Decisions, Decisions
A Week in the Life of a Principal

Each day, principals make dozens of decisions -- small decisions and big decisions, decisions that may have minor consequences or major consequences for their staff and students, decisions that affect one person or an entire community. For one week last month, seven of the Education World Principal Files Principals tracked the decisions they made each day. Education World compiled those decisions to paint a picture of "a week in the life of a principal."

Skip the Introduction
Day 4
Day 3
Day 2
Day 1

A few months ago, Education World approached the Principal Files team with an idea. We wanted to create a journal that might help principals-to-be and other educators understand exactly what a principal does all day long. Seven school leaders willingly agreed to keep track of their daily decisions for one week.

"This exercise was fun until a couple of days into the process," said Laura Browning Crochet, principal at Genesis Alternative High School in Houma, Louisiana. Then she added, kiddingly, "I became overwhelmed by the sheer number of decisions I make..."

Crochet winnowed down her list and sent it to us.

"I've had a wild week," said Mary Ellen Imbo at the end of her journal-keeping week at Westwood Elementary School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. "I couldn't write everything down. It would have taken too much time. So here we go, just a few per day."

"I am bombarded with requests from the minute I step onto the campus until the minute I leave the campus," Marie Kostick, principal at Goodwyn Junior High School in Montgomery, Alabama, told Education World. "The variety of decisions I am required to make on a daily basis is mind-boggling.

"I realize that each person who comes [to me] has a problem or concern that is important to him or her at that time," explained Kostick. "I sincerely try to assist as promptly and efficiently as possible, often placing myself in that person's position."

Crochet, Imbo, and Kostick joined administrators Bonita Henderson (Pleasant Ridge School in Cincinnati), Jeff Castle (Collins Lane Elementary School in Frankfort, Kentucky), Lucie Boyadjian (Glen Oaks School in Hickory Hills, Illinois), and Jed Landsman-Yakin (Belfry High School in Belfry, Montana) in this weeklong journal-keeping effort. Below we've created for our readers a composite picture of a typical week in the life of a K-12 school principal.

We're sure current school administrators will relate to the pace and the number of decisions. It is not our intent to overwhelm or scare off educators who might be considering the administration route! Rather, we hope to provide an image of the principal as a dedicated and unselfish leader of teachers and mentor to students.

"At the end of the day," Kostick said, "I can look at myself in the mirror and tell myself that I have done the best that I can within my means and abilities, placing what is best for the child as my number-one concern."

"Now, let's continue our look at our decision-making principals with our journal from Day 4."

Day 5: Decisions, Decisions! A Week in the Life of a Principal

5:45: Our performing group was assembling to leave for an out-of-town trip. A former student was dropped off to join us in the place of a current student who couldn't make it. This was done without an OK, so I had to decide whether to take her or leave her at school alone until the janitor showed up. Not much of a choice. She went. I made the trip too. I'd stay to help them get set up for their 8:30 a.m. performance, then return to school.

9:10: Back at school. Took a phone call from another Department of Human Services worker who called to discuss how to handle a difficult situation with a parent who may threaten to sue.

9:20: Second-grade teacher stopped by to tell me that she put out the fire with the disgruntled parent. Doesn't think we'll hear any more about it.

9:30: Had our weekly Friday assembly, led this week by a class of fourth graders. Handed out attendance awards for last month.

9:35: Transportation called to discuss the gun threat.

9:40: A local newspaper reporter called. She's doing a story about our governor on his signing of bill that provides stiffer consequences for those who call in bomb threats. I usually have a comment. That's why she called me. But I'm usually being asked questions that relate specifically to events in my school. This one I passed on to the central office. Figured a comment from the superintendent would sell more papers!

9:45: Substitutes are getting harder to find. Wrote down some ideas re: a plan for how we cover classes when a substitute is unavailable for any class. Will share my notes in a memo to the staff and ask for their input and suggestions -- they're the ones most affected when we need coverage.

10:05: Wrote up the final order for instructional software based on teacher recommendations.

10:30: Collected make-up tests for those students who had been absent during any of the testing days. Headed off to do a kindergarten observation.

11:00: Returned to the office to a waiting maintenance person who needs an immediate decision about a fence that the Headstart group left behind when they had to switch schools.

3:00: Set times to observe two more teachers before evaluations are due on the 15th.

3:15: Met with after-school intramural program coordinator. Do we purchase the $50 jersey or a cheaper version? That's a no-brainer!

3:25: Took a call from a former student who is home on spring break from college. (Wow, I'm not that old, am I?) We will get together for lunch on Saturday.

4:30: Prioritized work for Monday. Wrote the agenda for next Monday's site council meeting. Decided which work to take home over the weekend.

5:15: Home at last -- to collapse!

Related Articles from Education World

• Help Wanted: Qualified Principals
• Follow the Leader: School Principals in Training
• What Do Principals Do?
• The Principles of Principal Assessment
• Visionary Leadership

Gary M. Hopkins
Education World® Editor in Chief
Copyright © 2006 Education World