In a previous blog, Aspiring Administrators – Part 1, I outlined the importance of sharing with others your desires and ambitions of moving into an administrative role. Now it’s time to get into some more specifics! One of the most important things for aspiring administrators is to …

build your portfolio!

Lets look together at some different ways to build your repertoire and experience and take you one step closer to a principalship.

1. Serve on different committees/teams. Most likely your current school has a number of different committees that you can be a part of to broaden your experience and strengths. Find those that you are passionate about and start getting involved. Depending upon your school, committees could range from curriculum development to mentoring new teachers to after school activities to school accreditation teams. I recommend getting involved in a number of different committees for a range of experience and also to show others of your desires and commitment. Please be careful not to do too much and burn out. Administrators need to be cautious of balancing quantity with quality and as an aspiring administrator you need to start leading by example.
2. Obtain an advanced degree in educational leadership. Today, most administrators have an advanced degree in educational leadership or a similar field. These programs, a plethora of which are now offered online, provide aspiring administrators with important knowledge and understanding of current educational reform and best practice. I completed mine through American College of Education and was blown away by the amount of experience I gained during this 18 month online program. It was strenuous and took time and effort to complete, however, when I finished the program I knew that I was better prepared to apply for an administrative role.
3. Start new programs or initiatives. One way to build respect and leadership among your community is to see a need within your school, be proactive, and help to make positive changes. I was able to accomplish this at a previous school through establishing and maintaining a meaningful teacher induction program. Through this, I was able to share my passion and knowledge with colleagues and begin to establish my role as a leader within the school. I was also fortunate to have a mentor that believed in me and allowed me the opportunity to take on this challenge and succeed (we will discuss this more in future posts).
4. Deliver professional development sessions. Your colleagues need to begin seeing you as confident and knowledgeable. Talk with current administration and find ways to begin sharing during staff meetings and/or on professional development days. If you are an international school teacher, apply to share on a larger scale such as a conference like EARCOS.  As a future administrator, you will need to stand in front of others and deliver a wide range of information. If you get shy or nervous while presenting, now is the time to practice building a strong, positive stage presence. Like most things in life, practice makes you better.

Hopefully you have been able to take something away from this blog that can move you one step closer to administration. I would love to hear from you if you have other ideas on how to build your portfolio!

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