I’ve been connecting with many new and nearly new APs recently and my conversations inspired me to put together a diverse panel of assistant principals to have a conversation specifically for those of you just beginning your administrator journey. And of course, there are some great tips here for experienced leaders as well.

Sponsor Spot 1:I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Being an assistant principal means that safety is a quadrant 1 activity – in your building and beyond its walls. So, when it’s time for the school trip, choosing the right planning partner is absolutely critical!
Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning travel beyond expectations since 1993. The Kaleidoscope team of experts has a robust understanding of what it takes to travel with students – including safety, liability, and parent concerns.
When you travel with Kaleidoscope Adventures, you can trust that your students are in good hands.
If you want to learn more about Kaleidoscope Adventures, check the link in the show notes Kaleidoscope Adventures…. travel beyond expectations! 

Show Intro

Guest Bios:

Trish Thomas is a dedicated educator with 22 years of experience, including 21 as a 4th-grade teacher and 9 as a head teacher. Trish recently completed her first year as an assistant principal at a career magnet high school in Pennsylvania. Proud wife of 21 years and mom to two sons—one in high school, the other starting at Temple University this fall.
Dez Caldwell is an award-winning Massachusetts educator who's held every role from paraprofessional to principal with leadership experience ranging from Pre-K to grade 12. He's co-host of the After School with the Admin podcast.  He describes himself as an ordinary guy who wants to help others do extraordinary things.
Marco Tirillo is a Connecticut based teacher and leader with 21 years in education. He’s served as a teacher and assistant principal in urban and suburban schools, grades 5–12. Marco is passionate about equity, SEL, and restorative practices, striving to create inclusive environments, empower students and staff, and build thriving school communities through advocacy, collaboration, and transformative leadership. Marco co-hosts the After School with the Admin podcast.
Mitchell Hall has spent his entire educational career in Maryland - 8 years on the Eastern Shore and the last 10 in Garrett County.  He taught special education, social studies, and gifted and talented before becoming an Assistant Principal last school year.  He’s beginning his first year as principal at Grantsville Elementary School.

Warmup questions:

• We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?
• Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?

Questions/Topics/Prompts

I will also solicit my audience for questions about being a year-one AP, but our discussion will roughly follow this outline:

• Clarifying the role of the AP
• Building a relationship with the P
• Relationships with teachers
  • Veterans
  • Early-career
• Staying true to your purpose
• Getting support
• It’s a tough time out there. What do we need to be especially mindful of in taking care of (a) others and (b) ourselves?

Sponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…
Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions.
And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started.

Summary/wrap up

• Smoky the Bear (Trish)
• Dez’ pro tip: learn when to “just walk by” teachers’ rooms during their planning so you can connect
• Ask for help!
• Know where the walls came from (Marco)
• Belonging and acceptance (Mitchell)
• Presence => trust

Thank you to our sponsors!

• IXL: https://www.ixl.com/assistant 
• Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/

Marco Tirillo’s links: 

• After School With The Admins Podcast
• After School With The Admins Facebook
• After School With The Admins Instagram
• LinkedIn Profile

Frederick’s Links:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting 

Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a 

The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520