3 answers
Crystal
Student
Hillsboro, Oregon
2
Questions
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What is the hardest part of being a School Principal?
I currently work as an E.L. Specialist. #school
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3 answers
alan Schneiberg
Retired teacher and counseling psychologist
24
Answers
Sugar Hill, Georgia
Updated
alan’s Answer
As a former middle school principal I offer you some advice. First I believe a principal is an educational leader. As such you must focus on improving the quality of the entire educational experience in your school. Making sure teachers are inspiring their students. Making sure students are learning. And encouraging the school to believe in academic excellence. Secondly a principal is a disciplinarian. An orderly educational experience is essential to the success of a school. Thirdly a principal is a politician. Maintaining respect from the community, the school board, the superintendent, and parents is an essential function of a principal. Lastly a principal is an administrator. Maintaining the budget, ensuring paperwork is done right in a timely fashion, making sure the building is maintained, and overall overseeing all the minutiae the keep everything running well. Overall it’s a all consuming job. Good luck!
Thank you Alan, these are valid points. Thank you for taking the time to share them with me.
Sincerely,
Crystal
Crystal
Thomas Sutherland
Associate Continuity and Recovery Specialist, CBCP
207
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Thomas’s Answer
"It’s been a little more than a year since I began serving as an elementary school principal, and as I reflect on my time spent in this position, one thing is clear -- this is a hard job.
Don’t get me wrong. While difficult, it is also incredibly rewarding. My district’s superintendent, as we were walking through classrooms a few weeks ago, said something that is so true -- “Being an elementary school principal is as close to being a rock star as one gets.” As an assistant principal at a middle school, students ran away from me, the disciplinarian. As an elementary principal, students run to me.
Being an elementary school principal definitely has it’s perks. Like hugs. If riches were measured in side hugs, I’d be very wealthy.
Or dozens and dozens of finger waves each day. Those of you at the elementary school level know what I’m talking about.
Or walking across campus and hearing your name spoken in unison by a group of students headed to the library or lunch. “Mr. Coley! Mr. Coley! Hi, Mr. Coley!”
Or greeting students and parents at the front gate each morning with a high five, seeing their smiling faces, eager to learn.
Or sitting in a kindergarten classroom. If you’re ever having a bad day, go sit in a kindergarten classroom for a little while. It’ll make you smile. Trust me.
Or riding tricycles with kindergarteners, as seen in the video below.
But being a principal is hard too. People often ask me, “What’s the hardest part?”
Is it the long hours? No.
Is it the stress? Definitely a stress-filled position, but no.
Is it having to handle student discipline? No. Not fun, but not the hardest part.
Is it speaking with upset parents? No. Again, definitely not fun, but not the hardest part.
For me, the hardest part of being a principal is...wait for it...
Feeling powerless. Wanting to help but not being able to do so.
I moved into administration because I had a desire to support teachers, which in turn helps students and their parents. By providing support and encouragement at this level, I have the potential to affect change on a larger scale than I could in a single classroom.
But what happens when I'm not able to help? What happens when the desire is there, but what is required is beyond my reach?
Like when teachers come to me requesting additional staffing, but such hiring decisions are out of my hands.
Or when some of our classroom computers are eight years old, and a limited budget makes the replacement process a painfully slow one.
Or when a teacher comes to me needing a new lamp for her LCD projector, but the lamps I've ordered over a month ago haven't yet arrived and there are none available to borrow.
Or when parents come to me with legitimate safety concerns regarding our parking lot, yet those concerns stem from other parents not following the rules or being courteous. How do I mandate manners?
Or when a teacher asks me to work with that hard-to-reach student, but none of the tricks in my bag are working.
This is the hardest part of my job. Wanting to help but lacking the expertise or resources to do so. It’s frustrating.
I sometimes wonder if I’m making a difference, if I’m being a good leader. Last week a student handed me this note at dismissal time.
I must be doing something right."
Source- http://www.brentcoley.com/blog/the-hardest-part-of-being-a-principal
Don’t get me wrong. While difficult, it is also incredibly rewarding. My district’s superintendent, as we were walking through classrooms a few weeks ago, said something that is so true -- “Being an elementary school principal is as close to being a rock star as one gets.” As an assistant principal at a middle school, students ran away from me, the disciplinarian. As an elementary principal, students run to me.
Being an elementary school principal definitely has it’s perks. Like hugs. If riches were measured in side hugs, I’d be very wealthy.
Or dozens and dozens of finger waves each day. Those of you at the elementary school level know what I’m talking about.
Or walking across campus and hearing your name spoken in unison by a group of students headed to the library or lunch. “Mr. Coley! Mr. Coley! Hi, Mr. Coley!”
Or greeting students and parents at the front gate each morning with a high five, seeing their smiling faces, eager to learn.
Or sitting in a kindergarten classroom. If you’re ever having a bad day, go sit in a kindergarten classroom for a little while. It’ll make you smile. Trust me.
Or riding tricycles with kindergarteners, as seen in the video below.
But being a principal is hard too. People often ask me, “What’s the hardest part?”
Is it the long hours? No.
Is it the stress? Definitely a stress-filled position, but no.
Is it having to handle student discipline? No. Not fun, but not the hardest part.
Is it speaking with upset parents? No. Again, definitely not fun, but not the hardest part.
For me, the hardest part of being a principal is...wait for it...
Feeling powerless. Wanting to help but not being able to do so.
I moved into administration because I had a desire to support teachers, which in turn helps students and their parents. By providing support and encouragement at this level, I have the potential to affect change on a larger scale than I could in a single classroom.
But what happens when I'm not able to help? What happens when the desire is there, but what is required is beyond my reach?
Like when teachers come to me requesting additional staffing, but such hiring decisions are out of my hands.
Or when some of our classroom computers are eight years old, and a limited budget makes the replacement process a painfully slow one.
Or when a teacher comes to me needing a new lamp for her LCD projector, but the lamps I've ordered over a month ago haven't yet arrived and there are none available to borrow.
Or when parents come to me with legitimate safety concerns regarding our parking lot, yet those concerns stem from other parents not following the rules or being courteous. How do I mandate manners?
Or when a teacher asks me to work with that hard-to-reach student, but none of the tricks in my bag are working.
This is the hardest part of my job. Wanting to help but lacking the expertise or resources to do so. It’s frustrating.
I sometimes wonder if I’m making a difference, if I’m being a good leader. Last week a student handed me this note at dismissal time.
I must be doing something right."
Source- http://www.brentcoley.com/blog/the-hardest-part-of-being-a-principal
Dear Thomas,
Thank you for the response. This was eye-opening advice that I will keep in mind as I go through school for my Principal Licensure.
Thank you,
Crystal
Crystal
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
3731
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hey there, Crystal!
Being a school principal is no walk in the park! It's a role that's as challenging as it is rewarding, packed with a variety of tasks and responsibilities. One of the trickiest parts? Juggling the needs and expectations of everyone involved in the school community - from students, parents, and teachers, to staff, district administrators, and even the wider community.
1. Juggling Stakeholders: As a school principal, one of your key roles is to keep everyone happy. This means building strong, positive relationships with students, parents, and staff, and working closely with district administrators and community members. But here's the catch - each group might have different priorities and expectations, making it tough to find a balance that pleases everyone. As a principal, you'll often find yourself navigating through conflicting interests and figuring out how to communicate effectively with different groups.
2. Making the Call: School principals have to make a ton of decisions every day, and these can significantly impact students, staff, and the whole school community. These decisions can be about anything - from what's taught in the classroom, to how to handle discipline, to how the school budget is spent. To make these tough calls, you'll need to gather all the relevant information, consider different points of view, and think about the potential outcomes. And all of this has to be done under the pressure of limited resources and time - no easy task!
3. Building a Positive Environment: Creating a positive and supportive school environment is key to helping students succeed and keeping staff morale high. As a principal, it's your job to create a place where students feel safe and motivated to learn. This means setting up effective discipline policies, promoting inclusivity and diversity, dealing with any instances of bullying or harassment quickly, and providing opportunities for teachers to grow professionally. But maintaining this positive environment can be tough when dealing with issues like behavioral problems, conflicts among students or staff, or external factors that affect the school community.
On top of all these challenges, principals also have to handle things like managing budgets, making sure the school is following all the rules and regulations, addressing gaps in student achievement, and keeping up with the latest trends and research in education. To succeed in this role, you'll need strong leadership skills, effective communication, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to handle high stress levels.
In a nutshell, being a school principal is a demanding and complex role that requires balancing a lot of needs and expectations, making tough decisions, and fostering a positive school environment. But despite the challenges, many principals find the role fulfilling as they get to make a big difference in students' lives and contribute to the overall success of the school community.
Top 3 Authoritative Reference Publications or Domain Names Used:
1. National Association of Elementary School Principals (www.naesp.org)
2. National Association of Secondary School Principals (www.nassp.org)
3. American Association of School Administrators (www.aasa.org)
Being a school principal is no walk in the park! It's a role that's as challenging as it is rewarding, packed with a variety of tasks and responsibilities. One of the trickiest parts? Juggling the needs and expectations of everyone involved in the school community - from students, parents, and teachers, to staff, district administrators, and even the wider community.
1. Juggling Stakeholders: As a school principal, one of your key roles is to keep everyone happy. This means building strong, positive relationships with students, parents, and staff, and working closely with district administrators and community members. But here's the catch - each group might have different priorities and expectations, making it tough to find a balance that pleases everyone. As a principal, you'll often find yourself navigating through conflicting interests and figuring out how to communicate effectively with different groups.
2. Making the Call: School principals have to make a ton of decisions every day, and these can significantly impact students, staff, and the whole school community. These decisions can be about anything - from what's taught in the classroom, to how to handle discipline, to how the school budget is spent. To make these tough calls, you'll need to gather all the relevant information, consider different points of view, and think about the potential outcomes. And all of this has to be done under the pressure of limited resources and time - no easy task!
3. Building a Positive Environment: Creating a positive and supportive school environment is key to helping students succeed and keeping staff morale high. As a principal, it's your job to create a place where students feel safe and motivated to learn. This means setting up effective discipline policies, promoting inclusivity and diversity, dealing with any instances of bullying or harassment quickly, and providing opportunities for teachers to grow professionally. But maintaining this positive environment can be tough when dealing with issues like behavioral problems, conflicts among students or staff, or external factors that affect the school community.
On top of all these challenges, principals also have to handle things like managing budgets, making sure the school is following all the rules and regulations, addressing gaps in student achievement, and keeping up with the latest trends and research in education. To succeed in this role, you'll need strong leadership skills, effective communication, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to handle high stress levels.
In a nutshell, being a school principal is a demanding and complex role that requires balancing a lot of needs and expectations, making tough decisions, and fostering a positive school environment. But despite the challenges, many principals find the role fulfilling as they get to make a big difference in students' lives and contribute to the overall success of the school community.
Top 3 Authoritative Reference Publications or Domain Names Used:
1. National Association of Elementary School Principals (www.naesp.org)
2. National Association of Secondary School Principals (www.nassp.org)
3. American Association of School Administrators (www.aasa.org)
Thank you for this thoughtful answer. I am going to need to practice a few of these skills, and some others I know I am strong in. Thank you for your time.
Crystal
Crystal