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Are you interested in a career that combines management and education? Are you a born leader? You might consider a job as a school principal. Principals manage teachers and staff, help to ensure high curriculum standards are being met and interact regularly with students and parents. Read on to learn more about how to become a school principal.
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Step 1: Education
- A majority of school principals begin their careers as teachers, working their way up the ranks. As such, most prospective principals acquire a bachelor's degree in education or management-related fields. In most public schools, principals need a master's degree in:
- Education administration
- Educational leadership
- Many school principals also have a doctoral degree.
Step 2: Enter the Field
- Those who aspire to become school principals typically enter the education field as teachers. Some will start out as assistant principals. As you progress through the ranks, join committees and be active in all things concerning the school where you work and the school system as a whole. Some of the qualities necessary to become a school principal include:
- Leadership skills
- Innovativeness
- Determination
- Motivation
- School principals must also demonstrate strong decision-making abilities and interpersonal skills.
Step 3: Move Up in Your Career
- After you have some years of teaching or lesser administration experience under your belt, you can begin moving up the career ladder. The important thing is to continue to demonstrate strong leadership skills in every position you hold. If you are tapped as a potential school principal, be aware that in most states public schools require principals to be licensed school administrators. You may be required to:
- Pass written exams
- Work with a mentor, learning on-the-job skills needed to become a principal
- Take continuing education courses throughout your career
Conclusion
- School principals are strong leaders who are charged with the overall administration and success of the school they oversee. Principals must be responsible, detail-oriented managers who are able to take decisive action on a variety of issues. School principals are the face of the school, so to speak. They often fight for funding for their school and they make sure state and federal standards are being met, assuring that children achieve an optimal education.
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