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On 7/09/13, And did you fake it? wrote:

> This is my first principal job. I have no AP and no

> long-term AP experience...no experience in this particular

> school district. In my first few days, the secretary isn't

> there. While some notes were left to me, there were not a

> lot. So, I'm wondering if when you started you were

> overwhelmed by how much you didn't know and how you handled

> that. How did you know what to do and what not to do right

> away? How did you appear confident/competent without really

> knowing what you were doing? Did you fake it until you made

> it? What were the keys to your early successes?

Find a mentor! A principal from another school in your
district, a peer from your admin coursework or an instructor
from your admin program. I have relied on all of the above and
it helps. (Also this chatboard, but be aware that many of the
posters are not administrators.)

Also, ask teachers and other staff at your school, "how was
this done before?", "what do you usually do?", "what did
Mr./Ms. Former Principal do about this?" Don't automatically
assume that everything should stay the same as before or even
that what you're told is correct (some will not remember
correctly, others will tell you want they wish had been true),
but use it as part of your decision-making process. The other
part is your own judgment, advice you are given, evidence you
see, and experience which will grow as you go.

Get used to saying "let me get back to you on that", and take
time to seek advice and/or to think through your possible
actions. And take notes so that you remember what you need to
get back to! It can be helpful to carry a notepad even when
making a restroom stop because you may be stopped with a
question or request (or think of a question, idea, problem, or
solution yourself) on your way there.

Good luck!

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