High School Principal Responsibilities

The high school principal is a professional who serves as an educational leader of the high school and makes every possible effort to provide the best quality education to the school students. The high school principal responsibilities are mostly related with supervising the the school teachers, students, and the subordinate staff members, ensuring that all of them adhere by the regulations of the school, and assisting in achieving the mission of the educational institution.

Key Responsibilities of a High School Principal

The high school principal, along with the teachers, strives to achieve academic excellence and also to make each and every student in the school well equipped with not only academic knowledge, but also in other extra curricular activities. He/she nurtures them to become the best individuals and designs various activities that will motivate the students to progress in other fields as well. The description given below will throw light on the key responsibilities that need to handled by a high school principal:

The high school principal is responsible for establishing high standards and developing the educational curriculum that is consistent with the State and Federal procedures, policies, etc., thus building a strong foundation for establishing a professional learning environment.
He/she is responsible for initiating and developing programs and activities that nurture a learning culture that will further lead to achieving the mission and meeting the educational standards.
To closely monitor the instructional methods and develop new ways of learning that will ensure better learning and achievement leading to more progress of the students.
To be involved in the effective management and administration of the school by supervising clear and effective procedures for smooth operation of the daily activities in the school.
To develop strategies and make use of various resources that will help in student growth and development and make sure that the relevant recommendations for the same have been approved.
To ensure that a safe, disciplined, and orderly environment is maintained in the school and demonstrate highest professional and ethical standards while interacting with the students, teachers, and other school personnel.

Apart from the above responsibilities,

He/she is involved in the preparation of school budget and monitoring the relevant expenditures.
He/she supervises the preparation and updation of reports, attendance records and closely monitors the relevant data.
He/she conducts meetings to seek new ideas that will assist in improving the school procedures and attends special events, school functions and activities that recognize the achievement of the school students.
He/she evaluates the staff performance, advises and motivates them to improve their instructional methods as well as counsel them on their personal and professional issues.
He/she communicates the progress of the children to their parents and takes into account their suggestions that will assist in the development and growth of the school children.
He/she is accountable for ensuring the health, welfare, and safety of all the students and reports if there is any incident related to child abuse, substance abuse, or any other medical emergency.
He/she maintains complete confidentiality about the students' records, addresses the needs of special children, and enforces uniform policies for all.

Thus, a high school principal is responsible for developing the students and inspiring the teachers to make efforts to achieve the educational goals and objectives.

Essential Skills

A high school principal should have a passion for teaching, should love being in the company of children, and should have a natural ability to lead and supervise the teachers and other staff members. He/she should be able to plan strategies and set goals that would help in the development and growth of the students. Excellent written and oral communication skills, good listening skills, effective time management and organization skills, ability to guide, advise, counsel, and motivate the students and staff members alike, etc., are some of the other pre-requisites that will ensure success for a high school principal.

Educational Requirement

The basic educational qualification necessary for a high school principal is a master's degree in education administration or education leadership. Previous administrative and educational work experience would be beneficial. Additional license, training, or certification would be a plus.

Salary Details

Generally a high school principal will get a salary close in the range of $84,000 to $87,000. The lowest salary offered is in the range of $59,000, while the highest salary offered is in the range of $130,000. The difference in salary is basically due to skills, academic background, and previous work experience.

Career Prospects

With the increasing number of students it is natural that the demand for high school principals is definitely going to be more, and it is expected to rise by about ten percent in the coming few years. However, it may also be dependent on the school's financial budgets.

The high school principal responsibilities, thus should be carried out efficiently and effectively, as he/she is the person who should be able to present himself/herself as a role model for the students as well as the staff members and help in building a positive image of the school.