Principals are the administrative leaders of schools who oversee, plan, coordinate and manage daily school operations. For instance, they develop and monitor curriculum goals for the school that are designed to improve academic excellence and competence among students and to promote the professional development of school faculty and staff members. Besides being dynamic leaders, principals must also be competent business managers. They maintain the school’s budget and prioritize funded activities based upon the goals established for the organization. School principals do not work in a vacuum, but they build bridges with faculty, students, parents and the local community to smooth educational and professional pathways for students and staff members under their supervision. Whether their school is a shining success or needs major improvement, the condition of the organization is a direct reflection on the principal.
Salary
The annual salaries of principals vary by grade level, school size, location and work experience. However, the average annual salary for elementary junior high and high school principals in 2012 was $90,670 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Beginning Salary
One of the main salary factors for school principals is work experience and those who are just beginning their careers can expect to be on the low end of the pay scale when all other factors are equal. These principals are paid an annual average salary between $75,160 and $79,142.
Key Responsibilities
Although they usually have plenty of competent support, the duties of school principals are numerous. Their key responsibilities can be categorized by the stakeholders who they serve which are primarily the students, staff and the school board that is represented by the school’s superintendent. School principals are responsible for managing curriculum development to facilitate the best learning environment for all of the school’s students. This means that they are actively looking for signs that some students learn in different ways or are gifted in certain areas. Principals ensure that teachers are equipped with the necessary resources to do their jobs. They also submit input regarding the school’s budget, spending and school performance for evaluation to ensure that their school is held accountable by the superintendent and the school board.
Necessary Skills
School principals gather the necessary skills to do their jobs over a number of years. One of the main skills that they must possess and demonstrate on a daily basis is the skill of great written, verbal and visual communication. This ability is particularly important because they must interact with a number of stakeholders about numerous issues. Critical thinking and decision making skills are also greatly employed by successful school principals regularly. Although they use their communication skills to obtain feedback and input for proposed initiatives, they are the ones who must decide the strategic and operational direction of the school.
Degree and Education Requirements
School principals almost always begin their careers as classroom teachers. As a result, the education and training requirements for teachers and principals are similar and vary by state. Both require an undergraduate degree from an accredited university. This degree does not have to be in the field of education, but many would be educators decide to major in an education related area of interest like early childhood development or school counseling. Those who do not major in an education discipline may obtain additional training and certifications offered by the state before gaining their teaching licenses. Most educators are life long learners and take additional training through conferences workshops and seminars to keep their skills sharp and to learn the latest teaching techniques. Educators who aspire to be school principals generally earn an advanced degree in educational leadership or educational administration. Many states require school principals to obtain special licenses for the job which requires additional training throughout the years for certification maintenance.
Pros and Cons of Position
The job of school principal is filled with both rewards and challenges. The most obvious benefit is the significant increase in pay that school principals receive when they get promoted from the position of classroom teacher. However, most principals will probably agree that the higher pay was not the main reason that they pursued the competitive administrative position. Many principals who worked as teachers saw things that they would do differently as far as school policies go. Instead of complaining about issues, they decide to contribute their time, talents and energy to deal directly with concerns and challenges that impact the people within their communities. School principals, foster the growth of future business leaders and nuture the professional aspirations of other educators when they do the job right.
The challenges that school principals face can be daunting. School principals work year round for their higher wages instead of getting time off during the summer months like class room teachers. They also field complaints from parents, students and the teaching staff when things are running less than ideal. School principals also regularly deal with unpleasant disciplinary actions directed towards students and staff members who they manage.
Getting Started
The best way to get started as an education administrator is to obtain a mentor who holds or has held the position successfully. He or she can steer aspiring principals to teh right training and experiential learning opportunities needed to prepare for the position. Mentors are also available to answer the tough questions that educators have about transitioning into the leadership role of principal.
Besides earning the educational credentials needed within the educational field, school principals nearly always require state approved certifications and licenses. They usually require a state teaching license and principal license to gain employment in that position.
After gaining the necessary academic credentials and state licenses, it is important that aspiring principals get as much experience as possible. While undergraduate education majors generally gain some teaching experience through field studies and internships prior to graduation, those who did not major in education must find ways to gain that type of experience. Most schools will only hire principals who have demonstrated several years of consistently successful classroom instruction.
Future Outlook
The position of school principal is most notably a competitive one, and it does not appear to have a significant number of new, near future job openings in the domestic market according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job has a growth rate of six percent which is slower than the average growth rate for all domestic job positions. However, the job market looks a little brighter for experienced school principals who are willing to take their skills overseas. These professionals have success by connecting with organizations like the International School Services, Teach Away Inc. and the Council of International Schools.
Summary
Although the role of school principal is not for every educator, the position offers education professionals with the right skills the opportunity to use their talents fully. School principals who have keen leadership, organizational, listening and negotiating abilities are known to perform best in this position.
Another interesting resource:
Be the first to comment