Baldwin County School District Deputy Superintendent Dr. Rodney Tyson launched the new Assistant Principals Academy. This quarterly academy brings together assistant principals from across the district for targeted training, mentorship, and peer collaboration.
“We saw a need to get some professional development going with our leaders in the district to develop a pipeline for our future leaders,” said Tyson.
The academy was designed with several goals in mind, including preparing assistant principals to step into roles as principals and district administrator, aligning leadership practices across schools, investing in the growth and morale of assistant principals., and creating space for leaders to share successes and strategies with peers.
“Assistant principals take care of teachers, staff, and students, but we also wanted to make sure they had a professional growth opportunity, a chance to get what they need to grow,” Tyson said.
The first session, held the week of Sept. 22, revealed how ambitious Baldwin’s assistant principals are, according to Tyson.
“We had seven or eight that wanted to be principals. We talked about the things it would take to make them competitive for those opportunities and how they can make themselves stand out.”
While the ultimate goal is to keep Baldwin’s leaders within the district, Tyson acknowledged the broader impact of this investment.
“We know we won’t be able to keep 100% of our leaders,” he said. “But when they leave Baldwin County, we want them equipped with the tools to go and be successful — so other districts can say, “Wow, Baldwin has really poured into the development of this leader.’' The Assistant Principals Academy is just the beginning. Tyson shared that Baldwin County Schools plans to expand these opportunities to aspiring leaders at all levels, including classroom teachers who want to move into administration.
“As a deputy superintendent, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t reflect back on something I did as an assistant principal,” Tyson reflected. “That’s the foundation of your leadership years, and that’s why we started here.'
For teachers who aspire to step into leadership roles, Tyson’s advises to take a “test drive.”
“Assist your school leadership whenever you can. Volunteer for duties, organize events, or shadow your administrators,” said Tyson. “Once they see you’re serious about getting involved, they’ll provide opportunities. And if you need guidance, reach out to us at the district. We’ll help point you in the right direction.'
— Contributed