Durbin, Hirono, Heinrich, Luján Introduce Resolution Recognizing National Assistant Principals Week

Durbin, Hirono, Heinrich, Luján Introduce Resolution Recognizing National Assistant Principals Week

The resolution would designate the week of April 6 through April 10, 2026, as "National Assistant Principals Week"

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) today introduced a resolution designating the week of April 6, 2026, 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.

"Our assistant principals set the tone for school environments, cultivating a positive learning atmosphere for students while providing essential support to faculty and staff," Durbin said. "Their work deserves recognition. Today, I'm introducing a resolution to tip my hat to assistant principals and commend their work serving our nation's students and educators."

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 National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, and American Federation of School Administrators support the resolution.

Full text of the resolution is available here.

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