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We've all dealt with them at some point...
School principals!
They're often the villain in movies and TV shows, but the job is about more than discipline and rules.
High-quality guidance and leadership are required in all schools, so if you're pursuing a career in education, being a school principal is a position to aspire to!
How Do Principals Contribute To Schools?
A school principal must be a dynamic and versatile leader.
With that role, many different jobs like financial controller, disciplinarian, school representative, and curriculum consultant can lie in your responsibility.
This is why principals play an essential role in the organization, administration, and management of the school.
They direct curricula, create agendas, and guarantee that every student has the best chance of success.
What Does A Principal Do Every Day?
Photo by Fab Lentz on UnsplashManage school performance
The principal is held responsible for the school’s academic performance, so you have to ensure and improve the quality of the school, oversee how students perform on standardized tests, and make decisions to foster improvement if needed.
Photo by Andre Taissin on UnsplashHandle the school's budget
With guidance from the district’s school board, the principal decides how to spend the school’s money.
Photo by Cytonn Photography on UnsplashMake hiring decisions
With little interference from the human resources department and school board, the principal must hire the right teachers and support staff.
Did you know?
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What Else?
Photo by Julian Hochgesang on UnsplashCommunicate with parents
School principals must have excellent communication skills and patience to communicate regularly with concerned parents.
Photo by Mor Shani on UnsplashTake good care of school culture
The way teachers and other staff members collaborate, and share values and assumptions about learning are also navigated by the school principal and his team.
Photo by Heidi Fin on UnsplashManage and supervise students, staff, and other faculty members
Principals not only supervise student instruction. They also oversee teachers and other instructional personnel to ensure that they're fulfilling educational requirements.
But Is It The Right Thing For ME?
You'll love it if…
you like leading groups, whether in official (job, university, etc.) or private settings (sport, groups of friends, etc.)
you like interacting with a lot of different people and building strong relationships
you're well-organized and can handle multiple situations in one day
you're not afraid of responsibility
you believe in the value of a high-quality education
You'll hate it if…
you like strict routine
you like to work on your own
you don’t like multitasking
you don’t want to be interrupted during your workday
Still Interested?
Now you might ask yourself...
"How can I become a school principal?"
Photo by Jukan Tateisi on UnsplashIt is mostly a combination of:
formal education (Bachelor degree in teaching/Master in school administration)
certifications
experience (in teaching or as an assistant principal)
study
professional networking
individual conviction
Take Action
Does it sound like being a school principal could be the perfect job for you?
If it does…
This Byte has been authored by
Kathi Neumann
Education - Innovation - Transformation