III. EXPLORING POSITIONS
Description: A principal manages a public or private school overseeing the day-to-day management of the educational activities by monitoring students' educational progress, staffing and motivating teachers and other personnel, managing guidance and other student services, prepare budgets and handle relations with families, students and the community. The job usually requires experience in a related occupation such as a teacher or a counselor, or another educational administrative position.
Employment Settings: Principals are employed in either a public or a private school setting.
Public School (See SECTION II.F)
Private School (See SECTION II.E)
Qualifications: New York State requires certification for all public school administrators/supervisors. Provisional certification requires a bachelors degree in education or education administration or supervision, eighteen hours of graduate study in school administration, 12 additional graduate credits, an approved administrative/supervisory internship under a practicing school administrator, and three years of teaching, administrative/supervisory, and /or pupil personnel experience. Permanent certification requires satisfaction of all the requirements of provisional certification plus a master's degree and two years experience in an administrative/supervisory position. There is no provisional certification for school district administrator. Permanent certification requires a master's degree 24 graduate hours of graduate study in school administration, 36 additional graduate credits, an approved administrative/supervisory internship under a practicing school administrator, and three years of teaching, administrative/supervisory and /or pupil personnel experience. All persons holding these positions must be cleared through the NYS Central Registry of Child Abuse and fingerprints submitted to required authorities.
Master's or doctoral degree in education or education administration or supervision. All persons holding this position must be cleared through the NYS Central Registry of Child Abuse and fingerprints submitted to required authorities.
Preparation: See Certified Tearcher (See POSITION 4)
Continuing Education: NYS certified teachers have a mandatory requirement to complete 175 clock hours of acceptable professional development within every five years of classroom teaching service.
Job Outlook: Growth in educational administration positions is expected to be average with some additional demand due to retirements and attrition. This position bears high responsibility especially because of increasing pressure on school districts to produce higher student
Earnings: The compensation is not significantly higher than experienced teachers. National average salary for elementary principals in 1997-1998 was $64,653 (Occupational Index enhanced, 2000)
Opportunity for Advancement: Principals may advance into district level administrative positions such as to superintendent or supervisors of instructional services at a higher salary base with increased responsibility. They may use their experiences to move into higher education positions in faculty or administration positions.
Related Careers:
Serving Children Directly – Teaching rather than school administration.
Serving Families Directly – Knowledge of educational system may be applied as a family advocate.
Providing Information Goods and Services – Consultant, sales of educational equipment and services, staff program development consultant.