To become a deputy principal in the US, one needs a minimum of four years of college, a master’s degree in education or educational leadership, and three years of successful classroom teaching experience. They must also pass a standardized test and work more days per calendar year than a classroom teacher. The job requires effective communication, superior organizational skills, and accountability for meeting state and national academic standards. Private sector administrators and teachers earn less than their public sector counterparts.
A career path that allows you to become a deputy principal, also called an assistant principal, usually requires a minimum of four years of college and a master’s degree in education or educational leadership. Many vice principals also complete post-master’s work in the form of a Rank 1 or PhD program. Many colleges and universities in the United States offer specific programs for people who want to become a vice principal or earn a certification in educational administration.
In most US states and school districts, a person must have at least three years of successful classroom teaching experience before applying for a job in administration. Administrators are also generally required to pass a standardized test or tests as part of a licensing process that varies from state to state. Many states detail the process and outline the steps required to become a vice principal or other school administrator on official state government websites.
An assistant principal’s primary duties include handling student discipline, managing and implementing curriculum needs, overseeing budgetary issues, hiring and evaluating non-certified faculty and staff, attending board and staff meetings, acting as a liaison between the school district and the community. and provide general assistance and supervision in a wide range of school functions and activities. In general, a successful vice principal must be an effective communicator, have superior organizational skills, and be able to facilitate a solid learning environment. Like all administrators, a vice principal or assistant principal works more days per calendar year than a classroom teacher—closer to 245 days than 187 days. Most people who become deputy principals work between 50 and 60 hours a week while the school is in session and 40 hours a week during the summer months.
A vice principal must routinely attend school events, functions, and meetings after school hours. With national education reform movements such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), accountability for public school administrators has increased. This means that vice principals must ensure that the schools they are employed at meet all state and national academic standards. All states have a protocol for identifying struggling or non-compliant schools, and administrators can be fired, asked to resign, or reassigned if their schools fail to meet minimum educational requirements.
Administrators and teachers employed in the private sector often earn significantly less than their publicly employed peers. Those who teach in the private sector, however, can cite other job benefits to explain their choice.
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