Durbin Introduces Resolution Recognizing National Assistant Principals Week

Durbin Introduces Resolution Recognizing National Assistant Principals Week

The resolution would designate the week of April 7 through April 11, 2025, as "National Assistant Principals Week"

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced a resolution designating the week of April 7, 2025, as "National Assistant Principals Week." Amid a national educator shortage, the resolution expresses support for assistant principals' commitment to instructional leadership and the role they play in addressing student and staff needs while establishing positive school learning environments with strong community relationships.

"Assistant principals play a critical role in schools by cultivating a positive learning environment for students and providing essential support to faculty and staff," said Durbin. "I'm introducing this resolution to recognize the work of assistant principals."

According to a 2022 NASSP report, four out of 10 principals surveyed expected to leave the profession in the next three years. In the midst of the national teacher shortage, strong leadership is increasingly important, and recent research shows that effective principals positively impact teacher satisfaction and retention. School leaders are tasked with evolving and growing responsibilities with little support. Further, with a shrinking teacher pipeline, there also is a smaller pool of teachers to promote to school leadership positions, like assistant principals.

The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

The resolution has also earned the endorsement of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA).

Full text of the resolution is available here.

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