Assistant Principal Responsibilities

An assistant principal is generally the second ranked authorized person to carry on the duties of the principal of any educational institution in his absence. The assistant principal responsibilities include the overall administration of the school, maintaining the discipline of the school, supervision of teachers, students and their performance, etc. So if you are aspiring to become a principal you will need to demonstrate that you can shoulder the assistant principal responsibilities well.

Key Responsibilities of an Assistant Principal

Due to the increasing size of the schools, the duties and responsibilities of the assistant principal are not just limited to the clerical and daily routine activities. They perform a variety of other functions related to administration and supervision. Let us discuss in detail the key responsibilities of an assistant principal which are as under:

General supervision and co-ordination of all the auxiliary activities

• To follow the directions and perform the duties according to the instructions of the principal
• He is responsible for the management of the students, staff members, counselors on a regular basis. The overall discipline beyond the classroom is to be supervised by him.
• He is responsible for designing the budgets for various educational projects
• He needs to provide constant support and training to the students, staff members and parents for the improvement of new learning educational techniques
• Evaluation of the teachers and staff members and guiding them to implement new plans for overall development of the students. He carries out the appraisals of the teachers and staff members. He also manages, initiates and develops different management programs to enhance the knowledge of teachers and level coordinators

In addition, he performs a variety of other functions which are as follows:

• He has the authority to hire, select and allocate the positions of responsibility to the selected candidates
• General supervision of the cafeteria and all the other facilities
• Make sure that the rules and regulations are followed by every member of the school
• Ensure the safety and overall development and welfare of the students and school in general
• Maintain different kinds of records related to attendance, performance, appraisals and other relevant data. He has to keep a close eye on the progress of the students

He develops and implements different kinds of programs related to school restructuring. He designs and creates innovative methods for the improvement of the curriculum. He can also design the code of conduct for the schools and make sure that everybody involved adheres by it. He also makes sure and manages the short term replacement of teachers.

Essential Skills Required for an Assistant Principal

Here are some core skills that can guarantee you success in your career as an assistant principal:

1. Excellent communication ability to deal with a diverse population of students and staff members
2. Should be able to demonstrate leadership skills especially when major shared decision making is required
3. To follow the instructions and work in accordance as per the guidelines suggested
4. Flexibility to accept the changes with demonstrated competency
5. Drive to create, implement and innovate different procedures for enhancing the knowledge
6. A strong background in computers and its application is definitely a plus

Educational Background for an Assistant Principal

Whenever you are applying for an assistant principal position you should at least have a master's degree. A proven track record of academic success as well as a minimum experience of two years in teaching is required. Additional experience in administration and a supervisory position will only add to your chances for getting selected for that particular job.

Work Schedule for Assistant Principal

The work hours for the assistant principal are same as that of the school hours. It does not normally extend beyond forty hours of work. He may need to work for extra long hours whenever there are extracurricular activities that are being held during the weekends.

Career Scope for an Assistant Principal

There is a huge scope for an assistant principal to be promoted to the post of a principal if he strives hard to perform and succeed in every assistant principal responsibilities.