Should a PHYSICAL ED. TEACHER be promoted to a principal position?

Question

WHY or WHY NOT?

Answer 1

Yes, but, they must have all the qualifications.

Answer 2

A physical education teacher should only be promoted to a principal's position if he or she has:

1.  Completed a Master's degree in Educational Administration.

2.  Has at least three years of teaching experience (required in most states)

3.  Certified by the State to be a principal.

Private schools of course can waive the above requirements, which I believe is to the detriment of the children.  Even outstanding candidates should have the proper background and training to be the educational leader of the school.  Public schools are mandated to have the requirements I cite.

Answer 3

I've heard that Phys. Ed teachers are more likely to become principals than other teachers. Of course it's not like you have a choice of who to promote... Teachers get administration degrees and apply for administration jobs. But it seems that phys. ed teachers choose this path more often, which has been explained because they are leadership sort of people, that's what attracted them to phys. ed in the first place, and those same qualities attract them jobs in administration.

Now possibly you're thinking that the top english teacher should get this job, or the best math teacher. There is something we should clarify. Becoming a principal really isn't a 'promotion.' You get a specialized degree to certify you to become an administrator, then you apply for jobs as an administrator, and then work year round in a non-teaching job doing non-teaching work. A lot of teachers have no desire to do this. It really does take a certain type of person to want to have a job like a principal.

Answer 4

Ideally, yes, as long as they earn the proper credentials.

Districts tend to hold onto special ed teachers though, because good ones are hard to come by.  They may not want to promote a special ed teacher to an administrator for fear of losing that classroom teacher.

Answer 5

It depends on the teacher.  The teacher must have an administrator degree. An administrator must have certain skills in handling a variety of situations and people.  People from different teaching backgrounds can make good principals.I must say that my boss was an ex PE teacher, and he was awful!!! BUT, it was his personality...he was a jerk!

Answer 6

If they have the leadership ability, training, and experience, why not?  Being a P.E. teacher takes training, experience, and teaching ability, just like any other subject...the fact that it's not an academic subject doesn't mean that the teacher can't be qualified to be promoted to principal.

Answer 7

I don't know the requirements or prerequisites for all states regarding promotions, but I do know that in the state I live in, as long as a teacher completes what is called "leadership training" which is a series of graduate classes designed to prepare them for leadership roles such as principal, then they are eligible for the position! It doesn't matter what education degree that person has. As long as they complete those courses and receive satisfactory marks, then they may apply.

Answer 8

In Ontario, to become a principal you need to have your teaching degree obviously, as well as a Master's Degree in a related Education field, i.e. Education Psychology, Education Administration etc.

There are also Additional Basic Qualification courses a person must take, I'm pretty sure.

Answer 9

as long as they are certified to be a principal and have a masters degree in education administration or management then it doesnt matter what kind of teacher they are.

Answer 10

Absolutely! In some ways Phys Ed is harder to teach than Math or English - imagine coping with 30 to 60 kids all running around and doing their own thing - it takes a lot of organizational ability to keep the kids playing the sport instead of necking behind the bleachers, referee arguments / fights and also keep an eye out to make sure students are safe from gun or knife-wielding nut cases, including other students.  The old saying that those who can, do; those who can't, teach; and those who can't teach, teach PE was probably coined by someone who hated phys ed.