The principal, in any institution, is the fulcrum of the index and it does not work differently for k-12 educators.
A used-to eye will easily get to know about the health of the institution from a single glance towards the principal. No, this discussion is not about how the principal should look, though that is also important, but about what should be expected from a principal, especially from a k-12 educator.
A principal is the chief administrator of the institution, who is accountable to the superintendent. One of the chief attributes of a principal as a k-12 educator is multitasking. Unlike earlier times, principals nowadays have to perform the multiple roles of school manager, school leader and also the school reformer. And in the institutions lacking a superintendent, principals are assigned even more responsibilities.
Often, principals are chosen from among the regular k-12 educators, based on their acceptability to the students, leadership qualities, managerial skills, capability to represent the school in state and national level activities and educational programs, flexibility for shared decision making and the capability to substantially implement the state statutes without being unapproachable. But most of the time, k-12 educators face difficulties to continue teaching after resuming the duties of principal due to the time constraints for the increasing demand of their administrative and managerial responsibilities.
But principals in k-12 schools must have at least some years of experience as k-12 educators, otherwise, their effort to feel the pulse of the institution will become halfhearted. The role of the principal is not confined only to the boundaries of the school compound, the essential prerequisites also include above average reasoning and judgmental abilities, cooperative attitude towards the district administrator and other officials, confidentiality in information exchange, effective communication skill, capability to handle the budget, efficiency to undertake effective staff developmental activities and the overall supervision of the school operation.
Related Articles and Resources
1. What Makes a Good School
2. Changing Role of School Principal
3. Dare to be Different, Dare to be a Principal
4. Reasons to Become a Principal
5. Read our free report, Nine Critical Areas in Education Guaranteed to Improve Student Performance.
6. Order K-12 Education EGuides. Excellent professional development tool for the k-12 school learning community!
