(You probably won’t find these in a job description, though you should!)

– Hand-holder

– Zipper-fixer

– Tear-wiper

– Peace-maker

– Pants-buttoner

– Ball-retriever

– Nose-wiper

– First-aider

– Firm-talker

– Cheer-leader

– Toy-mender

– Toy-confiscator

– Mouth-wiper

– Rule-implementer

– Ice-provider

– Argument-settler

– Wrapper-opener

– Photo-taker

– Hallway-monitor

– Coat-zipper

– Skip-rope-holder

– Eat-your-vegetables-inflictor

– Band-Aid-administer

– Complaint-listener

– High-fiver

– Story-teller

– News-breaker

– Crime-solver

– Item-finder

– Dress-code-imposer

– Hand-shaker

– Parent-caller

– Skip-rope-detangler

– Confidence-builder

– Shoelace-tier

And finally, a personal ‘favourite’ (my office door faces the Pre-K to Grade 2 boys bathroom…)

– After-you-go-to-the-bathroom-please-make-sure-you-wash-your-hands…with-soap-enforcer.

———-

Ps. I wrote this over about two weeks, the Pre-K to Grade 2 teachers could double this list in a single day! The number one item at the top of this list should be:

– Teacher-appreciator!

7 comments on “The Role of a Principal

  1. The funny thing is, these are also the greatest things about being an Elementary School Principal. There is always something that makes me smile every day!

    As I always say, It’s like being a “rockstar” in a boy band!

  2. How I miss so many of these things…I automatcially started adding to the list…but I thought folks might like
    Dodgeball target
    Snow de-icer
    hand warmer
    bathroom duties need to be included…at all levels
    coach
    in Dave’s reference Talent Show Flunky (being jumped by a 10 year old on a BMX bike)not quite Rock Star Status until the recovery!
    I will leave you with the most topical in my world these days…Environmental Champion!

  3. Awesome list, I just wish we still had someone enforcing your last point at my school (and I teach in a high school!).

    One much more sobering one though and I hope this is no one’s task but based on the experience we’ve had this last week at our school:

    The-one-who-shoulders-the-load-when-things-go-awfully-terribly-fantastically-wrong.

    Which is why principals have my respect for the jobs they do even if I don’t always agree with them.
    .-= gmaccoll´s last blog ..Sometimes it’s just too much =-.

  4. When you break them down like this it truly is amazing to see how much you do in the lives of children and students. What a great way to share more than just the formal roles of your position. Keep up the good work and thank-you.

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