Читать книгу The Assistant Principal 50 - Baruti K. Kafele - Страница 12

This is an important question for any AP because it has direct implications for one's outlook on the current role. One who is content with being a career AP (or at least not desirous of the principalship) will more than likely approach the assistant principalship very differently from one who views the assistant principalship as a steppingstone to the principalship.

As an AP, despite my very limited exposure to the larger picture of school leadership, I was "hungry." Nothing about me was career-AP oriented. I was hungry and wanted the principalship … badly. I wanted the role of Principal like nobody's business! Although I was relegated to being a full-time disciplinarian, I didn't allow myself to be or feel defeated. I went above and beyond in everything I did and learned everything I could about principal leadership. I was not exposed to the school budget, so I sought information about school budgeting outside of my school. I was not exposed to master scheduling, so I taught myself how to develop a master schedule. I went the extra mile and learned on my own any aspect of school leadership to which I hadn't been exposed. Why? Because I was "hungry!" I wanted to be a building principal. I wanted nothing more professionally than to lead a school of my own.

Looking back, had I been content being an AP and spent my tenure assisting the principal, I imagine that I would have approached my assistant principalship quite differently and viewed it through a different set of lenses than I did. I may even have been content being a school disciplinarian. But because of my leadership aspirations, I wanted everything that school leadership had to offer.

Who are you as an assistant principal? How long have you been an assistant principal? What are your aspirations as a school leader? Do you aspire to become a principal? Are you "hungry" to become a principal? Do you want the principalship, like, yesterday? Are you content in your current role as Assistant Principal? Is the assistant principalship satisfying and fulfilling for you?

If you're hungry to become a principal, you must think as a principal … now. You must see yourself in that position … now. You must interpret all the stimuli around you within the building as though you are the principal. You must do these things without trying to function as the principal. Look at all situations as if you were the principal and consider how you would respond/react to everything imaginable if, in fact, you were the principal of your school.

If you are a career AP or simply content in your current role, my advice to you is to simply do your job to the best of your ability. Be the best version of yourself every time you walk into your school. Not everyone desires to become a principal. Everyone isn't built to be a principal. Everyone doesn't have the temperament to be a principal. Everyone doesn't have the time to be a principal given the high number of hours, during the week and on weekends, that principals must devote to their work to be effective. Everyone has a life outside of school and, for some, the balance between life outside of school and life as a principal could be challenging if not impossible. The bottom line is this: you must determine whether you're an aspiring principal or a career assistant principal/content in your role (because of the implications for your work, preparation, goals, aspirations, and your overall peace of mind).