Help me! How do I become a Principal?

Question

I am just now entering college and surprisingly I already know what want to do. I want to become a High School principal. What degrees, minors, and majors do I need to pursue this? I'm attending University of Texas at Austin, therefore I;m studying in Texas. If that makes a difference.

Answer 1

In NY (and I suspect Texas, Illinois, Minnesota and california to name a few others) there is a 30 or 45 credit certificate to earn ABOVE the Masters degree. Some people get the EdD, which CAN incorporate much of the certificate requirements.

Administration is not always the best job: teachers get summers off!

good luck

Answer 2

First, congrats on deciding on a career!

In my experience, in order to become a principal at any level, you do need classroom experience teaching at that level.  If you are looking to become a HS principal, you'll probably need a BS in Secondary Education, a minimum number of years teaching (usually 5) and a Masters in Administration.  It wouldn't hurt to have curriculum/instruction development experience as well.

I aspire to be a principal as well, and am starting my 5th year in the classroom.  I want to teach for a while so I can have a lot of experience before moving into administration.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I think after your a teacher there are no hard and fast rules to be a principal. Some schools want you to get a Masters in education even if you are just a teacher so I would say it depends on the school.

Answer 4

First of all, you need to think of this as a LONG (long) term goal.  You need a teaching credential, and you'll need lots of experience actually teaching a class.  You simply can't run a school unless you know what the teachers are going through.

After your BA and credential, you should get a Master's Degree in Education Administration.  That's where you'll learn the mechanics of running a school.  Good luck.

Answer 5

It depends on your state.  I live in Missouri.  Here you need a certification (that requires a bachelors of education in some field of k-12 education and passing a certification test...the PRAXIS).  You must then teach at least 4 years and get your masters in administration, before you can apply to be a principal.

You need to contact your state's department of education or talk to your adviser.

Good luck!

Answer 6

You cannot be a principal without teaching experience.

Answer 7

Most people are absolutely correct about the path to a principalship. You would need to spend at least 5 years in the classroom just to be considered for a assistant principal position. Probably another 3-5 years as an assistant principal. However, that is only if you have exceptional charisma and connections. More important than the Masters Degree and license you will need to earn, you need to set yourself apart from the rest. Test scores have to be exceptional, grabbing every leadership, culture, volunteer opportunity, and knocking each one of those out of the  park. Or, have connections with powerful people.

Education will only make you eligible. Proving your skill in the classroom and in the "game" of education will earn you a chance to interview. In college you get a feeling school is all touch feely and kind. It is that way in the classroom and that is a wonderful place. But, advancement is a cutthroat nasty business and you have to be thick skinned, charismatic, and the best of the best

Answer 8

You'll need a masters in school administration, and you'll probably have to take some other types of tests (depending on Texas requirements).  In order to be a really great administrator, it really does help to have taught.  It's been my experience that the principals who used to teach have a better understanding of education in general than those who haven't.  It also helps when you're first trying to get a job b/c teachers of the school often sit on the hiring committees.  If I had a nickel for every time one of my colleagues said, "He's only been teaching for 4 years" or something similar, I could quit my casual part time job.  :)  The truth is that it's actually quite possible for someone to have taught for a short period of time and know what needs to be changed, thus aspiring to have more power to make those changes.  That's not always the case though, and you'll have a lot more street cred and support if you've done some teaching.  

Answer 9

You need to be a teacher first--in anything.  Then after you do that you can be a principal.  Once you start teaching in a district you can find out the specific rules for what it takes to be a principal in that district (how many years needed as a teacher, continuing education needed, etc.)

So what you need to do right now is major in whatever you want to teach (elementary ed, math/secondary ed, music education, etc).  And you need to meet the requirements to become certified in your state.  After you get into the education program at your school, your advisor or the professors in your program can tell you exactly what you need in addition to your degree (tests that need to be taken, forms to be submitted, etc.)