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Head of the Class: Life as an Elementary School Principal

By Amelia Gray
Learning & Life Columnist

Picture a work day where you comfort a homesick child, convince a school board to reverse budget cuts for textbooks, mediate a faculty disagreement, and pick the final winners of a school-wide essay contest. And that's before lunch.

Make no mistake: the life of an elementary school principal can be challenging. It's also rewarding, enlightening, and surprisingly lucrative. A recent article in Forbes put elementary school principals on their six-figure salary list, with trained administrators often making $100,000. If you want to be a conflict mediator, a sympathetic listener and an advocate for children and your community, a career in school administration could be no more than a degree away.

Paths to the Principal's Office

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that most principals in public schools have a master's degree in education administration. A typical education administration degree program would include specialized courses in school leadership, law, school finances, educational politics, community relations and counseling. Just looking at that list will give you an idea of the broad range of tasks the typical elementary school principal might complete in a day.

A management degree might also benefit you as an elementary school principal, giving you the training you need to manage a large faculty group.

Learning for Life

In terms of job security, elementary administration remains a safe bet; the BLS predicts a strong market for education administration jobs, due in part to an increased emphasis on education nationwide. If you've always wanted a meaningful job working directly within your community, a career as an elementary school principal could be the vocation for you.

Sources

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Forbes.com

About the Author
Amelia Gray is a teacher and freelance writer in San Marcos, TX. Amelia earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Arizona State University.

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