Advice to First Year PGCPS Assistant Principals By PGCPS APIP Cohort 2

Advice to a First Year PGCPS Assistant Principal

Name

School

Advice

Mar-c Holland	Gwynn Park High School	1.Keep a journal of daily tasks and duties. This will help you to prioritize, remember, keep track and stay efficient 2.Be positive, take one day at a time and enjoy each moment 3. Build and maintain relationships with as many students, staff, parents, community members as you can. It truly takes a village. 4. Follow policy, you will never lose this way
Yolanda Coleman	Thurgood Marshall Middle School	Stay within the administrative policy guidelines and ask questions. Organize time management and prioritize your duties. Build and maintain relationships with your staff and  parents . Understand your school culture. Remember teamwork is very important. Remember to make time for yourself to stay healthy.
LaShaunda Haynes	Drew-Freeman Middle School	Learn/know/understand the culture of the community in which you are working, school and administration. Develop relationships with ALL stakeholders and other APs and administrators outside of your building. Keep a To-Do-List daily to keep track of the work to be done. Keep a journal  of your first year experience to see your growth through the year. If you do not start at the beginning of the year, don’t panic!  Take it slow and work with your principal and administration to make the transition smoothly. If you are in the same building, you may need to RE-develop relationships with colleagues/friends, so they understand your new role. Develop a “project” within your building that is your own “baby”, it will help to purpose your work in the school daily. Stay within the realm of the principal’s vision for the school and the county’s vision for education. Take time for you, that includes lunch, mental health days and vacations.
Andrea Thomas-Munson	Thomas Johnson MS	Use a journal for notes and your to-do lists.  Feels good to check things off as they are done, AND it keeps a record of tasks completed. Don’t forget to take time for self-care! As you have ideas, make  note of them--use your phone’s technology or keep a small notepad handy. Jewel #3--This is definitely a practice I found  very useful! Thick skin is necessary! You may need to print out some documents to post in a very visible spot--keeps these details in the forefront of your attention. If you are a “vent-er,” be mindful whose ears you choose OR try to find a different form of release--You don’t want your business and what you might have said floating around the building or further.
Jewel Preston	Rose Valley ES	Follow policy...period Keep the students first...remember we do this for the students, not the parents, teachers or anyone else. Think before you react, in every situation. It’s always ok to say you need time to think or research before responding. Use your resources...talk to other APs, principals and people who have walked in these shoes before you. Make yourself a priority...this career will consume your life if you let it! Plan your time wisely...winging it doesn’t work in administration. Don’t take ANY of it personally.
Andrew Dalton	Melwood ES	Connect to your staff, be visible and spend time daily in your classrooms. Trust yourself, you are not in this position by accident. You are an AP because of your strengths and skills in administrative leadership Don’t try to tackle too many “Big Rocks”, focus on measureable change for the year. Use your APIP colleagues. The relationship you build with these people will help you tremendously as you go through the year. They are walking the same walk as you. Trust your Principal, learn from them, yet at the same time stay true to yourself and be independant. Follow policy and Procedure but apply it to each individual situation. Not everything is black and white.
Rhodora Alonzo	Frances Fuchs ECC	Journal and calendar was very helpful. Prioritize tasks and manage your time wisely. Make connections to the staff and students, be visible and approachable in the classrooms and hallways. Advocate for yourself for opportunities to grow as an administrator. Be open for more ideas, suggestions and don’t hesitate to ask questions. Remember that we cannot control the kind of work that we have to face everyday, but we have control over the attitude that we bring to our workplace. Always aim for positive intentions.
Andrew Zanghi	Beltsville Academy	Don’t be afraid to ask questions, especially when it comes to policy and procedures Take time to watch, listen, observe before trying to force anything.  Take it slow. Use your calendar to prioritize responsibilities Relax, enjoy the students, talk with the staff
Tiwana R. Cook	Oxon Hill Middle	Observe the personalities on your Administrative Team and the staff (expect to go through the different phases of the Group Development).   Identify ways you can contribute positively. Keep a record/list of the highlights of your week. This makes it much easier for the reflections due. Maintain a binder (include (SPED Process Guide, Administrative, 2250 and PGCEA guidelines).   If you are not familiar with technology, make it and its f
Ebony Mauldin	Waldon Woods	Be very observant of the people you work with. Using what you have learned about them will help to bridge a conductive relationship. Have evidence and support for all decisions you make. When making decisions make sure that you stick within policy and practice. If at first you don’t succeed, take your hat off and try again. You will wear many hats. Think outside the box and admit to your biases your may have in a situation.
Kendra Hill	Benjamin Stoddert MS	Identify processes: (a) behavior referrals (PS-74, Morning Detention, ISS, Suspension), (b) accessing resources for students, staff, & self (ie; composition books, pencils, I-Pads, laptops) Identify Schedules: (a) Transitions, (b) Vertical Planning Meettngs, (c) Horizontal Planning meetings Keep a Log or a Google Doc with links for all of the different Google Docs you use (so they’re easy to find) Take the time to interact casually with staff to make connections and make sure they feel supported. Utilize Google Calendar for all meetings & activities, so you can access it from everywhere (as individuals e-mail you invites or you invite others, your calendar will update). Learn the roles of others, so that you can ensure clear communication, expectations, & accountability. Consistently document issues to utilize tiered disciplinary action for staff (informal verbal, informal written/e-mail, Letter of Counsel, Letter of Reprimand).
Ryan Daniel	Calverton ES	Follow policy always! Don’t be afraid to ask questions or gain clarification about things. Observe the building, staff, admin team before making any changes. Keep a calendar, multiple calendars if possible. Get to know your staff individually, as a grade level/team-it will help when courageous conversations are needed Find another AP (seasoned or new) that you can bounce ideas, situations, and problems with. It helps to have someone outside of the building to give you another perspective
Laura Carr-Degen	James H. Harrison	1. Be reflective. The first year is about staying in  a learning mindset. 2. Maintain and establish communication structures with all other AP’s that will guide you through the year i.e is it email, texting, face to face 3. Take time to build relationships with your teachers. This builds the structures for than being receptive to effective feedback which moves students. 4. Continue to teach and build your understanding around content and instructionally delivery especially as we continue to transition assessments and dive deeper into common core.
Lynda Granady	Glenridge ES	Use the resources in your school for assistance, don’t feel as if you are the only one to handle situations. Show appreciation for your staff at all times. Keep a journal of everything. Ask questions if you don’t know the answers.
Shawnte Richeson	G. James Gholson Middle School	Don’t take it personal Build relationships and rapport with the staff Reflect Daily Be organized Manage your time Stay visible
Lashawn Terrell	Adelphi ES	Don’t take things personal. Get to know your staff. Always do what you stay you are going to do. Build relationships with everyone on your team. Have a shut off time. Know when to stop working. Accept Feedback. Don’t try to do everything on your own. Ask a lot of questions. Don’t think that you have to know everything.

Advice to a First Year PGCPS Assistant Principal