Assistant principals work tirelessly to further the academic success and well-being of each student and adult in their learning community—and all week long, we’ll be giving them hard-earned recognition for their dedication.
NASSP, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the American Federation of School Administrators have come together to declare April 8–12 as this year’s National Assistant Principals Week, and there are a number of ways to join us as we honor these critical members of the education team.
Activities for School Leaders
We invite principals from around the country to take time to celebrate and thank their assistant principals—and we encourage assistant principals to applaud each other, as well.
This week is the perfect opportunity to make sure everyone in the community is aware of the important role assistant principals play in schools. One way to do this is to invite federal legislators, members of the board of education, community leaders, and parents to shadow the assistant principal for the day. A “day in the life” experience is an excellent chance to offer an inside look at how hard your assistant principals work each day.
School leaders can also welcome local service clubs to a breakfast or luncheon at the school to discuss school leadership, and they can even invite them to visit classrooms throughout the day. This is a great way to bring community members, such as youth service agencies, neighborhood police, and other activists, together to talk about ways in which these groups can work collaboratively with the school.
Additionally, NASSP will be hosting a webinar on April 10 from 3:30–4:00 p.m. (ET), “Getting Better Together: Principal and Assistant Principal” by Principal Shawn DeRose and Assistant Principal Katie Magdin of Fairfax County Public Schools. They will discuss how building a strong relationship between the principal and assistant principal can lead to more effective leadership, ultimately improving the climate, culture, and success of the school.
Be sure to join the #APChat on Twitter today, Sunday, April 7, at 8:00 p.m. (ET) to discuss how connected leaders work and learn better together. Don’t forget to share your National Assistant Principals Week activities on all social media channels using the hashtag #APWeek19. Check out the full list of ideas for school leaders and get ready to honor your assistant principals all week long.
Activities for the Community
Parents, teachers, and students can join the fun, too! Thank your assistant principal with a personalized, handwritten thank-you note with specific examples of how they have impacted your life. You can also send an e-card that you can schedule to be delivered at a specific time.
Bring the entire student body together by organizing a pep rally, where students, parents, and teachers can perform songs, skits, and speeches to show your appreciation for your assistant principal. On the day of the pep rally, decorate their office door to promote the event.
Turn your celebration outward by giving your assistant principal a spotlight in the local newspaper with a profile and photograph. You can write letters to federal legislators and superintendent to show support and provide a thorough understanding of how your assistant principal exemplifies school leadership. Furthermore, get your entire community involved by designating a day—or the whole week—when local businesses offer discounts just for assistant principals.
Explore more ways to celebrate your assistant principal this week, and give them a shout out on social media using hashtag #APWeek19. Plus, keep an eye out for the 2019 National Assistant Principal of the Year winner, who will be announced during the week!
Learn more about National Assistant Principals Week at www.nassp.org/apweek.