School Principal

Most students live in fear of one thing: being sent to the principal's office. Though it is never as bad as we think it will be, visiting the principal is definitely not something anyone looks forward to.

And that's something principals aren't always too happy about. Though they are the people who set rules, arrange for discipline, and enforce penalties on both students and teachers alike, principals do much, much more than just lay down the law, there is a lot of good stuff happening in those offices, too.

Principals are leaders. They divide their time between working with students and teachers and taking care of the administrative aspects of the job, but throughout it all they are leading the school towards a common goal.

A large part of their job involves making the school work positively for both students and teachers. The principals work on developing and coordinating educational programs with staff, parent groups, and the school board. They are in charge of the teachers, including hiring them, training them, mentoring them, and letting them go if necessary. They communicate with the school's surrounding community and other schools, they spearhead fundraising campaigns, and they assist in acquiring supplies for all extra-curricular activities. They meet with concerned parents, troubled or abused children, social workers, and school psychologists in an effort to address problems within the school community. The students often get to know their principals as they walk around the school, attend concerts, plays, purchase student anthologies, and watch soccer games and volleyball tournaments. As they lead by example, principals try to encourage student pride and school respect in an effort to maintain a safe and prosperous educational environment.

Of course, besides dealing with students, parents and other professionals, principals also have a to do a lot of administrative work. Principals spend hours writing reports, analyzing and creating budgets, managing schedules and ensuring curricular needs are being met. They must meet with department heads, student council representatives, and school board trustees, attend countless meetings, and make decisions regarding spending, discipline, and policy. They spend a substantial amount of time at their desks, before school starts and after all the students have gone home, ensuring that everything is running smoothly, the students are happy and the teachers and support staff are satisfied.

The day-to-day life of a principal isn't easy. It is hard, tiring, and frustrating at times, but it can also be extremely fulfilling, for the school community as well as for the principal who heads it up. A good principal has children's artwork in their office, knows the first names of the school's maintenance staff, and always has an open door, even if the paperwork is piling up, their head pounds, and their are feet sore from walking the halls. A good principal knows that every problem, question, or accolade deserves to be heard.



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School Principal

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