Career Corner

As an individual made a late career change and came into education a little on the late side, these tips are informative. I wish there were more.

DJ

This piece of advice is very helpful. I have been teaching for five years and I have decided that it is time to pursue an assistant principal's position. The first one is the hardest to find. It was not this hard finding a teaching position so every little bit of motivation helps.

I have an interview tomorrow, I'll let you know some of the questions when it is finished.

Discipline - your philosophy, how would you handle certain situations
Attendance - how to improve
New Ideas - what new things would you try in the position
Know the building rules - anything that you would like to change
Sell Yourself!

Late career changer. After having been certified as a generic special ed teacher in TX for the past 5 years and having obtained the state principal certification last year, I have decided to leave the public school arena. The reason for same is two-fold. First is NCLB. I've been teaching math and can no longer do same without passing a state test which has material on it I have never seen before. The middle school math exam has very high level math. Why? I don't know why when most states are struggling to staff math and science positions. I've had zero success in even procuring AP interviews as I only finished an internship this past school year. Additionally, I can't get a teaching position either because of NCLB. I could pass an elementary exam but few schools hire males in my area and I've never taught at this level either. Private schools have been somewhat better but generally dod not pay comparably. Do not want to relocate. Past positions affored me an income of over $2 million for the 20 years prior to entering education. Deeply saddened.

I also am having a difficult time becoming an Assistant Principal even though I have experience that surpasses any other candidate.
I recently completed and passed my districts Assistant Principal Academey and my name has been placed in the districts eligibility pool. I have had one interview and it was at the school I taught at and was department head at for over twenty years but I have not heard anything regarding this interview either positive or negative.
I am in a large urban school district that is experiencing difficult times but I am confident that I can help turn around a school if only given a chance.
If any one hears of an Assitant Principal opening please let me know as it is very fustrating to be told how qualified I am and how I would make an outstanding Assistant Principal or Principal but never getting the position.

I feel your pain! I've had seven excellent years of teaching in the public school system. I am younger than most and went for my dream right out of my undergrad. I've had so many interviews I have lost count. These have been for AP positions. None within my district. They always end in- "We're just looking for a little more experience! We'll keep your resume on file should anything come up." HELP!!!! I've done everything you should and look great on paper...I guess my advice is to keep on keepin on! Our time will come and whatever district get's us eager administrators will be lucky! Everything happens for a reason. It's just difficult to graduate and be more than qualified and get ding letters for every job you interview for.

Looking for an assistant principal job. Please inform me of any information.

Thanks

All I heard while in my Principal Licensure Classes was how there are so many principal shortages. I also hear from all who know me that, "You'll be hired right away because of all your credentials." Yeh, right! I have 5 years as a child welfare casemanager, 7 years in the finanacial planning field, and 16 years of teaching (including 10 in an adult prison). I'm able to relocate, if necessary. My license is K-12 and I passed the National Standards Test. The professors never mentioned how hard it would be to find a first position - either as a principal or an AP. I sincerely believe if someone would give me an interview, my chances would go up a lot! I do have an interview next week - there are two positions available. I'm somewhat hopeful, but starting to get very used to "dings". It's definitely been a "character builder" to go through all that schooling beyond my masters, pay all that money, and now spend every free minute filling out application after application. I haven't given up but am very frustrated.

Keep trying folks-Your time will come--and often--when you least expect it. There is a thought out there that if you don't pursue AP within 3-5 yrs and Principal within 5-7 yrs.....you're not on the ball. Of course--that's the perception.

Keep trying folks-Your time will come--and often--when you least expect it. There is a thought out there that if you don't pursue AP within 3-5 yrs and Principal within 5-7 yrs.....you're not on the ball. Of course--that's the perception.

Took early retirement,now I want to teach again. Taught for Windham for 17yrs. Literacy 1& 2.
Top evaluations. Must I move out of state to teach because of retirement guidelines?

Took early retirement,now I want to teach again. Taught for Windham for 17yrs. Literacy 1& 2.
Top evaluations. Must I move out of state to teach because of retirement guidelines?

Took early retirement,now I want to teach again. Taught for Windham for 17yrs. Literacy 1& 2.
Top evaluations. Must I move out of state to teach because of retirement guidelines?

Took early retirement,now I want to teach again. Taught for Windham for 17yrs. Literacy 1& 2.
Top evaluations. Must I move out of state to teach because of retirement guidelines?

It feels great to know that I'm not alone. I can't get past the paper stage in trying to secure an AP position. Everyone keeps telling me, "It's who you know." I'm in the process of beefing up my resume, but it's so difficult to stay positive.

I have my first interview for an AP position in Tampa. I am both nervous and excited. I agree with "it's who you know", but also how you are and your expertise.

I have just started sending out resumes for next school year. I'll be finished with my Masters in School Adm. in May and am currently doing a full-time paid internship as an AP. I am really surprised at what a difficult time everyone in this post is having looking for an AP position. I was under the impression that there was a school administrator shortage. Is it not true? Or is it just for principals because everyone (due to NCLB and accountablity) is staying in their AP positions which is leading to a shortage of AP jobs?

Wow! I am now not so down about not securing an AP position after reading all of the postings. Thanks... I agree that acquiring that first job is the most difficult. My career began in education ten years ago and I finished my credential requirements in May of 2007. I have had a total of 5 interviews out of 25 applications with no success yet. I will still keep trying to get into administration but am also wondering what is going on. Keeping the faith is very difficult indeed!

I have 5 years of teaching experience and interviewed for 5 positions over the summer. I was not chosen for any of the jobs I believe due to my lack of experience in administration. I felt like asking "How do I get experience when I can't get a job?!" It doesn't help that I am nicknamed "baby face" and look like I am in my early 20's. I even thought about trying to lose weight. I have heard that if there are two equal candidates, the employer will most likely hire the one in better physical shape. Is that true?

I am also looking for an AP position. I have taught for 16 years and have spent 10 in my current district. I finished my masters in Educational Leadership last June and passed my state test a year ago in October. I passed the test before finishing my masters because I too was under the impression that there was an AP shortage. I did get a few interviews over the summer and at the beginning of the school year, but was not told why I was not asked to join the team. One principal that I interviewed with did call a let me know that I was in there top three list and that if they could have hired two I would have gotten the job, but because the school year had already started they had to go with the in-district person. I am still looking and am not really discouraged. I know that they are looking for experience and eventually someone is going to remeber that they had to have someone take a chance on them and I will get the job. I have been trying to get some administrative experience by helping my AP's when they need some. When the time is right I will get the job I am supposed to have. All anyone can do is keep applying.

It sounds like I'm not the only one feeling the pangs of trying to find an AP or principal job. I finished my MEd in admin in 2006, got my K-12 certification in administration this past year and have gotten only negative replies to all of my applications. I thought my major problem was being in an international school in Thailand rather than within the US, but it sounds like that isn't the problem. I was told by several schools that I had a great application letter, excellent training and experience, but can't get my foot in the door for an interview. Anyone have an idea how we (I'm speaking for the earlier people who submitted input and myself) can fill one of those 'shortage' positions?

I would like to start work on my Masters but not sure in what area. Question: If I get a masters in arts administration, could I still be considered for an asst. principal position later on? Or does it have to be an Ed. Masters? Any advice would be helpful...thanks!