education assistant must have. I always make sure I get out of the office as frequently as possible, and then I visit my assistant principals and drag them around with me too!" what makes a great assistant principal. Talking about people interaction is a great place to start as well as the variety in your day. Vice Principal Job Description. A paralegal or legal assistant has to be more organized than you are. Your motivation to work as an assistant principal, your enthusiasm for the role. That's the paralegal's job. Share the commonalities that your current job have with the assistant principal position you are seeking. I have always had a personal relationship with the students, motivating them, and helping them. He or she should be able to deal with difficult situations by effectively connecting to many groups of people which includes teachers, students, parents and also proffering solutions to those situations. Thanks. Oppositely, you should think about their desires and problems, trying to connect with them on a … Based on my research and what I have experienced so far, I'd like to offer five ways for a rookie administrator to successfully navigate his or her new position. I have worked as a teacher at the elementary school for ten years. I mean, how much do school principals make a month? A good salesperson needs to satisfy a client’s needs. A good personal assistant can be a huge help to a busy professional in virtually any business. It was a tumultuous year, one in which I decided that the safest place for my students and me was my classroom, room 134. The worst thing you could do in an interview would be saying that you prefer authoritative leadership. Saved by Sonia Hackley. Votes: 2. Good education assistants must be friendly in nature and sensitive towards the needs of children. Behind every executive is an executive assistant who makes business happen. Without discipline, little teaching or learning can take place. Helpful Not Helpful. Principals and assistant principals both share administration duties. Another was very supportive of me, but never came into my classroom. Although I transitioned from a teacher leader to an assistant principal over two months ago, I made this decision back in 2013. I am proud to say I am very adept at the nose flare now: Without my saying a word, kids perceive my displeasure. My first principal was a nice guy but very defensive. Thank you for doing such a great job. Votes: 2. Executive assistants provide high-level administrative support, including preparing reports, handling correspondence and scheduling meetings. Good communication skills are crucial for a successful admin assistant. Against all odds, Ms. Getz was determined to make the principal’s office an inviting place for children. Great principals make an effort to include families in the community of a school. Once a fourth-grade teacher, I recently began my work as an elementary assistant principal in another district. Assistant Principal Interview Questions. In “What Makes a Good Principal? What Makes a Good Administrative Assistant As the 'eyes and ears of a company', administrative professionals handle the day to day administration for an individual, network or team. The best salespeople aren’t always talking. Make discipline your number one concern. Kids tend to misbehave at times. Effective principals should be organized and focused . The best headteachers show great judgment, make the right calls and are wise leaders. What makes a great school principal? Each school takes a different approach to this, so principals should explicitly define what their expectations are for the assistant principal. 1. Many times in my live workshops and seminars for executive and administrative assistants, I ask the participant to create a list of qualities, attributes, and attitudes of star-performing assistants. Without patience, you may fail as an education assistant. A new body aims to help schools prosper by instilling leadership qualities in principals Tue, Sep 26, 2017, 00:00. 1. Assistant principals have to lead both students and teachers and should understand their own strengths and weaknesses. Executives, sales professionals and even celebrities use personal assistants to handle their appointments and correspondence and perform other important and time-saving tasks. After many years of teaching at all levels of education, I distinctly remember the principals I served under. Something that makes you unique as a job applicant. uday on May 23, 2020: Excellent really useful to become a great teaching professional. A good principal should be able to connect people together and find ways to earn their trust. A good principal takes money out of her pocket for the school. In order to avoid confusion, you should make sure those duties are clearly divided. As a new assistant principal studying his every move, I would practice that technique. What makes an outstanding senior leader? Every good assistant principal will respect the children and their opinion. With their unique overview of the company, administrative assistants are regularly called upon to make business critical decisions – it's no exaggeration to say that an executive is only as good as their assistant. After all, you’ve got to find that one person with the skills and the ability to do the job who is also the right fit for your leadership team, staff, students, and broader community. Tell us what makes a great principal and we'll publish your opinions. This guide provides further information on what vice principals do, how to become one, and salary and job outlook information. What Makes a Good Salesperson? You should go into the classrooms often, if only for a few minutes. "But I solve more problems and head off many others by being in the cafeteria, hallways, and classrooms. Relationships come before everything. It appears so; and this dichotomy will be saved for another post in the series. Larissa Nolan. Successful principals must constantly evaluate what is working and what is not, and use that information to make improvements. Even most teachers agree that previous experience as a teacher is one of the most desirable characteristics of principals. You can have great teachers, but if you don't have a good principal, you won't have a good school. Educators inspired to make a difference as school leaders should find out more about what makes a good assistant principal. If you are considering hiring a personal assistant, you should know the qualities to seek. A: To work as an assistant principal or vice principal at a school, you must meet several qualifications and gain at least a few years of experience in the education field. I would love to read more articles like this. Establishing Relationships. A vice principal is an assistant educational administrator. Helpful Not Helpful. It was a great refresher / reminder of what a great instructor is made up of. Most often, you're the first point of contact in the office for clients, customers and vendors. The only way to find out what those are is by listening to what each prospect is saying. Great principals hire, develop, and retain excellent teachers. To help, we’ve rounded up a few queries to add to your repertoire of assistant principal interview questions. Crucially, however, it isn't simply a matter of acting alone. Most of my colleagues were hiding in our rooms due to a hostile working environment and poor leadership. Finding an assistant principal to meet your school’s needs is a challenging prospect. A good education assistant understands the uniqueness of every child and shows patience and understanding when working with them. You should be in and out of the cafeteria during lunch. You should be visible in order to be a leader. In spite of those numbers, great principals can make a huge difference in the lives of students and their communities. Jun 23, 2014 - Good communication skills, the ability to handle administrative duties and maintaining strong student interactions are the qualities that make a professional assistant principal. What Makes a Good Principal? Ifeyinwa on May 13, 2020: Very helpful. You're too busy with your fancy law talkin' to do things like maintain a client file, keep a calendar, send out letters, and make phone calls. And thank you for helping me, I want to be the best I can. Over the years, I have collected more than 300 ideas. "It's also good exercise if you have a large school like mine!" First, you need a bachelor’s degree, a teaching license, and a few years of teaching experience. Another liked to discuss educational problems and issues with me. Ability to Listen. One of a principal’s most important roles is ensuring that every student is taught by an excellent teacher. How Teachers Assess the Performance of Principals,” published in The Economics of Education Review, researchers set out to identify how teachers rated different qualities of principals. What do you like about your present job? The fact is, I was never too bright in school. Muhammad Ali. A principal should be in the school halls when students are in the halls. added Podd. "Being a good listener is an important trait for administrators to possess," added Bonita Henderson, assistant principal at Pleasant Ridge School, a K-8 school in Cincinnati. A good salesperson knows how to feel what their customers feel. Look at this list of leadership styles and decide which best describes you. In most school districts, assistant or vice principals are in charge of disciplining students, so as part of this question, you might also be expected to talk about your disciplinary style. If that person doesn't have an organizational system, then things will be worse, not better. The Top Five Characteristics to Being a Good Executive Assistant. The primary responsibility of an assistant or vice principal is to help the school’s principal with daily administrative duties. The ability to communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively, both verbally and in writing, is something hiring managers seek when evaluating top administrative assistant skills. 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