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Becoming a high school principal can be your next career advancement if you enjoy working with kids and making a difference in their lives. Those in the profession must hold at least a master’s degree, but some enroll in doctorate programs for education leadership or administration.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota provides a K-12 Principal Graduate Certificate program to provide education professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to pursue a career as a high school principal. Learn more about the program and how it can help you become a principal.
What Does a High School Principal Do?
High school principals manage and oversee teaching and learning throughout a school. Their role is comparable to that of business owners and chief executive officers (CEOs). However, instead of dealing with goods and products, high school principals handle students and teachers.
Principals set a school-wide standard for learning and teaching. They also manage hiring and staff evaluations. High school principals complete many of the administrative duties that fall under a school setting. They may do anything from attending parental meetings to creating the overall school schedule.
High school principals complete other essential roles throughout a school, like deciding on professional development programs for teachers, setting performance requirements, implementing discipline policies, and managing school budgets. Another role of a high school principal is to address problems within a school. If a school experiences frequent absenteeism or a negative learning experience, it is up to the principal to evaluate these problems and strategize ways to solve them.
Skills and Qualities of High School Principals
High school principals should have impressive leadership and adaptability skills to succeed. Because principals play such a prominent role within a school, leadership skills are essential to running operations, keeping things organized, and delivering the best learning experience for students. Adaptability skills also help adjust to new and changing educational policies – something that schools across the country typically encounter. Principals must keep up with these changes to ensure quality education.
High school principals must also understand how to communicate with teens and children. Teens struggle with many issues, especially in today’s world. Principals must handle conflicts and other problems with compassion and respect. This also helps them deliver disciplinary actions with sensitivity in mind.
Becoming a High School Principal
Earning a graduate certificate can help prepare students to earn their K-12 licensure and move closer to becoming a high school principal. Students must have a master’s degree and some teaching experience to enroll in a graduate certificate program. Many students gain this experience while earning their master’s degree. Saint Mary’s administrative licensure program meets the requirements of the State of Minnesota: 30 graduate credits beyond the master’s degree.
The K-12 principal graduate certificate program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota can assist you in earning a principal license and pursuing a career as a high school principal. This remote program features two hours of online synchronous sessions per week and an immersive 320-hour internship.
Students learn how to collaborate with other leaders and practice better decision-making for educational institutions. They learn how to maintain organized operations, foster effective learning environments for all students, and be ethical leaders, among other competencies.
With courses led by active administrators in Minnesota, students gain up-to-date knowledge that addresses the challenges of current school systems. Students also get the opportunity to gather with their peers at the Minneapolis campus for Summer Institute. This event strengthens students’ understanding of educational leadership and character education.
Why Choose a Career as a High School Principal?
Many high school principals love what they do and find immense satisfaction in their day-to-day jobs. Other reasons to become a principal include:
Creating Positive Change for Students
One of the most notable benefits of becoming a high school principal is that you can make a real difference for students and education systems. High school principals play a vital role in the operation of schools. This means they have a say in policies, schedules, and other factors that can create a more positive learning environment for students.
High Earning Potential
Students pursuing a high school principal career can earn high-paying roles. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for principals is about $115,340.
Switch Up Day-to-Day Tasks
High school principals deal with many administrative aspects of a school setting. This means graduates won’t be doing the same types of tasks every day. This provides an exciting, engaging work experience.
Flexibility in Employment
High school principals can find employment anywhere in Minnesota state. They can also move to different states and find jobs elsewhere. Because high school principals are needed across the country, graduates can enjoy flexibility in their employment. They can also work in different settings besides school districts.
Those pursuing a career as a high school principal can eventually move further in their role through time and experience. Some principals advance to become presidents at colleges and universities. They can also move into roles like school superintendent, department head, and dean of students.
Further Your Education With Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Using Lasallian Catholic education to guide our curriculum, students across Minnesota and beyond find a positive experience in their courses at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Alongside graduate certificates and doctorate programs, we offer accelerated degree programs that reduce the time it takes to earn a degree and advance your career. To learn more about how to become a principal, request more information today.
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