The Role of a Principal

A principal has a very important role to fulfill in their daily job duties and responsibilities. They
are the guiding force which makes schools what they are today. The following information will
detail the general responsibilities of a principal as well as their specific duties.
In addition, there are various traits principals should possess and these too will be discussed
below. By reviewing the following information, one can gain better insight into the role of a
principal and determine whether or not this is something they would like to pursue as a desired
occupation.

What Is A Principal?

A principal is an individual who directs and monitors the academic and nonacademic activities
within a school environment. The principal is the individual who plans and implements the daily
routines within an educational setting.

General Responsibilities of a Principal

The principal has many general responsibilities which they must carry out on a daily basis. First
and foremost, the principal is the head of the educational setting. This individual provides
guidance not only for the teachers but for the students as well. The principal must monitor all
activities within their school and be the leader of it all, so to speak.
In addition, the principal must act as a liaison between what goes on in the school and those in
the general community. The principal will meet requests from parents, school board members
and government officials. This individual is the one these people go to with praise as well as
complaints.

Specific Duties of a Principal

The principal has many numerous duties they must take part in since they are in a supervisory
position. The first duty a principal is responsible for fulfilling in their capacity as principal is that
of hiring, firing, and disciplining teachers and staff at the school. Those who work at the school
will answer to the principal should any issues arise and the principal is the individual who
usually does the interviewing and placement of staff as well as firing thereof.
Along with the hiring and firing of staff, the principal is also responsible for developing payroll
specifications for the individuals. The principal will most likely have a payroll specialist who in
fact transmits the payments but the principal is the one who will resolve any issues with regard to

payroll.
The principal is also responsible for monitoring the education and extracurricular activities of the
students at the educational facility. This individual will monitor lesson plans of the teachers as
well as other activities which go on in the school to ensure that the students are receiving the
educational requirements and activity requirements that are necessary to provide a well-rounded
learning environment for them. The principal is often the individual who takes care of
disciplinary actions with students as well.
In addition to providing supervision in the school itself, the principal will also engage with
outside entities. The principal may contact businesses to let them know of any contributions or
sponsorships which may be needed for various school programs. This involves academic as well
as extracurricular activity needs.
The principal must also stay abreast of current laws, rules and regulations and ensure the
schools compliance with all of the above. This also deals with everything from the
administration to extracurricular activities for the students. The principal must be sure that
everything that deals with the smooth operation of the school is in keeping with state and federal
laws and regulations.
A principal is also an individual who has a hand in government grants and funding acquisitions.
The principal is in the best position to know what things his/her school needs and the best ways
in which to obtain these things from governmental entities.

Positive Traits Which Principals Should Possess

The principal holds a key supervisory role in the school system. This individual is one who is in
direct charge of all that goes on within their school and is in the best position to do something
about the various things which occur on a daily basis. Due to the supreme role of a principal,
individuals who are in this profession should possess certain favorable traits.
First and foremost, the principal should exhibit excellent leadership skills. Since the principal is
the main individual in charge in a particular school, that person should have the superior
leadership skills in which to lead those below them to make the school the best that it possibly
can be. There will be many individuals looking to the principal for guidance and the individual in
this role must be able to provide that guidance to their subordinates.
A principal should also have good problem solving skills as they will need to solve many
problems during their role as principal. These problems may range anywhere from disciplinary
actions for students to finding a way to fund certain school programs. A principal who has top of
the line problem solving skills will find that it makes their job that much easier to carry out as
they know exactly what to do should problems arise.
Good conversational skills are another positive trait principals should possess. As they will be
speaking with countless amounts of individuals throughout their daily job duties, it is important
that the principal knows exactly how to express what they want and relay this information to

individuals. A principal should also be social in nature and not simply robotic in relaying
information to various parties. A principal who has good conversational skills will excel in their
position.
In addition, a principal should enjoy what they do on a daily basis. One who likes their job will
arguably do a better job at it. If one is a principal and dreads starting the day each morning, this
sentiment will be relayed in their daily activities and negatively affect their ability to do their job.

Conclusion
The principal of a school has a very important role in society. They are the leaders within an
educational establishment who provide guidance to teachers, students, staff and members of the
general community. If one can complete the aforementioned job duties effectively and possesses
some of the traits mentioned above, then the likelihood that the individual will be a wonderful
principal is quite great. Engaging in a career as a school principal is a fulfilling role to play in
society and one that is sure to be rewarding to the individual who takes it upon themselves to do
so.

School Principal Job Duties

Traditionally, the job duties of a school principal includes management, supervision and
inspection duties. Most importantly, principals are expected to function as instructional leaders
for their schools. In several states, principals, along with their teachers, are being held
accountable for students' achievement on statewide assessments.

1. Leader
o

Effective principals serve as instructional leaders to promote a productive

working and learning environment.

Mediator
o

Often, principals must serve as a mediator between parent and teacher. It is the
job of all three parties to find a workable solution to an issue.

Public Relations
o

Representing the school to parents and the community is a crucial duty of the
principal. By involving the community, the principal secures support for school
functions and activities.

Interviews
o

School principals interview prospective faculty members as well as supervise and

evaluate staff performance.

Discipline
o

Principals usually handle severe disciplinary problems with a student. It is up to

the principal to determine if expulsion should be recommended to the school
board.

Manage Budget
o

It is typically the job of the principal to organize and manage the school budget,
especially in smaller school districts.

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-High School Principal Responsibilities and Duties

If you are considering a job as High School Principal here is a list of the most standard
responsibilities and duties for the High School Principal position.
Create and implement instructional goals and strategies.
Create, evaluate and implement learning objectives.
Design and create a pleasant learning environment within the school.
Ensure compliance of administrative procedures with the local school board policies, state school
laws and federal laws.
Create annual plan for teachers to meet school's objectives and goals.
Maintain and manage school expenditure.
Maintain inventories for school equipment and facilities.
Maintain database of students, teachers and learning objectives.
Evaluate staff members and their performance competencies.
Support teaching staff in implementing learning goals and objectives.
Resolve student problems.

Interact with students, parents and communities to enhance learning experience.

Maintain and manage recreational programs, food services, administrative and accounting
functions.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Public School High School Principal

The role and responsibilities of public school high school principals vary from public school to
public school and from state to state. Generally public school high school principals have earned
a master's degree or
have an Ed.S or Ph.D. in the field of Educational Administration or Educational Leadership.
Public school high school principals are responsible for a variety of administrative duties related
to the daily operation of the high school which includes: 1) facilitating the development,
implementation and evaluation of educational programs and goals, 2) supporting and supervision
of faculty and staff, 3) allocating and managing resources, 4) implementing student discipline
procedures, 5) supervising extra-curricular activities and 6) maintaining positive communication
with families and communities.
Public School High School Principals and Educational Program Goals
Public school high school principals are responsible for facilitating the establishment of
educational program goals and for monitoring that these goals are implemented according to
public school policies and procedures. They work with teachers to define how student
achievement goals will be assessed and achieved. If students are not making adequate academic
progress, they are responsible for developing strategies to correct for this.
Public School High School Principals and Supervision of Personnel
Public school high school principals are responsible for ensuring faculty and staff are qualified
and competent in meeting the expectations of their positions. They may directly supervise key
administrative staff and monitor the supervision of staff not under their direct supervision. A
public school high school principal establishes a personnel performance appraisal process that is
completed on at least an annual basis. Hiring and firing decisions are based on individual
employee performance.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Public School High School Principal

Public school high school principals are responsible for ensuring that the fiscal resources
allocated to their high school are appropriately administered. Typically a public school high
school principal is not
responsible for the determination of resources. This decision is made at the School Board level.
The high school principal is typically required to put together a budget proposal that is reviewed

by the Board prior to the finalization of the school district budget.

Public School High School Principals and Student Discipline
Public school high school principals are responsible for ensuring that the policies and procedures
for disciplinary action are implemented appropriately. Large public high schools may have one
of more specific staff persons who are assigned the duties of implementing the disciplinary
procedures.
Public School High School Principals and Extra-curricular Activities
Public school high school principals typically work more than 40 hours a week due to their
responsibilities regarding extra-curricular activities. It is important for a public school high
school principal to show students, parents, and community members that they value all student
activities not just academic. They show this support by attending activities outside of school
hours.
Public School High School Principals and Community Relations
Public school high school principals are responsible for establishing positive public relations
with the community at large. Public high schools continually need to renovate, build and offer
expanded opportunities for students. Funding for these enhancements must come from
communities agreeing to take on the cost of these enhancements via taxation and fund raising
activities. A successful public school high school principal knows being out in the community
and showing their support of community projects is essential for creating a collaborative
relationship with their community.