If you haven't listened to the interview with this year's National Assistant Principal of the Year, Mike Shepherd, I highly recommend it.

Dr. Mike Shepherd
Assistant Principal
Har-Ber High School
Springdale, AR

Background: Former social studies teacher. Received his doctorate at Arkansas State. Dissertation topic was "Teacher Mentoring." Har-Ber High School: Grades 10-12, Enrollment: 1,600. Principal and 3 Assistant Principals. Springdale school district has doubled in size in a decade--more diverse, more poverty, more ELLs, more FARM students.

Notable Achievements

Teacher Mentoring: 100% retention rate and zero turnover for new teachers since 2006.

Four Keys to Effective Mentoring Program

1. Mentor in same subject area

2. Mentor in close physical proximity

3. A "structured program of observations"

4. Additional resources to supplement instruction

Advanced Placement

"Every kid may not go to college, but every kid deserves the opportunity to go to college and AP is one of the best ways to make that happen."

Improved both quantitatively and qualitatively. 122% increase in the number of students taking AP courses. 114% increase in the number of students scoring a 3 or above on AP exams.

Keys to Building a Quality AP Program

• Vertical articulation is a key factor in long-term growth.
• Begin preparing students as early as grade 6.
• Provide open access to all students.
• Open access to a more rigorous course of study (AP) does not mean "watered down" or that "scores will drop" if you provide the "equalizers"--proper preparation, structure, and supports.
• Access is the easy part. Providing the necessary "support" and "structure" are the hard work.
• Home Depot Model: You Can Do It and We Can Help
• Make learning the constant and time (to learn) the variable. Provide extra "support" (learning time) in the form of tutoring and Saturday sessions.

Role of the Assistant Principal

- Management and discipline continue to be a part of the role of the assistant principal. We must ensure safety because, if we don't "anything else doesn't matter."

If schools are going to improve, assistant principals must "do things differently."

- The effective assistant principal is an "instructional leader," who provides "purposeful structure" by visiting classrooms and offering support (remove barriers and provide resources) to teachers.

Alignment

"Our district has an aligned vision and mission."

Leadership

We use the "team approach." Leadership is "diffused" throughout the school. Our department chairs are "Lead Teachers." They are not in charge but they facilitate.

Advice to New Assistant Principals

It is easy to get bogged down in management tasks. Make time to spend with students and to engage in instructional leadership.