Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a School Principal
What school principals actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a school principal?
Greet buses and students at the door. From there, the day usually includes lead the school’s instructional program, observe and evaluate teachers, and manage budgets and staffing. Long days with evening events, and many work through the summer.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a school principal working full time.
- Greet buses and students at the door.
- Meet the leadership team.
- Observe a math class.
- Handle a discipline issue.
- Supervise lunch.
- Review the budget with the district.
- Lead a staff meeting.
Where school principals work
Principals work in school buildings, moving between offices, classrooms, hallways and events.
Hours and schedule
Long days with evening events, and many work through the summer.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Lead the school’s instructional program
- Observe and evaluate teachers
- Manage budgets and staffing
- Handle student discipline
- Keep the school safe
- Communicate with families
- Analyze student data
Tools you’ll use every day
- Student information systems
- Teacher evaluation platforms
- Budget software
- Assessment data dashboards
- Communication apps
- Emergency notification systems
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Shape a whole school
- High pay for education
- Leadership role
- Every day is different
What’s hard
- Long hours
- High accountability
- Difficult conversations
- Evening and weekend events
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I’m an experienced teacher
- I want to lead adults
- I stay calm in conflict
- I like making decisions
- I care about every student
- I can handle long days
Not sure? Take the free School Principal fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Run required safety drills
- Follow child abuse reporting laws
- Control building access
- Follow FERPA privacy rules