The Assistant Principal Workshop

In Episode 4 of the Assistant Principal Summer Bootcamp , we move from organizing your leadership systems to leading the work that happens inside committees and recurring meetings. This episode focuses on how assistant principals can make committee work more purposeful, practical, and action-oriented instead of simply gathering people in a room to review information. In this episode, I discuss: Le...

In Episode 3 of the Assistant Principal Summer Bootcamp , we move from organizing your physical space to organizing your leadership systems. This episode is all about creating practical systems that help assistant principals reduce mental clutter, follow up more consistently, and lead with more clarity before the school year takes over. In this episode, I discuss: Using Outlook as a main school ca...

The best assistant principals don't just know where classrooms are—they understand the people, systems, and culture that keep a school running. In Episode 2 of the Assistant Principal Summer Bootcamp, we explore why summer is the perfect time to become a student of your building before students arrive. You'll learn how to: Walk your building with purpose. Discover the hidden operational systems ev...

Welcome to the first episode of the Assistant Principal Summer Bootcamp ! Before students return and the school year begins, take time to create a workspace that helps you lead effectively. In this episode, we'll discuss: How to organize your office for efficiency—not aesthetics. What outdated materials to remove before the new school year. Setting up systems that save time during busy days. Looki...

Strategic planning in schools is often treated like paperwork — something written for compliance, shared at a meeting, and forgotten once the year gets busy. But in this episode of The Assistant Principal Workshop , Mark Pages breaks down why real strategic planning is less about documents and more about disciplined leadership. Drawing from Session #1 of the Maryland School Leadership Academy (MSL...

In Episode 3 of The Assistant Principal Workshop, Mark Pages breaks down the Four Pillars of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future: strategic planning, high-quality instructional materials, recruiting and retaining a strong workforce, and building a positive school culture. Drawing from his experience in the Maryland State Leadership Academy (MSLA), Mark explains what these pillars actually mean in...

Stepping into the assistant principal role comes with an unexpected challenge — your identity. One day you’re building relationships as a teacher, and the next, you’re the one making tough calls, holding boundaries, and navigating shifting perceptions from staff and students. In this episode of The Assistant Principal Workshop , we unpack the identity shift that every AP experiences but few talk a...

What does it really mean to be an assistant principal? In this first episode of Assistant Principal Workshop , Mark Pages shares his journey from music teacher to assistant principal at 29 and explains why mentorship matters in school leadership. Leading from the middle can feel isolating — you’re no longer in the classroom, but you’re not the principal either. This episode introduces the purpose...