Reviews the literature on assistant principals. Concludes that from a sociological perspective, the existing knowledge base has contributed little to an understanding of the social character of the school setting, the internal and external careers of administrators, and problems associated with training and developing professional administrators.…

Presents a strategy for reconceptualizing the role of the high school assistant principal in order to: (1) make the job more professionally satisfying; (2) better prepare assistants for subsequent responsibilities as principals; and (3) develop a capacity for problem-solving activities, pursued cooperatively by teachers and administrators, to…

Assistant principals primarily police and control and prepare for a future principalship. Yet schools could benefit if the job also include instructional leadership, close teamwork with teachers and colleagues, and integration of community groups and parents into the school. Such changes would require shifts in the sociopolitical agenda for…

Principals should help their assistant principals become well-rounded professionals, preparing them to assume higher posts. Such preparation entails hiring with growth potential in mind, formulating individualized on-the-job training programs, and conducting thoughtful evaluation. (MCG)

The role of the assistant principal is of crucial importance in secondary education. Despite the limitations and frustrations, many assistant principals have come to view their job as a career goal. (Editor)

Considered the role of the assistant principal as arbitrator and mediator in conditions requiring measures of discipline. (RK)

The assistant principal is potentially the most effective leader to spearhead a drive toward renewing quality educational programs. This report includes an extensive bibliography on personalizing instruction. (Author/LD)

This qualitative study based on interviews with 12 recently hired female assistant principals suggests that women being hired into entry-level administrative positions are primarily interested in their own careers, rather than in promoting change. Most were admitted to administration as a reward for loyalty to the current administration and the…

As the end of the 2002-2003 school year drew near, the author began to reflect on her first year as a vice principal. Her first year had been exciting and adventurous, although it started quite differently from most: she had the opportunity of opening a brand new school while working under the outstanding leadership of Marian White-Hood, the…

Assistant principals are often overlooked as a resource for creating, advancing, and sustaining a compelling vision for mathematics. The Math Collaborative Project developed in New York City examined the process of developing and implementing programs designed to help assistant principals network and strengthen their instructional leadership…

Grooming an assistant principal to lead a school is a privilege for any principal and enables him or her to leave a larger mark on the field. Although assistant principals are ultimately responsible for their own professional growth, principals must not underestimate their responsibility to help train aspiring principals. Preparing assistant…

This study is the third in a series of national studies of high school principals dating back to the early 1960s. The major purpose of this study was to analyze and describe high school leaders and their schools in 1987. Chapter 1 discusses characteristics and opinions of school leaders. Chapter 2 is devoted to the tasks and problems of school…

Research on 125 assistant elementary principals in North Carolina revealed seven concerns about performance of duties: (1) lack of a well-defined job description, (2) lack of authority to implement assigned tasks, (3) lack of involvement in the instructional process, (4) lack of recognition, (5) make-shift office space, (6) low salaries, and (7)…

The most important and most difficult task of the assistant principal for instruction in a multiunit high school is recruitment of teachers for the learning communities. These teachers must be convinced that the increased workload and added responsibilities involved in developing interdisciplinary courses, budgeting time, space, and funding, and…

The author urges principals to provide their assistant principals with satisfying job experiences beyond those of coping with discipline, attendance, schedule, and food service problems; opportunities for career advancement; and an occasional pat on the back. The author further urges principals to think positively about hiring a qualified woman as…