Jennifer Howell

I spent ten years as an assistant principal—some of the hardest and most rewarding years of my career. And if there’s ever a month that highlights just how critical that role is… it’s April. Testing season. Packed activity calendars. Rising energy levels across the building. It’s a lot. And right in the middle of it all are assistant principals—steady, present, and essential. Teachers experience the daily wins of the classroom—the moments that remind them why they teach. Principals often stand in the spotlight, representing the school and celebrating its success. But assistant principals? They work behind the scenes. They take on the work others can’t—or won’t: Discipline and difficult conversations Parent meetings Scheduling issues and last-minute coverage The countless logistics that keep a school running They are problem-solvers in constant motion. They are the ones who: Support a teacher dealing with challenging behavior Step in when a student is being bullied Cover a class when no substitute shows up Listen to frustrated teachers with patience and empathy Make sure a child without lunch still gets to eat Stay late for the student who missed the bus Stand beside teachers in tough parent conferences Walk the halls, creating calm through their presence The work isn’t glamorous. It often goes unnoticed. And too often, it’s taken for granted. But it matters. Assistant principals are the reason schools hold together when things get hard. They do whatever it takes so teachers can teach and students can learn. I see it. I appreciate it. And I hope they know the difference they make. Because they don’t just support the work… They make the work possible. Assistant principals are the backbone of our schools—true unsung heroes. #APWeek #AssistantPrincipalWeek