Advice to PGCPS 2nd Year Assistant Principals By: PGCPS APIP Cohort 1

Name	School	Advice
Natiqua Riley	CMIT Academy	Time Management is key.  Schedule your instructional walk-throughs in your daily agenda.  Schedule yourself a lunch time.  Schedule 2 days a week where you do not take work home.  Learn to smile through the pain and the yelling.  Don't take it personal and read everything.
Lawrence Pugh	Gaywood	Organize your time and documentation is the key
Michael Kenny	Edward M. Felegy ES	Be flexible.  In the first year it takes time to get down a routine and mastery of your responsibilities.  Every year has it’s own challenges and roles and responsibilities often shift.  Stay focused on the needs of the instructional program and your students and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Jill Speigle	Beltsville Academy	Pace yourself. Don’t be hesitant to ask questions. Be organized, flexible and visible. It’s important to be at the collaborative meetings and stay up on your informals.
Marla West	Thomas Johnson	Document with artifacts; Organization and collaboration with essential persons in your school community is key; Maintain the instructional focus and school vision; Become technology savvy
Telene Shipley	Northview ES	Document everything. Use a notebook for communication with parents, informals, and meetings with teachers. Use a calendar to schedule everything. Be flexible! Be prepared to have your day shift. Time management! Take time for yourself!
Gerald D. Smith, Jr.	Benjamin Stoddert MS	Be sure to become familiar with the eight leadership standards and how to leverage your skills with each one. Understand the importance of documenting specific details about every encounter you experience whether administrative or technical. Focus on being a coach and increase your knowledge of instructional strategies.
Dara Hurley	Port Towns ES	Continue to prioritize your day.  Plan your instructional visits so that you make sure you can visit your classrooms.  Stay organized and ask questions. Take notes documenting communication with others and what your responsibilities are.
Nicholas A. Ohlson	Samuel Chase ES	Time management. Prioritize each day.  Always accept an opportunity for growth.
Miguel A. Chacon	High Point H. S.	Before week starts (Sunday evening), review your agenda for the week, and month, to make sure your most important appointments are kept. Make a to-do list, day by day. Do not forget to include your conferences (parents, admin, expulsion hearings, etc). In terms of FfT, know the components, elements, and rubrics very well. It will alleviate the struggle with t-s who want to dispute their low scores. Also, make sure all non-tenured teachers get observed each quarter; first observations of non-tenured teachers should be done in September.
Maryam Thomas	Charles Carroll MS	Protect your time; the key to doing this is to set up structures and systems that are not solely dependent on you
Freda Ingram	Catherine T. Reed ES	Develop an organizational system for yourself. Develop a positive support system of colleagues that you can call on and turn to as the year progresses. Believe me...you will need them! Don’t wait to complete assignments. Set aside a specific day of the week and time that you will update your e-portfolio and complete article reviews. Share your experiences with colleagues - it’s amazing how we all go through the same things. Grow and Learn.
Kevin Thompson	Friendly High School	Always try and be sure to develop a daily agenda and prioritize tasks and to develop a routine in order to get tasks accomplished.
Robert Stradford	Gwynn Park MS	My advice is to always find a way to find a balance between your professional life and home life. This means that you have to find ways to become more efficient with the responsibilities of the job. Blocking out chunks of time for during your work day to complete the administrative tasks (i.e., paperwork, phone calls and observations) so that you limit the things that have to come home with you; use the technological resources as a tool (not a replacement); and make developing professional relationships a priority. Another bit of advice is to find your own leadership voice, develop it, and own it!
Adelaide Blake	Seat Pleasant ES	Stay on top of your assignments (work and APIP); avoid procrastination as it will create stress that can be avoided. Ensure that you and your principal have scheduled time to meet that you maintain despite all problems that may occur.
RaeShauna Mboma	Imagine Lincoln PCS	My advice to any new or aspiring leader is to stay committed to the work of supporting your students.  Keep the “main thing, the main thing!” Everything you do must be supported by the idea of strengthen the learning environment, developing relationships, and strengthening the capacity of the teachers you lead.  Listed below are a few helpful tips that I constantly needed to revisit as I worked to be successful: Work in advance! Create a schedule (i.e. things to do lists, agenda, etc.) that you can follow that prioritizes the needs of your building and your day. Create balance for yourself. Be committed to the work/life balance that is needed to be successful. Create weekly meetings with your principal where you can reflect on major accomplishments, and challenges for the week. Develop relationships with your staff/students/parents! Communicate, communicate, communicate… However, don’t forget that listening is key! Stay committed to learning and growing, always make time to build your professional  “toolbox.” Be visible and stay connected. Start a FFT calendar early (timeline of execution)--don’t get caught up with your observations. Use your calendar, schedule everything! Get a journal. Write everything down-document, document. OR create an electronic file to do the same thing.
Dr. Sandra Bunns	Avalon ES	Schedule weekly meetings with your Principal to ensure that communication is open and timely and to plan for the week. Stay true to yourself and always let integrity guide you. Find a proper balance between professional and personal life.
Ursula A Golladay	Edward M Felegy ES	Setting up processes and protocols for the various plans you put in place whether for students or teachers is helpful.  You can always fall back and ask the question “what is process we’ve put in place? “ Schedule a weekly meeting with you principal and stick to it with fidelity.  Get and keep he/she in the loop with what is being asked of you so that he/she can support you in your experience. Take the time to develop a relationship with not only your principal but your leadership team.  They will see that you value them.
Tiffany Johnson	Francis T. Evans ES	My advice to you would be to develop a working relationship with your principal/ Lead teacher in your building. If situations are not easy for you, set up a time to discuss them with your principal. I have found there were things my principal didn’t know she was doing to offend me due to her relationship with her former Assistant Principal. Create your own path, and let your administration see you are capable and knowledgeable of managing certain things. Create protocols for your students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders in order for them to know how you operate. Learn your strengths from strengths finders and create your plan with your principal. Your strengths might not be the same , however they might compliments one another.
Stephanie Barber	Greenbelt ES	*Develop strong/positive relationships with your other administrators and instructional leadership team.  You will need to work together and depend on each other.  You can’t do it alone. *Develop a plan for the year- What is your school’s focus?  How will your work support that goal?  Then make sure those focus areas are a part of your daily/weekly work.   Always go back to it.   *Use your calendar- Keep track of your work using some sort of calendar or organizational system.  When you come to work you should already have a plan for the day, while that needs to be flexible.   *Reflect daily.  What went well today and what do you need to do better? With each new day, you can always be a better version of yourself.
Kenneth Barrie	Kettering Middle School	Have powerful and positive interactions with your staff that will motivate and mobilize them. Build meaningful relationships with students, teachers, and parents. Engage faculty and staff in the decision making process to get buy-in for school wide initiatives.
Carrie Curry	Laurel High School	You NEED A TEAM. You cannot do this work alone. It is helpful to have resources both within your building and outside of your building. Have a plan and maintain one calendar.  I used to have a work calendar and a personal calendar.  Both became so full, I had to combine them to make sure I didn’t miss any important events.  Be reasonable with yourself.  You will never complete everything, it will still be there tomorrow. Have a system to prioritize.  As much as possible (it isn’t always possible), focus on one thing at a time.  No one is as good at multi-tasking as they think that they are.
Erin Cribbs	Mt. Rainier Elementary School	Document everything on your calendar. Technology is Awesome, but I still wrote detailed notes in  a Journal (Spiral Notebook) and left it on my desk. Everytime I met with a student, parent or teacher I documented a summary of our conversations. It was helpful when those conversations had to later be turned into statements for documentation. Remember to appreciate the little things. Students will make you pictures, or flowers display them in your office. I hang it right next to work from my son. The love showing off to others.
Ahmed Evans	Drew-Freeman Middle School	Be flexible at all times. No two days are the same, be prepared for courageous conversations with all staff.  Always document everything from conversations with teachers and with parents. Become very knowledgeable on the FFT and SLO processes to be able to assist teachers. Visit classrooms as much as possible outside of formal observations to monitor instruction and improve teacher practice.
Richard Belton	William Hall Academy	Create a daily to-do list/agenda to ensure that you are effectively managing your time as an Assistant Principal.  Be sure to be consistent when holding teachers and staff members accountable for the systems and structures that are put in place at the beginning of the school year.  Make it a priority to take care of yourself physically and mentally, being an Assistant Principal can become cumbersome and overwhelming at times.
Erica K. Bennett	Samuel P. Massie Academy	Throw out the to do list. Make a list of things that need to be done daily then “schedule” times to do them just as you schedule your meetings and other negotiables. This helps to be realistic about what can actually get done during the day.
Daria N. Valentine	Largo HS	Pace yourself.  Collaborate with your Admin Team.
Sandra Bobo	Surrattsville HS	Communicate effectively, organize yourself, and listen attentively.

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