The Assistant Principals' Path to Promotion will teach you how to...
- Step into leadership with confidence by wearing the role before it fully fits.
- Shift from disciplinarian to instructional leader and gain clarity on your path to the principalship.
- Shape and lead school culture with intentional systems that inspire trust and unity.
- Use data as your superpower to build stronger systems, coach teachers, and drive academic growth.
- Build the confidence to coach, give feedback, and lead instructional conversations that earn you credibility as a future principal.
Inside this book, you’ll uncover:
A clear leadership development path using the Principalship Pathway Framework to guide your growth and prove your readiness.
12 bold Powerplays designed to increase your influence, amplify your results, and strengthen your voice-right where you are now.
The mindset shift that moves you out of support mode and into leadership identity-so you don’t just do the work, you own the role.
Exactly how to demonstrate you're ready for the principalship-without begging, overworking, or hoping to be noticed.
LaSahunda Pankey
Assistant Principal Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
Working with Dr. Mills has been instrumental in helping me grow as a strategic leader. Dr. Mills models how to balance day-to-day responsibilities with long-term planning, showing
me how to prioritize initiatives that align with the school’s vision. Through our conversations, I’ve learned how to analyze data more effectively, anticipate challenges, and implement systems that support both students and staff.
Rebecca Pierce
Assistant Principal Marion County Schools
Dr. Mills has a wealth of knowledge, and she is a true instructional leader. I learned how to be an instructional leader from her. She provides resources that are targeted to help schools, staff and students grow. She’s worked in several different capacities, which allows her to help assistant principals grow in several areas to focus on the whole child.
She doesn’t take her job as a consultant lightly, and she will give you a mixture of tough love and support. She has a proven track record of growing schools and utilizing best practices to help students achieve academic success and growth.
Sonia Matthew
Charles County Public Schools
Dr. Mills didn't just offer advice; she provided a lifeline. She met me where I was, acknowledging how I was feeling, and helped me build a bridge from reactive management to proactive leadership. Instead of just telling me what to do, Dr. Mills helped me see how my daily actions, like a brief classroom walkthrough or a difficult conversation with a staff member were opportunities to drive instructional growth. She helped me organize my thoughts and my data, turning chaos into clarity. The endless to-do list didn't disappear, but I learned to approach it with a new mindset.
With Dr. Mills' guidance, I didn't just check off boxes; I was equipped with a strategy to build relationships that foster real change. I started seeing my work as less about putting out fires and more about igniting a passion for learning in my school. Dr. Mills provided the tools, the encouragement, and the unwavering belief that I had the potential to be a powerful and compassionate instructional leader.
You won’t just read this. You’ll lead through it.
Each chapter includes an instantly downloadable bonus tool-linked right inside the book-so you can put each Powerplay into action immediately. These are not fluff worksheets. They’re planning tools, coaching templates, leadership prompts, and growth trackers to support real AP work.
For the AP who’s done waiting.
If you know you’re capable of leading your own school but need a clearer path, this is your turning point.
This is the book your future principal self will thank you for.
Official release: January 15 - Includes instant access to 12 chapter-linked tools.
