Middle School Principal

Puberty, family issues, drama with friends and enemies… being a middle school student is not easy. Everything seems like a huge deal at that age—including what happens when they get sent to the office of the Middle School Principal. To gain students’ respect, you’ll have to show that you can understand what it’s like to be them, while being tough enough to make them learn something from the situation. You must have a sense of fairness that even the most anxious parents will approve of if you’re going to be a Middle School Principal.

Students and parents aside, your school’s Teachers will probably need even more support from you. You’ll connect them with opportunities for professional development, so they can keep up with the latest technologies, curricula, and teaching methods. You’ll guide them as the Middle School Principal through any issues they might have: conflicts with the schedule, complaints about grades, planning field trips, providing outlets for bored students. Middle School Teachers have tough jobs, so it helps if you can relate to them, and especially useful if you’ve worked in a classroom yourself.

You’ll be in charge of all school-wide policies such as dress codes (for students and staff), grading procedures, and budgets for extracurricular activities. There’s a lot of pressure for every school to perform well on standardized tests, and since you’re the leader, you’ll feel the burden. Not everyone always likes you when you’re a Middle School Principal, so you’ll have to grow thick skin. In the end, the goal of improving education for these young people should be enough to keep you motivated.