Graduates of St. Cloud State University’s online Master of Science (M.S.) in Educational Administration and Leadership program may become leaders of PK-12 schools. One of these leadership roles includes a principal with the unique and critical role of helping school communities succeed.
While principals apply a handful of strategies in tandem with community and government influences, they must be able to create a vision for a school and put that vision into action. If you’re thinking about becoming a school principal, then learning more about what they do, what makes an effective principal and how they create positive change with strategic vision may help you decide.
Principals in Action
If you want to positively impact students, influence school culture and engage your leadership skills daily, then becoming a principal is a perfect role. Principals combine their passion for education with strong leadership skills to inspire their staff and teachers to do their best.
Beyond teacher support, school leaders must oversee a number of vital institutional functions:
- Developing curriculum standards
- Managing school logistics and budgets
- Interviewing and hiring school personnel
- Analyzing and preparing student achievement data
- Ensuring a safe environment for students and staff
- Organizing professional learning and development for staff
To complete these daily responsibilities, educational leaders must possess certain skills and qualities.
Skills and Qualities of an Effective Principal
Professionals who earn their master’s degree in educational leadership or administration are prepared to pursue elementary, middle or high school principal roles. St. Cloud State University’s online M.S. in Educational Administration and Leadership program allows students to develop the necessary skills and qualities to effectively do their jobs.
Principals who possess leadership, communication, organization, decision-making, interpersonal and problem-solving skills improve schools with intentional, organized strategy. According to Education Advanced, principals who have the following qualities make a difference:
- Welcome change: Change in schools is inevitable. Successful principals take on the challenges of change and know how to navigate them to continuously support learning for teachers and students.
- Fight for equality: Not all students learn the same. Effective principals work to dismantle outdated policies and practices that inhibit all students from learning to the best of their abilities. They also create a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for all.
- Lead with strategy: Principals work to understand the past, present and future consequences of decision-making. Before deciding on an action, they take stock of its possible impact on others and its alignment with the school mission.
- Build relationships: Principals understand the most successful schools work with communities, stakeholders, teachers, parents and families. Therefore, they focus on building trusting relationships with others to achieve educational goals.
Strategies to Foster Positive Change With Vision
Multiple strategies exist for principals to foster positive change within their schools. From handling teacher complaints to rolling out new curricula, there are common characteristics all strategies should have to make a long-lasting impact.
When leaders of any organization have a strong sense of purpose and vision for staff and an organization, employees find greater fulfillment in their jobs. This applies to principals’ role in schools. One education professional, Adrienne Hornby, suggests principals enact their strategic vision in the following steps: create the vision, identify your core values, break up the vision into steps, identify specific goals and markets, consider roles involved and communicate the idea.
ThinkStrategic echoes this, stating that a strategic plan can unite a school community, keep the big picture in focus and help schools face changes. It notes that just like individuals, “schools have all sorts of different priorities being brought to their attention day to day, but to truly be effective, they must have a clear sense of direction and purpose.” Its framework outlines the components of successful school strategies as future-focused, collaborative, rolled out in stages, contextual, consistent, practical and socially responsible.
Since principals must understand and implement strategies to achieve large-scale goals, applying these concepts will help principals ensure school agendas are aligned with overall goals and have positive educational impacts on students and staff.
Become an Educational Leader
For educational professionals, gaining the necessary skills and knowledge to become a school principal is the next step. Students can complete this program in as few as 10 months while benefiting from the flexibility to learn at home and continue working full time.
Learn more about St. Cloud State University’s online Master of Science in Educational Administration and Leadership program.
