Say “school leadership” to most college students, and it goes straight into the someday-maybe pile. 

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Fair enough, when you’re juggling classes, a part-time job, and a cold brew habit. But if you’re thinking about teaching, or you’re the type who can’t leave a broken system alone, it’s worth understanding what this job entails. 

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A principal is closer to a small-city mayor than a hallway monitor. Here are the questions worth asking now.

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What Does a Principal Do All Day? 

Principals lead teachers, support staff, and students. They set policy, manage the budget, 

field parent concerns, and answer for academic results. 

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When the spring concert goes well, they get the credit. When anything else goes wrong, it’s theirs too.

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The upsides are real. You shape a school’s direction, you lead a team, and you usually earn more than you would in the classroom. 

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The downsides are as real: high stress, long hours, and constant pressure to show results. Budgets, parents, and test scores all end up on your desk.

Is It Just Teaching With a Promotion? 

No, and this is where many get it wrong. Advisers at Future Leadership point out that not every good teacher is meant to become a principal. 

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The job demands strategic thinking, high-stakes decisions, and a knack for getting people who disagree about almost everything moving in the same direction. 

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Your focus also shifts from individual students to the whole system.

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Future Leadership’s take is that realizing it isn’t for you is a perfectly fine outcome. That’s solid career advice.

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What Kind of Person Does Well in This Role? 

Start with how you lead. 

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A 2025 study in Frontiers in Education looked at 12 school leaders and 137 teachers in Albania. 

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In schools with healthy cultures, staff worked together and celebrated wins as a group. Where principals used orders and control, teachers said they felt disengaged and undervalued. 

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The sample is small and regional, so don’t treat it as the final word, but the pattern is hard to ignore. If you’re the friend who somehow gets a chaotic group project on track, you may already have some of the raw material.

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Then there’s pressure. Stress comes with the job, and so do evenings at school events.

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Picture three things going wrong at once. Do you get sharper or snappier? 

Lead by Example

Finally, there’s refusing to let circumstances write the ending. Thomas Garner spent two decades as principal of Salem Avenue Elementary in Hagerstown, Maryland. 

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According to FOX45’s Project Baltimore, every student at his school lived in poverty. Still, his fifth graders beat the state average in math and English this year. 

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His creed was blunt: “We expect all kids to be able to do well. Period.”

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Each year, the day before classes began, his staff visited students’ homes to meet families. That’s empathy backed by a plan. The school now carries his name.

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What’s the Path From Here? 

It’s a long one for a college student just starting their academic journey. A Master’s degree and three years of relevant full-time experience are the entry point for many programs. The last stretch is an Ed.D. in educational leadership.

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects about 20,600 openings a year for elementary, middle, and high school principals. Demand is strong, but there are no shortcuts.

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Many professionals who are not willing to go back to school opt for the online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program. An online Doctor of Education in educational leadership is 100% online, and the coursework integrates research, theory, and practical application.

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Once qualified, career opportunities aren’t limited to principal. An Ed.D. in educational leadership online opens many doors, including education technology and the public and private sectors.

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St. Bonaventure University advises learners who want to lead with compassion, humanity, ethics, and integrity to consider this study pathway.

What Can I Do Right Now? 

When you are still in college, you can start small. Lead a club, tutor, or mentor a first-year. 

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Pay attention to whether you enjoy the messy parts: conflict, competing priorities, and people who need convincing.

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Why the World Needs More Principals

Leadership isn’t grading papers late at night or acting as a school disciplinarian. 

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A World Bank blog post argues it runs through every layer of an education system. Singapore, for example, spots potential leaders early and gives them structured pathways. 

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AI adds another reason. In a Washington Post op-ed, Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop believe that schools should teach kids to have agency over technology. Someone has to turn that idea into policy inside a real building with real teachers, and that person is the principal.

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FAQs

What does a school principal do?

Quite a lot. Principals lead teachers, support staff, and students, set policies, and make decisions that shape the whole school community. They also manage budgets, handle parent concerns, and are responsible for strong academic results.

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Is being a principal stressful?

Yes. Stress, long hours, and pressure to perform are the main drawbacks. Meetings and after-school events eat into evenings, so it suits people who stay steady under load.

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Do I need to be a teacher first?

Usually, yes. Principalship is a natural next step for experienced teachers, and an online doctorate in educational leadership expects a master’s degree plus three years of relevant full-time experience. Requirements vary by country and state, so check your local licensing rules early.

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Do I need a doctorate to become a principal?

No. An Ed.D. is one route for professionals moving into leadership, but it isn’t required everywhere. Confirm what your region’s education authority asks for before committing to a program.

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Becoming a Principal, by the Numbers

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Stat

What It Tells You

Source

100%

Share of Salem Avenue Elementary students living in poverty, per federal data

FOX45 Project Baltimore

20,600

New principal job openings per year

BLS

12 leaders, 137 teachers

Sample size in a 2025 study on how principals shape school culture

Frontiers in Education 

3 years

Full-time professional experience St. Bonaventure asks for

St. Bonaventure University

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So, Do You Want to be a Principal?

Being a principal isn’t a prize for surviving a teaching career. It’s a job for people who can build a culture, absorb pressure, and keep going when the odds look rough. 

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You don’t have to decide today, and you don’t need a title to start practicing. Lead the study group. Speak up when the team is stuck. Notice the moments when you enjoy being responsible for other people. 

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If that keeps happening, take it seriously. And if it doesn’t? That’s fine too. Either way, schools need people who care enough to ask the question.

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