Assistant Principal Resume Examples & Templates
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A resume that effectively highlights your skills and qualifications is essential for landing a job as an assistant principal, and we’re here to help you build one.
Assistant principal roles require proficiency in budgeting, organization, and interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
Our guide to crafting a standout resume for an assistant principal will help you showcase your leadership and school administration skills to land your dream job faster.
Start by editing this assistant principal sample resume, or explore our library of resume templates to find the best assistant principal resume template for you.
Sample assistant principal resume (text version)
CHRISTINE CARTER
Danville, VA 24540
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Professional Summary
An accomplished education professional with a proven track record of transformational leadership in school administration. Adept at empowering educators, engaging with students and collaborating with stakeholders to drive academic excellence. Proficient in implementing data-informed strategies to enhance student outcomes and optimize operational efficiency.
Work History
January 2019 – Current
Forest Hills Elementary School – Danville, VA
Assistant Principal
- Provide leadership and support to staff, fostering a positive and collaborative school culture.
- Oversee curriculum development and implementation, resulting in a 15% improvement in standardized test scores within two academic years.
- Conduct regular teacher evaluations, providing constructive feedback to enhance teaching methods and improve student outcomes.
June 2016 – December 2018
Trent Bonner Middle School – Danville, IA
Middle School Teacher
- Utilized data analysis to tailor instruction, resulting in a 15% improvement in students’ standardized test scores.
- Established a positive classroom environment conducive to learning, contributing to a 20% reduction in behavioral incidents.
- Collaborated with colleagues to develop and align curriculum, ensuring consistency and improved student progression.
September 2015 – May 2016
Trent Bonner Middle School – Danville, VA
Student Teacher
- Developed and executed effective lesson plans, fostering a stimulating learning environment and leading to a 10% improvement in student performance.
- Utilized various teaching methodologies to address diverse learning styles, resulting in a 12% increase in overall student comprehension.
- Actively engaged with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication and facilitating a 30% increase in parental involvement in school activities.
Skills
- Curriculum development
- Student engagement
- Classroom management
- Teacher training and development
- Data analysis and assessment
- Conflict resolution
Education
Averett University Danville, VA
Bachelor of Science
Certifications
- Educational Leadership Certification – State Board of Education of Virginia
- School Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA)
5 essentials of a resume for an assistant principal position
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your resume; otherwise, hiring managers won’t know how to contact you for an interview. Display your contact information as follows: Your full name, then your city, state and ZIP code, followed by your phone number and professional email address. Add your LinkedIn profile and professional website (if you have them) last.
Professional summary
A professional summary is where you introduce yourself to the hiring manager and highlight your top qualifications for the job in three to five sentences.
An assistant principal resume should include a professional summary with appropriate skills and one or two notable professional accomplishments, and it should touch on how long you’ve been in the industry. Lead with your current job title and most relevant experience.
For example: “Accomplished assistant principal with 5+ years of experience in elementary school leadership. Skilled in collaborating with teachers, parents and administrators to create a positive and inclusive learning environment. Proven ability to manage student behavior and discipline issues while fostering a safe and respectful school culture. Committed to continuous learning and professional growth to enhance student outcomes.”
For a first-time assistant principal resume, you can include a resume objective instead, which focuses on your career goals and transferable skills.
Skills
It is important to let potential employers know what professional skills you bring to the table. Create a separate section for your job-relevant skills and display them with bullet points to make them easy to read.
Feature both practical skills (such as schedule creation, meeting administration, knowledge of specific subjects and proficiency with specific software such as Gradelink) and interpersonal skills (such as time management, leadership, problem-solving and communication).
Our sample assistant principal resumes include a blend of technical skills, hard skills and soft skills that are essential for assistant principal roles.
Work history
The employment history section of your resume should list your current and previous roles in reverse-chronological order, with the y names, locations and dates of employment for each one.
Include around three bullet points of measurable achievements for every job you list. Look to quantify your accomplishments with numbers and metrics when possible.
For example: “Implemented novel evaluation methods for teachers which contributed to a 16% increase in graduation rate over the last two years.”
Education
An assistant principal resume must include an education section with your relevant credentials. Add all the educational institutions you’ve attended after high school and display the names of the schools and the years that you graduated in reverse-chronological order using bullet points.
List your highest qualification along with your subject specializations. Include any coursework, training programs, internships and certifications that are related to your work, such as a School Administrator and Supervisor (SAS) certification or a Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) certificate.
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Action words for a standout assistant principal resume
Strong action words convey confidence and make your resume more concise and engaging. Use them with numbers to make a more substantial impact.
Here’s a short list of effective action words for an assistant principal resume:
- Educate
- Review
- Operate
- Handle
- Communicate
- Collaborate
- Assess
- Facilitate
- Prepare
- Maintain
- Supervise
- Organize
- Analyze
- Support
- Coordinate
Want more inspiration? We have 800+ resume examples to help you create the perfect resume for an assistant principal job.
Top skills for an assistant principal resume
Review the job description carefully and match the required skills to the skills and traits that fit you.
Some assistant principal skills for a resume include:
- Education administration
- Curriculum planning
- Teacher development
- School safety procedures and policies
- Teacher training
- Activity planning
- Program management
- School data evaluation
- Lesson planning
- Teacher and staff hiring
- Knowledge of school operations
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Reasoning
- Leadership
- Time management
- Collaboration
Need the perfect assistant principal resume now? Our Resume Builder has all the tools you need to craft a professional resume in minutes! You can make edits as you go, download your finished resume and save it in multiple file formats.
Certifications for an assistant principal resume
To become an assistant principal, you typically need classroom and teaching experience. Having at least one certificate on your resume will show hiring managers that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to perform specific tasks required for the job.
The following certifications can boost your resume:
- Educational Leadership Certification: This certification is often required for assistant principal roles and focuses on developing leadership skills specific to the education field.
- Principal Certification: Some states require assistant principals to hold a principal certification, as it covers many of the same skills and knowledge needed for an assistant principal role.
- Teaching Certification: While not always required for assistant principal roles, holding a teaching certification can be beneficial for understanding classroom instruction and supporting teacher development.
- National Board Certification: This advanced teaching certification can demonstrate a high level of knowledge and skill in a specific subject area, which can be valuable for assistant principals supporting teacher growth and development.
- Administrative Certification: Provides the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively manage the administrative responsibilities of an assistant principal, such as budgeting, staff supervision, curriculum development and school operations.
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
FAQ
What does an assistant principal resume look like?
There is no standard resume format or template to use for an assistant principal resume. You can use any of our resume templates and customize them for the job you want.
The format you choose (chronological, functional or combination) will depend on your years of experience and the sections that you want to highlight.
A good resume for an assistant principal will look much like the sample assistant principal resume on this page and will contain the job seeker’s contact information, skills, employment history, education and certifications, if applicable.
An assistant principal resume might also contain sections for awards and honors if the job candidate has them to display. See what a resume looks like for additional guidance.
What should you put under skills on a resume for an assistant principal?
A resume for an assistant principal should only include skills that are relevant to your target role. Review our assistant principal resume examples for ideas on how to display your skills on your resume.
Assistant principals should have excellent communication skills to interact with staff, students, parents and other stakeholders. They must also be able to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities simultaneously while staying organized and on top of deadlines.
Feature traits include excellent communication and interpersonal skills, empathy, leadership, patience, problem-solving and a supportive attitude.
Make sure you also feature work experiences that show you know how to deploy these skills (e.g., “Collaborated with faculty to institute improved scheduling”).
How do you write a resume for an assistant principal job?
Not all resumes are created equal. Here are our top tips for crafting a perfect assistant principal resume:
- Add separate sections for extra training, certifications, licenses and awards. See what to put on a resume for additional guidance.
- Keep your resume short and to the point. If you have less than 10 years of experience, it should be one page long; if you have more than 10 years of experience, then it’s acceptable to have no more than two pages.
- Use keywords from the job description in your assistant principal resume work experience section to pass ATS screening.
- Ensure your resume is formatted correctly, meaning margins should be one inch on all sides and line space should be single or 1.5 inches.
- Only use appropriate fonts, like Times New Roman, Arial or Helvetica, in 11-12 points on the body and 14-16 points on headers.
- Proofread your resume more than once before sending it to potential employers.
How do I incorporate keywords into my assistant principal resume?
Make sure you read the job description carefully and incorporate keywords that are appropriate for the assistant principal role, such as “data analysis” or “takes ownership of the performance of students, teachers and the climate of the school.”
Address these phrases with skills and experiences from your own background that fit. For example, you could write about a work experience in which you set the tone for overall school success or list “data analysis” as one of your skills.
How do you write an assistant principal resume if you are currently a teacher?
If you are currently a teacher and looking to transition to an assistant principal role, there are a few tips you can follow to ensure that your resume catches the attention of hiring managers:
- Showcase your educational leadership skills: Emphasize any leadership roles you have held within your teaching position, such as serving as a department head, mentor teacher or curriculum coordinator.
- Highlight your administrative skills: Showcase any administrative tasks or responsibilities you have taken on, such as managing budgets, overseeing projects or coordinating school-wide initiatives.
- Emphasize your communication and collaboration skills: Highlight any experiences or skills you have working with colleagues, parents and other stakeholders to foster positive relationships and support student success.
Following these tips, you can create a compelling teacher to assistant principal resume highlighting your relevant experience, skills and accomplishments, positioning you as a strong candidate for an assistant principal position.
Do’s and don’ts for building an assistant principal resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your assistant principal abilities and experience.
- Use action words to make an impact on your assistant principal resume.
- Tailor your resume to your target assistant principal job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your assistant principal resume.
- Format your assistant principal resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your assistant principal experience and skills.
- Boast about your assistant principal experience and skills.
- Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience that do not pertain to being an assistant principal.
- Forget to proofread!
Top 4 tips for acing an assistant principal interview
Learn about the school.
It’s vital to take the time to learn about the school’s history, goals, values and people before the job interview. Doing so conveys interest, passion and commitment — traits that can set you above the competition. Plus, a glimpse of the company culture early on will help you know what to expect and can boost your confidence.
Practice at home.
Practice really does make perfect. To practice for your interview, start by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as:
- What Do You See Yourself Doing in 10 Years?
- What’s Your Proudest Accomplishment?
- Why Did You Choose This Career?
Possible behavioral questions include:
- Why Should We Hire You Over Other Candidates
- Tell me About a Time When You Were Forced to Think on your Feet
- Tell Me About a Time When You Had To Cope With a Stressful Situation
Also prepare for job-specific interview questions, such as:
- How would you address issues of diversity and inclusion within the school community?
- Can you describe your experience in educational leadership and administration?
- How would you handle a conflict between teachers or staff members?
Write down two or three possible answers as you review potential questions, then review them with a friend or a family member in a mock interview to get comfortable with them and memorize your answers.
Ask questions.
You should always have at least three questions ready to ask every job interview you encounter; those who do tend to get hired more often than those who don’t because they show motivation, keen interest and thoughtfulness.
Some questions you might ask for an assistant principal job are:
- What is a typical day like?
- What are your expectations for the first 90 days?
- What does a successful assistant principal look like to you?
Gather references.
You’ll need professional references quickly if the hiring manager offers you the job after the interview. Having them ready will save you stress and time, so prepare a list of two former colleagues and a former manager who are willing to speak to your abilities to perform the job of an assistant principal and who you know will give you a stellar review.
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How we reviewed this article
Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.
Sources
- Zippia. Job Outlook for High School Assistant Principals in the United States
- Resilient Educator. What Does an Assistant Principal Do?
- NC State University. Education and Training. Assistant School Principal
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Assistant Principal Resume Example
Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches. She is passionate about delivering information that empowers job seekers to achieve their professional goals.
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