Assistant Principals


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Assistant Principals

Assistant Principals - Overview

Education administrators are in charge of schools and school districts.

Most education administrators are school principals. Principals manage public and private K-12 schools. They set goals for schools based on standards set by the school district. They review laws affecting schools and make sure they are being followed. They create budgets and make spending decisions about buildings, equipment, and supplies. They also seek grant money to fund projects. Principals evaluate school programs and work to improve education.

Principals hire teachers and other staff, such as counselors and janitors. They work with teachers to develop courses and teaching standards. They also manage student teachers from colleges. In addition, principals evaluate staff members. They observe teachers while they teach their classes to evaluate their performance.

Principals make sure that students are meeting academic and behavior standards. Sometimes they must discipline students who have broken school rules. They also meet with parents to discuss student behavior. They work with students, teachers, and parents to resolve conflicts. Principals work to improve school attendance. They meet with parent-teacher councils to learn about parents' concerns. They often coordinate volunteer groups to oversee special program or fundraising events.

Principals work to address the needs of all students attending their school. This may include homelessness and child care. They may oversee food programs and health clinics run by the school. They recruit volunteers to help teachers and work with students.

Larger schools may have assistant principals. They are responsible for scheduling classes. They also order textbooks and may coordinate school activities. Some assistant principals work directly with students. They may counsel students on vocational goals. In many schools, they also handle discipline and attendance problems.

Some education administrators coordinate programs for an entire school district. They direct subject areas such as math, music, and art. Others oversee counseling programs and school testing standards. They also provide training to teachers in their district. Some education administrators work in career centers and manage school-to-work programs.

Source: Illinois Career Information System (CIS) brought to you by Illinois Department of Employment Security.