Many Hats, One Mission: Mission CISD Assistant Principals’ gather for Instructional Leadership Seminar

MISSION, TEXAS- Assistant Principals across Mission Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) gathered at Mission Collegiate High School for an Instructional Leadership Seminar focused on one thing: making great teaching even better.

Often called the “quiet engine” of a campus, assistant principals (APs) are increasingly central to student success nationwide.

Research shows that the number of assistant principals (APs) in United States schools has been steadily increasing. According to a report from the Wallace Foundation, the number of APs has grown from 43,960 to 80,590 over the last 25 years, a group that’s growing nearly six times faster than the number of principals. Districts also rely on APs as the primary pipeline to the principalship.

At Mission CISD, that national trend meets local urgency. With an estimated 30 assistant principals serving 22 campuses across the district, leaders are investing in the skills that matter most for learning: setting clear academic aims, analyzing student data to guide instruction, and building collaborative cultures where teachers thrive and students excel.

“We are building instructional leadership capacity,” said Dr. Cris Valdez, Mission CISD Superintendent of Schools. “At its heart, this means a relentless focus on being strong instructional leaders who can support and coach teachers as they continue refining the art of teaching. It’s about ensuring our leaders are fully prepared to help every teacher and every student thrive.”

INSIDE THE SEMINAR
Participants dug into practical, high-leverage moves for instructional leadership, including:

APs also conducted targeted classroom walkthroughs at Mission Collegiate High School, applying shared instructional indicators around clarity of learning targets, student talk, checks for understanding, and relevance.

“The walkthroughs in the high school classrooms were such a valuable experience because they gave us a perspective that is different from what we are used to at the elementary level,” said Cynthia Ibanez, O’Grady Elementary Assistant Principal. “I really appreciated seeing how the teachers tied real-life experiences into their lessons. It was inspiring to watch.”

Following observations, APs engaged in structured debriefs: naming bright spots, identifying a “one-thing” to tighten instruction, and planning short coaching cycles with teachers to move from ideas to implementation.

“Assistant Principals play a vital role in ensuring our schools thrive,” added Dr. Valdez. “By investing in their growth as instructional leaders, we are ensuring that every student benefits from strong, effective leadership at all levels.”

The seminar is part of Mission CISD’s ongoing commitment to professional learning for leaders, aligning coaching, data use, and campus culture so that every classroom sees gains that are measured, monitored, and celebrated.