The Leadership Shift Every Assistant Principal Must Make This School Year
The start of the school year is one of the most critical times for school leadership. Vision is being cast, expectations are being set, and culture is being established.
For principals, this moment feels familiar. But for assistant principals, what we deem as the “principals that assist”—the beginning of the year often brings uncertainty:
- How do I step into leadership without overstepping?
- What decisions can I make on my own?
- Will teachers and parents take me seriously?
I’ve seen this struggle over and over again. And it’s not because APs don’t have the skills. It’s because they don’t always see themselves as leaders.
The truth is, your influence doesn’t come from your title. It comes from your identity.
Why Identity Comes Before Influence
When you moved from teacher to assistant principal, you didn’t just change jobs;
you changed your leadership identity. That identity determines how others see you and how much impact you have.
But here’s what often happens: APs enter the year waiting for permission. They defer to the principal, avoid hard decisions, and settle for task management instead of leadership.
That mindset robs schools of the leadership capacity they desperately need.
Here’s the shift:
- Stop thinking of yourself as “second in command.”
- Start thinking of yourself as a leader who shares command.
The Be → Do → Have Framework for Assistant Principals
To make this shift, I teach leaders the Be → Do → Have principle:
- BE – Decide who you need to become. Do you want to be seen as a visionary, a coach, a culture-builder? Leadership identity is your foundation. Without it, influence is limited.
- DO – Lead with action that aligns to your identity. Take full ownership of a schoolwide priority. Set clear, prescriptive expectations instead of vague directives. Coach teachers through inquiry, not just authority.
- HAVE – Earn the influence and impact your school needs. When teachers and students come to you first (instead of the principal), that’s a sign your leadership has taken root. When you act decisively and with confidence, you build trust.
A Story From My Principalship
One of my assistant principals was brilliant—smart, hardworking, deeply respected. But when she walked into her wing of the building, she didn’t command presence. Students didn’t shift their behavior. Teachers looked past her to me for decisions.
When I asked her why, she said, “I don’t feel like I have the authority. I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. And I’m afraid of making the wrong decision.”
That’s when I realized: her problem wasn’t skill. It was self-belief.
Once she embraced her identity as the principal of her wing, not just the assistant, she transformed. She took ownership of an instructional model we were rolling out, led the implementation, and became the go-to person for staff.
Her influence didn’t come from my permission. It came from her presence.
What This Means for You
Assistant principals, your role is not to wait for direction. Your role is to:
- Shape culture in every hallway, classroom, and meeting you touch.
- Drive vision by taking ownership of schoolwide initiatives.
- Build presence so that your teachers, students, and families see you as a leader.
And principals, your job is to empower your APs to do this. Give them space to lead, make mistakes, and grow into their authority.
The Challenge for This School Year
As you step into this year, ask yourself:
- Who do I need to become in order to lead change?
- What schoolwide priority will I fully own and drive?
- What impact do I want to have on my staff, students, and families?
Remember: leadership isn’t given, it’s taken. And if you’re an assistant principal, your school doesn’t need you to play small. It needs you to lead boldly.
🔥 Key takeaway: Influence follows identity. When you believe you are a leader, you act like one. And when you act like one, others will believe you.
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