"APEx is like peer observation for assistant principals!"
I was a Senior Lecturer in educational leadership with Clemson University, and I was visiting an intern in our principal licensure program. On my way into the building I stopped to check in with the assistant principal and the next five minutes changed everything.
Her desk was covered with papers, her hair was disheveled and the emotions on her face were easier to read than a picture book. It was a mixture of frustration, stress, and something worse - regret. “What’s wrong?” I asked. She held up seven sheets of yellow paper and, waving them emphatically, shared “It’s 10:00 in the morning, and I already have seven discipline referrals. Each one will take me 30-40 minutes to resolve. My day is done - no classrooms, no observations. Done.” |
Basic...Basic members have access to general discussions, celebrations, free courses, and some special events. This is a great way to test out the community or stay engaged if you aren't ready for group coaching - for just $9/month!
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Full...Full members have access group coaching/mentoring, to all standard discussions, free and Tier 1 courses, video replays, most special events. A full membership is $69/month.
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PremiumPremium members receive all the benefits of the full membership plus free enrollment in any courses. Premium memberships begin at $119/month or $1200 annually. People at this level can apply for PD funds from their district.
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“Other than my monthly AA/AP meeting, that I don’t even know if it occurs monthly throughout the school year, I don’t have an opportunity to collaborate or talk with other people that are serign in the same role as I am, so that collaborative piece is a big part of my love for APEx.”
- Maria Werner, AA, Westcliffe Elementary School in Greenville South Carolina
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“I was heading to another school to train the new AP on the scheduling process in Power School, and my SOP for my scheduling process was a game changer! She was so appreciative of the step-by-step instructions I was able to offer her, and I think she was more comfortable with tackling schedules now that she has a resource in hand to guide her through the process. Even during the summer, I am putting my APEx knowledge to use!”
- Emily Parks, Assistant Principal, Ford Elementary School, Laurens SC
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"Just going A to B has allowed us to have success with small gains and to not be mired in inertia. Thank you for your work with us and the quick check in coaching cycles we have tried with our teachers."
- Holly Miller, Assistant Principal, Frances Mack Intermediate
(Holly is now the principal of Sandhills Elementary School, Swansea SC)
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"Being a school leader is challenging and at times messy. Having the ability to discuss specific needs with someone whose only desire is to assist in a non-judgmental way is extremely helpful. Sometimes you just need someone to listen...Dr. Buskey is that person. I am not the type of person to gush or write glowing recommendations for those who ask. I am succinct in most of what I do. You will be better off for having engaged with Dr. Buskey! Please take advantage of his knowledge. Your students and school will be better for doing so." |
MVP Implementation:
Because we have implemented MVPs for Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, Behavior, and Environment, we've developed one "Look for" for each - for a total of 5 Look Fors. The admin team is sharing feedback... of these 5 looks fors during classroom walkthroughs. |
Power Hour:
The big idea here for me was to be transparent and to share what I was doing with staff. They appreciated it more than I would have imagined. It made the authenticity of engaging through Power Hour even more powerful. |
Classroom Management:
In addition to a MVP for Behavior, we've narrowed our focus to 5 Classroom Practices and have narrowed our attention to giving feedback on those 5 practices to Year 1 and Year 2 teachers for the first weeks of school. |
"All of these above actions were the direct result of working with you. Both thinking incrementally and digging into why has helped us really think about how we can support teachers. I think specifically about three of the six aspects of strategic leadership with these actions: Being proactive to assist new teachers. Being present to connect to adults and children. Being process heavy in building a framework for curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Again, this thinking and connecting to leadership language gives me the ability to be more precise and intentional with my actions and reflections."
- Lisa Evans, Director, Early Childhood Center, Lexington 4, SC
"I am a better leader & person because Dr. Buskey invested in me. He has an innate ability to see leaders' full potential even before they see it for themselves….
Dr. Buskey plants seeds with his words & he waters them with his actions.
He is a rare educational leader whose words & actions walk hand-in-hand. The impact of his intentional consistency is life changing."
-Dr. Mary Hemphill, Director of Academic Standards for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction