If you ask a candidate in an Assistant Principal interview, “What is your plan for the first 90 days?”, 95% of them give a fluffy answer about “building relationships.”
That is a correct answer. It is also a boring answer.
When I was interviewing at age 29, I knew I had to prove I wasn’t just theoretical. I needed to show I could execute. But I’m not the type to write a 12-page manifesto that nobody reads.
So, I brought a physical prop: The One-Page Entry Plan.
A single sheet of paper. Three columns. Clear timelines. No fluff.
Here is the exact 3-phase framework I used to get hired and survive my first year.
Phase 1: Audit (Days 1–30)
The Goal: Data Collection.
The biggest mistake new leaders make is trying to “fix” things on Day 3. If you change a policy before you understand it, you look arrogant.
In Phase 1, I shut my mouth and open my notebook. I conduct a “Listening Tour”—a 15-minute scheduled meeting with every staff member. I ask three questions:
- What is the one thing we must never change?
- What is one frustration that makes your job harder than it needs to be?
- What do you need from me to be successful?
Phase 2: Analyze (Days 31–60)
The Goal: Pattern Recognition.
Now I compare what people said to what the data says.
- The Gap: Teachers say behavior is fine. The data shows 45 referrals from recess.
- The Disconnect: The schedule says “Collaboration,” but teachers are sitting in meetings with no agenda.
I am not fixing yet. I am diagnosing.
Phase 3: Act (Days 61–90)
The Goal: The Quick Win.
By Month 3, the staff wants to know if I’m useful. I need a change that is High Visibility + Low Effort.
Examples of Quick Wins:
- Fixing the copier that has been jammed for weeks.
- Streamlining dismissal so teachers leave 5 minutes earlier.
- Buying a second microwave for the lounge.
I don’t overhaul the curriculum in the first 90 days. I fix the dismissal cones.
How to Use This in an Interview
If you are interviewing, do not just talk about this. Print it.
When they ask the “First 90 Days” question, slide a single sheet of paper across the table.
“I don’t believe in 20-page theoretical plans. I believe in execution. Here is my One-Page Executive Summary for [School Name]. It covers my Listening Tour, my Data Audit, and how I identify Quick Wins.”
It shows you respect their time. It shows you are organized. It gets you hired.
🚀 Get The Template
I’ve included my fully editable One-Page Entry Plan Template inside the Assistant Principal Interview Kit.
It’s the exact format I used to get hired at 29.