Being the Principal

Mary Kent
January 24, 2016
EAD 501

Principal Effects on Student Outcomes

Communicate a shared vision amongst staff,

students, and parents
Incorporate high expectations
Promote a culture of learning and success
built on trust
Establish shared leadership
Support staff through professional
development and
collaboration

Role of the Principal

Principals manage day-to-day school

operations and activities, supervise teachers
and school staff, establish curriculum and
instructional practices, promote a safe
learning environment for students, and
communicate with parents and community
members.

Responsibilities of the Principal

Organizational
Develop a shared vision and communicate with
all stakeholders
Implement and maintain curriculum content
standards
Analyze data to prepare reports, assess
effectiveness of instructional practices, and
identify school-wide goals

Responsibilities of the Principal

Organizational (contd)

Organize professional development for staff

Create and oversee school schedules
Manage school activities and staff
Prepare school budget and supply order
Hiring of staff

Responsibilities of the Principal

Management and Operations

Schedule school maintenance

Supervise cafeteria, security, and custodial staff
Manage school grounds and maintenance
Establish security procedures

Responsibilities of the Principal

Teachers
Sustain trust, collaboration, and respect
Observe and evaluate teacher instruction
Assist in classroom management and student
discipline
Develop and monitor yearly professional growth
plans
Capacitate leadership

Responsibilities of the Principal

Students

Foster positive relationships

Promote academic and social success
Develop leaders and life-long learners
Advocate equity, fairness, and democracy
Attend to student discipline

Responsibilities of the Principal

Parents/Community
Collaborate to build positive relationships
Encourage involvement and promote ways to
give back to community
Meet with parents to discuss academic and social
success
Encourage community resources for student
achievement

Responsibilities of the Principal

Legal
Adhere to federal, state, and local policies and
procedures involving curriculum standards,
instructional programs, safety/building codes,
student diversity, and ethical behavior with staff
and students

Responsibilities of the Principal

Additional
Attendance at:
District and school meetings
School board meetings
After-school functions/athletic events

Working Conditions

Public, private, or charter school in an urban,

rural, or suburban setting
Elementary, middle, or high school
Five days/week, year round
Assistant principal and/or secretary to assist with
duties
Demanding schedule yet rewarding

Job Outlook 2014-2024

Projection for principal employment for

elementary, middle, and high school is anticipated
to grow 6 percent equaling an additional 14,000
jobs (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).

References

Calahan, S. (2013). Trust me, Im your principal. Principal

Leadership, 14.
Retrieved from http://www.eddigest.com
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of
Labor,Occupational Outlook
Handbook, 2016-17 Edition.
Retrieved fromhttp://www.bls.gov/ ooh/management/
elementary-middle-and-highschoolprincipals.htm(visitedJanuary 23, 2016).
Goodwin, B. (2013). A principals success requires people skills.
Educational
Leadership, 70(7). Retrieved from
http://www.ascd.org
Krajewski, B. (2008). The many hats of the principal. Principal,
87(4) 16-19.

References (contd)

NASSP. (2013). Ethics for school leaders. Retrieved from

https://
www.nassp.org/who-we-are/board-of-directors/positionstatements/ethics-for-school-leaders.
Parsons, J. & Beauchamp, L. (2012). Leadership in effective
elementary
schools: A synthesis of five case studies. USChina Education
Review. Retrieved from
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ ED536409.pdf.
Ritchie, J. (2013). The effective and reflective principal. Phi
Delta Kappan, 94 (8), 18-21.