School Principal

A school principal manages a school’s daily operations. He or she is responsible for curriculums, teachers and other staff members and the institution’s budget. The principal serves as a representative for the school and works with parents, community members, superintendents and legislators to ensure that students receive the best education possible.

Job Responsibilities

Overseeing an elementary, middle or high school’s activities and staff, a school principal is in charge of every aspect of their establishment. He or she creates class schedules and curriculum standards, and enforces district, state and federal programs and standards. A principal acts as the school’s representative and may collaborate with superintendents, legislators and community members. They discipline and provide guidance to students as necessary and meet with parents. Additionally, the school principal arranges professional development programs for staff members. Sometimes, they manage hiring teachers and staff members, including custodians and cafeteria workers.

Generally, school principals work full time, and overtime during the weekends or evenings may be necessary due to meetings with parents, community members and school functions. Principals also perform some administrative tasks, such as regulating the school’s budget. Principals do not get summers off and instead work on planning for the upcoming academic year, hiring teachers and staff, ordering school supplies and scheduling building maintenance.

School Principal Salary

School principals earned a median salary of $92,510 as of 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Wages vary on whether the school is public or private. Principals of public schools earned a median wage of $93,940 per year, while those at private schools made a median salary of $81,810.

The BLS projects that employment for school principals will grow 8 percent through 2026, or about as fast as the national average for all occupations. Job growth depends on state and local budgets, as well as the number of schools in the area and enrollment.

Education Requirements

A master’s degree in education leadership or administration is required to become a school principal. It is common for graduate students to have a background in either school counseling, education or another related field. Unless they work at a private school, some states also mandate that principals are licensed as school administrators. Several years of prior teaching experience is also necessary.

Campbellsville University’s online master’s degree in educational administration prepares individuals for a career as a K-12 principal. Students will learn how to create a constructive environment for teachers, staff and students, how to handle the school’s budget and how to perform other administrative duties. Faculty members who have real-world experience in school systems teach this fully online program. Students can conveniently work studies into their busy schedules.