School principals are concerned about many aspects of their school community. Rightfully so they should be; they hold a vital role in students’ success.
Teachers often feel they have escaped the high-pressure numbers game that dominates the business world by working in education. The truth is, as committed as educators are to the personal development of each of their students, principals are also in the business of delivering competitive test scores.
Unlike business resumes that are 80 percent quantitative data – increases in sales, productivity, and so on – teachers often leave the hard numbers off their resumes. In contrast, the numbers you are delivering should be one of the first items on your resume.
Like the business world, the business of education is driven by metrics. Following are some of the metrics you should include near the top of your resume (These metrics are based on the US education system, but comparable rankings exist and should be used in other markets).
State Rankings
State rankings are the most important metric, according to many people. Parents depend on them when deciding what schools to send their children to, and schools look to them when deciding on funding. Find rankings in the US Department of Education’s Nation’s Report Card. Elementary and Middle School rankings are based on scores in Reading and Mathematics. Be sure to highlight and quantify how much you have improved your students’ Reading and Math scores.
High School Rankings
Most states have their rankings of high schools. Additionally, high schools are ranked by various associations, private entities, and publications, such as US News, Newsweek, and The Washington Post. Demonstrate how you will contribute to your school’s state rankings by providing hard numbers on how you have boosted student scores.
Rubrics
Rubrics are grading systems that divide subjects up into parts and skills to be mastered, making it easier to identify strengths and weaknesses. They are available for almost anything you can imagine measuring – academic subjects, life skills, participation, and even behavior. On your resume, show off how you use rubrics to improve learning outcomes. If you are innovative and develop and redesign rubrics, share a success story or two as evidence.
Internal Rating Systems/Benchmarks
Many schools have internal benchmarks or criteria. Find out what your targeted school is measuring before your interview. Show how you have met and surpassed benchmarks in your past teaching positions.
Additionally, it is important to demonstrate that you are adept at using assessment tools and measuring performance. Make an effort not only to show you can do the math but, more importantly, that you use assessments and evaluation tools to promote and encourage continuous student improvement and optimize learning.
