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Five Life Changes for a First-Year Principal 

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First-Year Principal

Did you get the job? Yes! You did it! Congratulations, because you now have your first principal contract. You’re happy, your family is happy, and your checkbook is happier. The new position is everything you worked hard for, but life as you know it is about to change. The intent is not to scare you but to give an honest view. Here are a few life changes for a first-year principal.

Being a school principal is a noble job and comes with significant responsibilities. It comes with successes, but also comes with struggles. The first one or two years are the most difficult because you’re getting the lay of the land. The struggles vary for each person depending on their previous experience.

If your previous experience includes time as an assistant principal, you have a bird’s eye view of the leadership role. You may have leadership experience, but you’re coming from another district where things are done differently or policies are different. Or, you may be a first-year principal coming straight from a classroom environment. All journeys to the principal’s office are not the same. 

Personal and Professional Struggles

A first-year principal will experience both professional and personal changes. Early on, I recognized that the school principal’s job was lonely. I had many struggles, and you will, too. It’s normal to begin a new job, but the first few months may be bumpy. 

At times, you will question your decision to accept the job. As a first-year principal, I often asked myself two questions, “Why am I here?” and “What just happened?” You’ll question your leadership, decisions, skills, knowledge, and intuition. 

Other times, you will recognize how little time you have for your personal life. My social life was almost nonexistent during my first year in the role. Long hours at work and driving home in rush hour traffic exhausted me. Then, there were after-school and extracurricular activities that had to be attended by an administrator—some of the activities ended after 7:00 pm or 8:00 p.m. 

Twelve—or 13-hour days are not unusual. Many principals and assistant principals discuss their regret for missing their children’s events. First-year principals, the struggle between work and life balance is a huge life change. 

Physical and Emotional Wellness

Sleep is a fantasy

Another life change is you will never sleep like a baby again. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the average adult needs at least seven hours of sleep each night. However, the average American gets 5.7 hours per night. 

With the stress of the principal role, a whole night of sleep is now a fantasy. The job is now in control of your mind. While everyone else snores in your house, your eyes are wide open. The projects, reports, meetings, emails, and other work-related stuff are on your mind.

 Ideas, plans, and changes run through your mind’s eye.  The clock keeps ticking: one o’clock, two o’clock, and three o’clock. Finally, you fall asleep, and the alarm goes off at six o’clock in the morning. The first-year principal runs on fumes.

Sleep is evasive for a first-year principal. Photo by Toa Heftiba on Upsplash.

The Freshman Fifteen

Another life change for a first-year principal is the “Freshman 15.” Just like in college, you gain weight during the freshman year. Well, get ready for 15 or more pounds around the middle. The stress of the job will take its toll on your eating habits and exercise routines. Unfortunately, school administrators rarely have time to sit down and eat lunch. Often, they scarf down their meals in five minutes or grab a bag of chips.  

Eating the wrong types of food, like unhealthy snacks, fast food, sugary drinks, and too much caffeine, causes your body to break down. When you visit the doctor, don’t be surprised that your blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels are out of whack. Don’t get angry when nothing in your closet fits anymore.

Time Management is Your Friend

The third life change for the first-year principal is that your time is no longer your own. Kiss your personal life goodbye. Work starts early and ends late. Sometimes, work never ends for a first-year principal. You don’t know if you’re coming or going. Meetings and events happen before and after school. Eating breakfast or lunch is a luxury. You’re like the Walking Dead. Between no sleep and no time, life as you know it is over.

You must develop a schedule or routine. Otherwise, you will burn out fast. My school secretary was a godsend because she kept me on track, made meeting appointments, and updated the calendar. Each morning, she reminded me of any scheduled events or meetings. The school secretary is a vital person in your life and your first line of defense. 

You’re Always Putting Out Fires

The following life change is you are now a fireman. A first-year principal constantly puts out fires. Throw much of the theory you learned in your leadership courses. Yes, theory matters, but real life hits harder. There’s truth in the trenches. 

Now you’re responsible for a school building with hundreds of students, including staff members and much much more. Theory cannot prepare you for all the stuff that happens daily. Stuff happens all day long. Put on your comfortable shoes and gear. Handle the business and learn to delegate!

Principal Baruti Kafele’s book The Aspiring Principal 50: Critical Questions for Aspiring and New Leaders is a great one to read.

Delegate and Build Relationships

Delegating tasks is essential; however, building relationships is a priority. You will face organizational challenges during your first year as principal and need help tackling everything. Build relationships and trust among staff members so they feel included in the decision-making process. 

Building relationships means getting to know your staff professionally and personally. Learn their skill levels, passions, and what makes them tick. Next, learn to delegate based on what you’ve learned. Keep communication lines open so they feel comfortable discussing their ideas, suggestions, and concerns. Also, share your goals with the staff and be explicit. Remember, you are all in this together.

The Buck Stops with You

One more life change for a first-year principal is that your name is called more than you ever wanted to hear. “Please stop calling my name” is a statement you want to shout to the rooftops. Everyone wants to speak to you about something: the kids, parents, teachers, janitors, school engineers, community members, etc. Your calling card is always full.

Life would be easier if you went to your office and closed the door for peace. However, you can’t hide! Some will even follow you into the bathroom while you do the pee-pee dance. Life as you knew it is over.

Conclusion

Despite the life changes for a first-year principal, it’s an opportunity to learn and change lives. The year is filled with emotions as you acclimate to your new responsibilities. Be sure to take one day at a time. Learning is not an event. It is a process. Your first year as a principal is part of your learning process. It will be overwhelming, and sometimes you may want to quit. Therefore, set goals, adjust as necessary, and stay the course. 

Don’t be discouraged because of the many mistakes you are about to make. Find a mentor! Furthermore, many experienced principals can tell stories of their pitfalls, bad decisions, and more. However, they learned from the errors and kept going. As a first-year principal, don’t be afraid to reach out to the ones that came before you. Congratulations on your new gig!

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Power in Principals

Principals Have Power: Perception vs. Reality 

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a small commission may be paid.

Do Principals Have Power?

Reading recent social media posts in education groups, I noticed a trend. Many teachers and staff were blasting their school administrators. While complaining about one’s boss isn’t unusual, people were going pretty hard against their principals. Not negating anyone’s experience, some complaints were disturbing because, as a former principal, I know it is a tough job. Also, there is an ingrained idea that principals have too much control. I hear people say,  “Principals have power to…”  Really?  Now, let’s take a look at principals’ power and what are perceptions of reality.

Some people are already mad after reading the first paragraph! Let me be clear that this is not an anti-teacher post. Instead, it clarifies what is real and perceived about the power principals actually have in real life. It is a pro-educator post!  Both teachers and school administrators have extremely exhausting jobs. Add in a pandemic, and the job became much more complex and more stressful. When things become more difficult and stressful, it’s easy to lash out or blame each other for the troubles that neither have control over. So first, teachers express dissatisfaction with principals. Then principals grumble about district administrators or superintendents. They then complain about school boards and politicians who have never worked in a school. It is a vicious cycle.

Principals are Unsupportive

Some complaints that I read about principals and sometimes assistant principals are about being unsupportive. I often ask, what is your definition of unsupportive? What does it mean to an individual teacher? Being unsupportive can be defined as the principal does not discipline an unruly or disrespectful student that the teacher finds acceptable. Another teacher may think the principal does not support him or her during a meeting with an angry parent. Some staff members can be displeased with a new administrator for making changes to long-standing traditions or rules in the school. These are just a few examples of being unsupportive. Indeed, there are many more, and the list can continue to grow.

Micromanagement and Busy Work

“My principal is a micromanager or gives us too many directives or busy work.” I read these types of posts many times, especially during the pandemic. Some despised the daily checklists and safety precautions during the pandemic. But on the other hand, teachers’ workloads were too heavy, and expectations were high. Many decisions about these two things and others probably did not come directly from the principal but from the district office. 

Some say, “Principals need to stand up for your teachers!” Perhaps your administrator stood up for the teachers and got shot down by the superintendent. Also, maybe he or she didn’t give you all of the checklists that the district required to save you from having one more task.

Harassment and Abuse

Another item I read on social media posts is about principals who harass, bully, or verbally abuse staff members. I never condone anyone who does mental, emotional, or physical damage to their workers. If it is happening to you, report it to the union or district. Document all events or times when the harassment or abuse took place. As a former principal, I experienced harassment and bullying from a supervisor. It was not pretty and not worth my health. Eventually, the supervisor left the district, but the damage was done to me and many others.

Essential School Supplies!

Principal Responsibilities

Another perception is that principals have unyielding power. The reality is that they don’t have it, and there is not an “S’” on their chests. While many teachers and school administrators are superheroes in the lives of children, we all are just human. Principals put their pants on like everyone else, one leg at a time. However, people have their own ideas of what school leadership looks like or should be in their school buildings.

The reality is that principals have a long list of responsibilities, too. Here is a list of some things they are responsible for handling on a day-to-day or year-to-year basis.

  • Being an instructional leader
  • Observing and evaluating teachers and staff
  • Hiring teachers and staff
  • Spending the budget (not creating it)
  • Scheduling
  • Safety of all students and staff
  • School-wide communication
  • Professional development
  • Day-to-day operations
  • Student Outcomes
  • Meeting with parents, teachers, students, community members, district administrators, school partners
  • Discipline
  • Fundraising
  • Implementing all federal, state, and district mandates and directives
  • All aspects of school planning

The Job is Overwhelming

Many principals will tell me that I missed some items on the list. The job is overwhelming and then adds a pandemic, too. Hours are late and long. It’s a lonely job, but somebody has to do it. 

Despite the long list above, principals must develop and build upon the policies, procedures, and relationships in a supportive and conducive to the culture of their school building. Principals do have the power to create a supportive and healthy environment within their schools. However, they also need the buy-in of teachers and staff. 

Sometimes, the perception is that principals have power and they are the bad guy. The reality is that they are not the evil villains in the story of education. This post will anger some people, but that’s life. Agree to disagree and continue scrolling! Those who believe they can be a better principal and do a better job go for it. Be the change agent!

Skill Sharpeners for Grades PreK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Lead with Empathy and Grace

Principals are often told to lead with grace and empathy but aren’t necessarily on the receiving end of either. Shouldn’t some things be reciprocal? For example, administrators are advised to celebrate teachers throughout the year and not just during Teacher Appreciation Week. How many teachers actually know the date of Principal Appreciation Day?

Frequently, I see social media posts of principals showing how they celebrated or thanked teachers for doing great jobs and being supportive. Reciprocity is suitable for everyone. Celebrate each other when good and great things happen. Principals have the power and teachers also. The blame game cannot be one-sided. We all have an essential job to do every day. Sometimes it feels like it is a no-win and thankless situation. Yet, we cannot continue to be divided. 

Let’s Use Our Power Together

Teachers and Principals Have Power
Together principals and teachers have the power to make positive change in schools.

Let’s Use Our Power Together

We have a unique opportunity to change or re-imagine education. During the pandemic, our way of teaching students changed very quickly. Now we all have the power to take the pieces that worked well, fix the gaps, even some playing fields, and provide the education our children deserve. Use your power to come together and create a stronger bond between teachers and principals. We are in the trenches every day and can provide a new path to teaching and learning.

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a small commission may be paid.