Principals have a challenging leadership position;
not only do they oversee the work of
all teachers in a school, they also have a
critical responsibility to students, parents,
community members, and government policymakers.
Elementary, middle, and high school principals
manage all school operations,
including daily school activities,
building maintenance, and food service.
It’s their duty to provide a
safe and productive learning environment
and see that their school meets
performance standards.
Principals set academic goals and
ensure that teachers have
the equipment and resources to meet them.
The duties of principals vary;
in small schools or districts,
principals take on all leadership roles,
while in larger settings,
they have help from other staff coordinating
teacher assignments and schedules, hiring,
and professional development for teaching staff.
Many schools have assistant principals,
who may handle aspects of school leadership
such as student safety, academic counseling,
or enforcing disciplinary and attendance rules.
They may also coordinate buses or
supervise building and grounds maintenance.
Principals work in public and private
elementary, middle, and high schools.
Most principals work full time,
year round, and may work
evenings and weekends at school functions
or meetings with parents
and community members.
For most positions,
principals need a master’s degree in
education administration or leadership
and several years of teaching experience.