Faculty News
Gwendolyn Bryant, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Education
Navigating the System - Involvement in Professional Organizations
This article originally appeared on the NASSP website
Assistant principals must often navigate a very irregular and unpredictable course in their preparation to secure principalship positions or other assignments in school administration. The professional activities and involvements that they select are most likely influenced by local trends and their own personalized, selective nature. Although many of the major professional organizations in education are active nationally and even internationally, some are more vibrant in certain areas than others. Assistant principals may elect to use their involvement in professional organizations as a vehicle for negotiating their way toward desired career goals.
Assistant principals may choose affiliation with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) or other relevant professional organizations as a resource for professional development in preparation for a continued future in school administration. NASSP, like many other constituent affiliations, specializes in keeping its members informed on cutting edge topics of interest in the field. Local chapters readily embrace new members and eagerly pull them into the roles and responsibilities of the organization.
Involvement in professional organizations offers the following critical enhancements to assistant principals seeking to qualify for the principalship or other educational leadership positions:
- Professional Development Resources
- Professional Discourse
- Professional Publications
- Professional Networking
Let's take a walk with Wally Day, an inspired assistant principal who used the NASSP to successfully move his career by gaining the professional knowledge and confidence needed for leadership to make a difference.
Professional Development Resources
Wally had his eyes on the principalship and pursued every professional development opportunity relevant to his goal. He was actively involved in the professional development programs sponsored by his local NASSP chapter as a presenter or a facilitator, and often lobbied to represent the organization as a delegate at the national conventions. Wally was a regular participant in the on-line discussion groups on authentic school–related topics and enjoyed the practitioner exchanges of innovative solutions for critical problems like school security. He took advantage of the on-line PDs and the assessment tools designed to diagnose his personalized developmental needs. Wally relied heavily on the internet resources published by his professional association to stay connected with current issues in education, particularly those directly applicable to school leadership.
Professional Discourse
Joining the NASSP placed Wally front and center with his fellow contemporaries who shared his interest in issues related to school improvement. In social circles, Wally frequently felt a need to apologize for his preoccupation with school affairs and solutions to improving school failure. However, it didn't take Wally long to realize that the focus of the dialogue at chapter functions was built around school issues. At the Chapter's Homecoming Reception , members introduced themselves by sharing an initiative that is producing good results in their schools. At the Research Symposium sponsored by the chapter, comparative findings were presented on alternative approaches to block scheduling. The agendas presented by the chapter were relevant to the membership because there was mutual concern for and commitment to the matters of school improvement. My local chapter of the NASSP became Wally's “in-group” in no time.
Professional Publications
Wally's focus on being a well-prepared administrator selectively channeled his reading in the area of school leadership. He read several professional magazines each month to keep abreast of current research findings on instructional practices and to learn of proven models in the field. The ‘tips of the trade' shared by fellow practitioners throughout the publications could usually be adapted to similar problems being faced by Wally and his staff in their school. As Wally took courses at the university to satisfy his administrative licensing credential, the journal articles were excellent references for his assignments. He was well versed on the latest trends in education and could cite recent developments from the professional literature. When queried in his promotion interviews on current issues and accomplishments impacting school administration, Wally was comfortable in articulating much of the knowledge that he had gained though his professional association journals, newsletters research reviews and other publications. Wally found that all of the educational issues that were important for him to know were published in his Principal Leadership magazine and other association publications.
Professional Networking
As a new NASSP member, Wally met many of the other assistant principals, principals and central office administrators in his region. They shared the “buzz” on upcoming vacancies and the future direction of the school district. Because Wally had become well known in the chapter through his committee work and his presentation to the membership, he was encouraged by his colleagues to apply for positions that would be coming down the pike. Wally was amazed by the support that was extended by other chapter members who seemed to truly share some investment in his success. He was certain that he would find a good mentor from within the association. Several principals considering retirements in the near future even expressed an interest in having Wally succeed them in leadership. Wally's encounters with his chapter cohorts reinforced his belief in himself as a rising school administrator and his optimism that there would be a network of support out there to support his success. He found that one of the greatest benefits in joining the association was in getting further acquainted with his fellow school leaders and having a platform for sharing his attributes with them. He proudly listed his membership affiliation with NASSP in his resume when competing for new employment positions
Assistant principals are encouraged to take advantage of the benefits available through involvement in the professional association of their career interest. “Get involved, join a committee and make yourself known!” New members who take the initiative to volunteer with the small tasks quickly work themselves up to becoming executive committee members and chapter officers. It would be well worth it to their careers and to the profession.
Dr. Robert Redmond, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Education
Over the past three months Dr. Robert Redmond, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Education, has presented four workshops to members of the local education community:
The Information Processing Model by Gagne and the Multiple Intelligence Work of Gardner
On December 2 and January 4, Dr. Redmond presented workshops for the High Road Academy, located in Washington , DC . The Academy offers services to students with the primary classification of Learning Disabled. The teachers and staff were interested in learning more about ways to help their students develop effective learning strategies. The December 2 workshop was for staff and faculty in the Lower School (40 participants); the January 4 workshop was presented at the Middle School (35 participants).
On January 24, Dr. Redmond presented a workshop to The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, MD. The faculty and staff (40 participants) were interested in ways to help students to become independent learners. The workshop, titled Teaching the Learner About Learning, featured the Feed Forward Folders strategy as a tool to help students and teachers communicate more effectively.
The Roger Fisher Negotiation Model and Eric Berne's Ego States
On December 23, Dr. Redmond presented a three-hour workshop for the faculty and staff at the Sanz School in Silver Spring, MD. This School services an adult population who are trying to learn English as a Second Language. The faculty and staff (25 participants) were interested in strategies to help them resolve conflict and increase understanding with the students and other stakeholders.
Dr. Ray Adomaitis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Education
Trinity is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ray Adomaitis as Chair of the Counseling Program. Dr. Adomaitis is the son of Lithuanian émigrés who left Germany in World War II and relocated their family on the south side of Chicago. His father, who had attended a trade school, took a construction job, and his mother, with only a second grade education, cleaned offices, working until they were able to open a grocery. From an early age, Dr. Adomaitis had a great interest in psychology, and recognized the need for appreciation and awareness of ourselves. During his graduate studies at Northwestern he focused on improving the commitment and dialog in inner cities to provide counseling services. He spent 12 years in DC public schools, and is most interested in working with inner-city populations to improve services. In his new position at Trinity he is particularly pleased to have many students who are local residents, believing that they will create positive change in their communities, perhaps even developing a model for other cities. His mission is focused on bringing psychology into the inner city, integrating with managed care and the medical sector.
As a child of immigrants he ponders the current views of immigration policy, and the prevailing insecurities of Americans that drive both national and local policy. In his words, “We need to be able to connect in an empathetic way with world events. We have to be concerned with these issues.”
The possibilities for counseling in the future are varied, ranging from careers in individual counseling to counseling in political and public venues, meeting human needs. He hopes that Trinity’s classrooms will provide necessary opportunities for students to try out ideas, to test and evaluate them with peers. The Counseling Department promises to provide continued rich experiences for all participants, and we welcome Dr. Adomaitis to our community.