Being a Rhode Island School Principal: Responsibilities, Benefits, and Advice for Aspiring School Leaders
The role of a school principal is all-encompassing. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states school principals “oversee all school operations, including daily school activities. They coordinate curriculum, manage staff, and provide a safe and productive learning environment for students.” They also “serve as the public representative of their school. They listen to, and try to address, the concerns of parents and the community.”
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The broad nature of this definition is reflective of the nature of this field – school principals and leaders are not only responsible for shaping the educational landscape for the students, but they also have a responsibility to the teachers, the staff, and the community. And their responsibilities will differ depending on the size of the school and the district to which they belong.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- working with teachers to develop and implement instructional strategies
- evaluating teachers’ performance
- overseeing the day-to-day operations of the entire school
- building relationships with the community to foster support
- advocating for students to ensure their success
- handling a variety of administrative duties relating to safety, records management, and hiring.
Gina Armstrong, ‘18G, principal at Edward S. Rhodes Elementary School can attest to this. “There are decisions to make all day long, starting with coverage for teachers regarding curriculum, safety, and schedules, and everything in between! There are meetings to facilitate, evaluations to conduct on staff, concerns to address and investigate, data to analyze, fun assemblies to coordinate…Every day is unique and exciting!”
But along with the many tasks mentioned above, school principals have a direct impact on the lives of students, teachers, and families. According to the Rhode Island Standards for Educational Leaders, “The impact strong school leadership can have in schools, particularly high-poverty schools, is paramount after teacher effectiveness.” For someone who is looking to make a difference in the lives of others, pursuing a career as a school principal is a fulfilling choice.
John Wolf, ‘14G, Executive Director of the San Miguel School of Providence says, “Teaching and education are amazing vocations and I think more young people need to hear that these days. There aren’t many jobs in the world where you are guiding and seeing the growth of the future right before your eyes, every day. Watching the joy of discovery and achievement in people of any age as they learn and fulfill their potential is a great blessing, especially in a world where folks are constantly looking for more purpose in their lives.”
And just as fulfillment and purpose are core benefits in this field, school leadership offers myriad benefits. School leaders innovate and implement strategic initiatives which qualifies them to be experts in the field, they enjoy job stability as schools often aim to maintain consistent leadership, and they never have a shortage of professional growth opportunities thanks to their vast professional networks and organizations. The 2024 average school principal salary in Rhode Island according to Salaries.com is approximately $123,380.
As you consider the field of school leadership or are a new leader yourself, consider this advice from Rhode Island school leaders.
- Kathryn Tancrelle, ‘12G, Principal at Hopkins Hill Elementary School states, “One piece of advice that I go back to is never forget what it was like to be in the classroom. When I was teaching, how did I want my principal to support me? What did I need to be successful? And I try to be that support for the staff and teachers.”
- Kevin McNamara, ‘04G, Assistant Superintendent at Lincoln Public Schools says, “A school leader’s work is based largely on building relational trust within the organization. Little interactions during the day matter and their impact compounds to build or detract from the establishment of relational trust.”
- John Wolf, ‘14G, Executive Director of the San Miguel School of Providence notes, “For new school leaders I would say that polishing your listening skills would be top of list. Also, especially in the first year or so, give yourself the grace of not having to get everything right or change so much that it exhausts you. Building trust in your staff, cementing what works for your school culture, and remembering that this is ‘a marathon, not a sprint’ will add to your ability to lead effectively for many years to come.”
Becoming a school leader in Rhode Island is a rewarding and fulfilling path for those wanting to make a difference and have the classroom experience to take on the challenges. Providence College’s Master of Education in School Leadership is an established program with a strong reputation for molding exceptional school leaders (including all the voices mentioned above). The curriculum focuses on practical application of core concepts like curriculum, evaluation, instruction, law, and finance. Additionally, courses that address community concerns, technology, and research techniques give educators the tools to confidently tackle today’s institutional challenges.
Sources:
Rhode Island Standards for Educational Leadership from RIDE
