Does today prepare you for tomorrow?

Colleagues,
 
Today is a very special day. Today marks the “official” launch of APEx, a professional development program designed to help assistant principals develop skills necessary for being a school principal.
 
Most of you are not assistant principals (AP), so why is this important for you?
 
APEx is critical for three reasons:

1. The work an assistant principal does don’t reflect the work a principal does.
2. Organizational resources often can’t support growth and development of APs.
3. APs have little time for structured reflection.

 
Replace “assistant principal” with your current job title and replace “principal” with the next position you might like to have. If you don’t plan on moving into a different position, think about some of the things you want to achieve in your current one, 
 
It is very likely that what you do right now is not entirely preparing you for what you might be doing next. It is also quite possible that your organization does not have resources to provide you with the training and support you need to develop the knowledge and skills you will need. Finally, you may not be spending enough time thinking about your current work and using that reflection to improve your performance in your current job.
 
Here are some things to think about:

1. What functions and responsibilities in that future work will you need?
2. What are the different ways that you could begin to develop that knowledge and those skills now?
3. How can you spend regular time reflecting on your current work in a way that will help grow you for the future?

 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick