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Less time involved dealing with conflicts allows elementary administration to focus on academic and school improvement priorities.Ī study by the Wallace Foundation found elementary school principals were more involved in the educational process than secondary school principals, and this extends to assistant principals as well. Although behavior issues and disciplinary actions are still a part of an elementary assistant principal’s day, they are often less frequent and less time consuming. Disciplinary issues may be a main reason for this difference. One major difference for elementary assistant principals is a better ongoing focus on instructional leadership. The role of assistant principal at an elementary school can be different from that of a middle school or high school assistant principal. Elementary assistant principalsĪssistant principals oversee students in grades K-5 - ages 5-12. There are many similarities for assistant principals, regardless of the education level, but there are some structural differences in academics and best practices for dealing with students of various age groups. In larger school districts, there may be multiple assistant principals per school, each specializing in a specific subject area, such as history or math.
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They coordinate with principals and board members to assist in defining and enforcing school policies and guidelines for students, staff, and faculty. And, while assistant principals are usually the first ones to handle behavior problems, the role has evolved beyond being just a disciplinarian and operations manager to also include instructional leadership.Īssistant principals deal with the issues of school management, student activities and services, community relations, personnel, and curriculum instruction. When you think back to when you attended school, you may remember your vice principal as a stern man or woman who kept the students in line. At-a-glance: Assistant principals Assistant principal job description While days are fast-paced and often unpredictable, the assistant principal has a meaningful and influential role in educational environments. This leadership position includes interactions with students, teachers, other administrators, board members, and parents. They need to ensure the safety of students, as well as fulfillment of federal and state student and teacher performance guidelines.
Principal definition school professional#
Teaching Careers and Professional Development Updated SeptemAssistant Principal: Job, Education and Salary Information ByĪn assistant principal, also known as a vice principal, is an education administrator responsible for facilitating the day-to-day requirements of their school.
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