What Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals Do About this section

What Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals

Principals serve as the public face of the school and meet with government officers such as legislators, and members of the community. Elementary, middle, and high school principals lead teachers and other members of school staff. They manage the day-to-day operations of elementary, middle, and high schools. They set goals and objectives and evaluate the school’s progress toward meeting them.

Duties

·         Elementary, middle, and high school principals typically do the following:

·         Supervise teachers and other school staff, such as counselors and librarians

·         Observe and monitor teachers to evaluate their effectiveness

·         Help teachers improve their teaching skills by arranging professional development programs and mentorships

·         Ensure that staff have the tools and resources they need to do their jobs effectively

·         Discipline students and help teachers manage students’ behavior

·         Meet with parents and teachers to discuss students’ progress and behavior

·         Review test scores and other data to assess the school’s progress

·         Manage the school’s budget and finances

·         Ensure school facilities are safe for students and staff

·         Advocate on behalf of the school to ensure it has the necessary financial support

Elementary, middle, and high school principals manage the overall operation of schools, including building maintenance and cafeteria services. In addition, they set and oversee academic standards and ensure that teachers have the tools and resources, such as training, necessary to meet these standards. Principals establish the school as a resource to students and their families.

Principals serve as the public face of their school. They meet with government officials such as legislators, and members of the community to ensure the school has the resources it needs to serve its students. They are also responsible for responding to the concerns of parents and members of the community.

The job duties of principals vary by the size of the school and the school location. In larger schools principals have more resources and staff to help them achieve goals and meet standards. For example, large school may have instructional coordinators who help with data analysis and with teachers' professional development. However, principals in large schools may have less flexibility and may need to follow rules and guidelines which have already been set. Those in small school districts need to do all of these duties themselves and may have more flexibility to try new ideas.

Many schools have assistant principals that help principals with school administration. Assistant principals often take the lead on student safety and discipline. They may interact with the students more than the principal does. In addition, assistant principals may administer student activities, help coordinate buses, and supervise building and grounds maintenance. Larger schools may have several assistant principals.

Work Environment About this section

Elementary, middle, and high school principals

Principals meet with parents and teachers to discuss students’ progress.

Principals work in public or private elementary, middle, and high schools. Some work in public magnet and charter schools. Others work in private religious and secular schools.

Elementary, middle, and high school principals hold leadership positions with significant responsibility. Working with students may be rewarding. However, coordinating and interacting with faculty, parents, students, community members, and state and local policymakers can be demanding. Principals’ work can sometimes be stressful because they are accountable for schools meeting state and federal standards for student performance and teacher qualification.

Work Schedules

Principals typically work full time. They may work in the evening to meet parents and other members of the community and to attend school functions, such as concerts and athletic events.

Many principals work year-round and do not have summers off, even if students are not in school. During the summer, principals prepare for the upcoming school year, schedule building maintenance, order school supplies, or hire teachers and staff.

How to Become an Elementary, Middle, or High School Principal

Master’s degree programs in education administration prepare students to lead teachers and other staff.

Most schools require elementary, middle, and high school principals to have a master’s degree in education administration or leadership. Most principals also have work experience as teachers.

Education

Principals typically need a master’s degree in education leadership or education administration. These master’s degree programs prepare future principals to manage teachers and staff, prepare and manage budgets, set goals, and work with parents and the community.

To enter these programs, candidates typically need a bachelor’s degree in education, school counseling, or a related field.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Candidates for the position of principal usually need work experience as a teacher. For more information on how to become a teacher, see the profiles on kindergarten and elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, and high school teachers.

Advancement

An assistant principal can advance to become a principal. Some principals advance to become superintendents, which may require completion of additional education. Others become instructional coordinators.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Principals must communicate effectively with students, teachers, and parents. For example, when dealing with student disciplinary or academic issues, they consult with and listen to parents and teachers to understand the problem.

Critical-thinking skills. Principals analyze student test results and testing procedures to determine any improvements to help students achieve better results.

Decision-making skills. Because principals are responsible for students, staff members, and the overall operation of the school, they consider many factors when making decisions. For example, they consider the safety of students and staff when making a recommendation to close a school before a snowstorm.

Interpersonal skills. Because principals work with teachers, parents, and superintendents, they must be able to develop positive working relationships with them.

Leadership skills. Principals set educational goals and establish policies and procedures for the school. They need to be able to motivate teachers and other staff to achieve set goals.

Problem-solving skills. Teachers, students, and other staff members report problems to the principal. Principals need to be able to analyze problems, and develop and implement solutions.

Similar Occupation

Career and Technical Education Teachers:           Career and technical education teachers instruct students in various technical and vocational subjects, such as auto repair, healthcare, and culinary arts. They teach academic and technical content to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter an occupation.     Bachelor’s degree   

                       

High School Teachers:   High school teachers help prepare students for life after graduation. They teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.                Bachelor’s degree

                               

Instructional Coordinators:         Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, coordinate its implementation with teachers and principals, and assess its effectiveness. 

                   

Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers  Kindergarten and elementary school teachers prepare younger students for future schooling by teaching them basic subjects such as math and reading Bachelor’s degree

Librarians:           Librarians help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use. Their job duties may change based on the type of library they work in, such as public, school, and medical libraries.  

                         

Middle School Teachers:              Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades.  Middle school teachers help students build on the fundamentals they learned in elementary school and prepare them for the more difficult curriculum they will face in high school. 

   

Post-secondary Education Administrators:            Post-secondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities. Their job duties vary depending on the area of the college they manage, such as admissions, student life, or the office of the registrar. 

                     

Post-secondary Teachers:             Post secondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and vocational subjects beyond the high school level. They also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.   

                     

Preschool and Childcare Center Directors:           Preschool and childcare center directors direct and lead staffs, oversee daily activities, and prepare plans and budgets. They are responsible for all aspects of their center’s program.     

              

Preschool Teachers:       Preschool teachers educate and care for children, usually ages 3 to 5, who have not yet entered kindergarten. They teach reading, writing, science, and other subjects in a way that young children can understand.              

                       

School and Career Counselors:  School counselor’s help students develop social skills and succeed in school. Career counselors assist people with the process of making career decisions, by helping them choose a career or educational program.     

                       

Special Education Teachers:       Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects, such as reading, writing, and math, to students with mild and moderate disabilities. They also teach basic skills, such as literacy and communication techniques, to students with severe disabilities.   

                           

Teacher Assistants:         Teacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technician

What Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians Do

Aerospace engineering and operations technicians work to make sure that testing goes smoothly.

Aerospace engineering and operations technicians operate and maintain equipment used in testing new aircraft and spacecraft. Increasingly, their job requires programming and running computer simulations that test new designs. Their work is critical in preventing the failure of key parts of new aircraft, spacecraft, or missiles. They also help in quality assurance, testing, and operation of high-technology equipment used in producing aircraft and the systems that go into the aircraft.

Duties

Aerospace engineering and operations technicians typically do the following:

Make sure that test procedures go smoothly and safely

Operate and calibrate computer systems to comply with test requirements

Record data from test parts and assemblies

Meet with aerospace engineers to discuss details and implications of test procedures

Build and maintain test facilities for aircraft systems

Make and install parts and systems to be tested

Install instruments in aircraft and spacecraft              

Monitor and assure quality in producing systems that go into the aircraft           

New aircraft designs undergo years of testing before they are put into service because the failure of key parts during flight can be fatal. As part of the job, technicians often calibrate test equipment, such as wind tunnels, and determine causes of equipment malfunctions. They also may program and run computer simulations that test new designs.

Work Environment

Aerospace engineering and operations technicians install instruments in aircraft and spacecraft.

They usually work full time in laboratories, offices, and manufacturing or industrial plants. Many are exposed to hazards from equipment or from toxic materials, but incidents are rare as long as proper procedures are followed.

Industries that employed the largest numbers of aerospace engineering and operations technicians include:

Aerospace products and parts manufacturing
Navigational, measuring, electrometrical, and control instruments manufacturing
Architectural, engineering, and related services
Scheduled air transportation
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private

Aerospace engineering and operations technicians are physically active in constructing the designs that aerospace engineers develop. Consequently, these technicians often work directly in manufacturing or industrial plants, where they help to assemble aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft away from an office environment.

How to Become an Aerospace Engineering or Operations Technician

Aerospace engineering and operations technicians work to prevent the failure of key parts of new aircraft, spacecraft, or missiles.

An associate’s degree is becoming increasingly desired by employers of aerospace engineering and operations technicians, although vocational programs that grant certificates or diplomas also offer good preparation. Some aerospace engineering and operations technicians work on projects that are related to national defense.

Education

High school students interested in becoming an aerospace engineering and operations technician should take classes in math, science, and, if available, drafting. Courses that help students develop skills working with their hands also are valuable, because these technicians build what aerospace engineers design. Employers also want these technicians to have a basic understanding of computers and programs to model or simulate products.

Vocational-technical schools include postsecondary public institutions that emphasize training needed by local employers. Students who complete these programs typically receive a diploma or certificate. 

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians receive instructions from aerospace engineers. Consequently, they must be able to understand and follow the instructions, as well as communicate any problems to their supervisors.

Critical-thinking skills. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians must be able to help aerospace engineers figure out why a particular design does not work as planned. They must be able to evaluate system capabilities, identify problems, formulate the right question, and then to find the right answer.

Detail oriented. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians make and keep precise measurements needed by aerospace engineers. Consequently, they must make correct measurements and keep accurate records.

Interpersonal skills. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians must be able to take instruction and offer advice. An ability to work well with supervising engineers, other technicians, and mechanics is critical as technicians increasingly interact with people from other divisions, businesses, and governments.

Math skills. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians use the principals of mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

Technical skills. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians must be able to help aerospace engineers by building what the engineers design and helping with the processes and directions required to move from design to production. They must have both the hands-on skills of mechanics and some technical knowledge of aerospace engineering.

Certification

Although certification is not required, skills-based certification programs help students prepare for certification. Certification may be beneficial because it shows employers that a technician can carry out the theoretical designs of aerospace engineers.

Similar Occupations

Aerospace Engineers

Drafters

Electro-mechanical Technicians

Industrial Engineering Technicians

Mechanical Engineering Technicians

Adult Literacy and GED Teachers

What Adult Literacy and GED Teachers Do

Adult literacy and GED teachers need to use different teaching strategies to meet their students’ needs.

Adult literacy and General Education Development (GED) teachers instruct adults and youths who are out of school in basic skills, such as reading, writing, and speaking English. They also help students earn their GED or high school diploma.

Duties

• Adult literacy and GED teachers typically do the following:
• Evaluate students' strengths and weaknesses
• Plan and teach lessons to help students gain the knowledge and skills they need to meet their goals, such as learning English or getting their GED
• Emphasize skills that will help students find jobs, such as learning English words and phrases used in the workplace
• Work with each student to challenge him or her and overcome the student’s weaknesses
• Assess students for possible learning disabilities
• Monitor students' progress toward their goals
• Help students develop study skills 
• Connect students to other resources in their community, such as mental health services or job placement services

Before students enter these education programs, their educational level and skills are assessed. Sometimes the teachers do this assessment, but in many cases another staff member does it.

In many programs, the teacher then works with other staff members to use information from the assessment and information about the student’s goals to develop an individualized educational program (IEP).

Teachers must formally evaluate their students periodically to determine their progress and potential to go on to the next level. However, they informally evaluate their students' progress continually.

Adult literacy and GED teachers often have students of various levels in their classes. As a result, teachers need to use teaching strategies and methods that meet all of their students’ needs. In addition, teachers focus on helping students develop skills they need in the workplace. For example, they may teach students how to read a contract or how to estimate the cost of materials needed to remodel a kitchen. Teachers may work with students in classes or tutor them one-on-one.

There are three basic types of education that adult literacy and GED teachers provide:

Adult basic education classes teach students the basics of reading, writing, and math. Students often enter these classes at or below an eighth-grade level in these subjects. Students generally are 16 years and older and need to gain proficiency in these skills to improve their job situation.

GED and adult secondary education classes prepare students to take the test to earn their GED. Sometimes these classes help students finish the credits necessary for them to earn a high school diploma. Some programs are combined with career preparation programs so that students can earn their GED or high school diploma and a career-related credential at the same time.

Passing the GED means passing five tests: reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. In addition, GED and adult secondary teachers help their students improve their skills in communicating, critical thinking, and problem solving—skills they will need for further education and successful careers.

English as a Second Language (ESL) classes teach students to read, write, and speak English. These classes are sometimes also called English for speakers of other languages (ESOL). People in these classes are recent immigrants to the United States and others whose native language is not English.

ESL teachers often focus on helping their students with practical vocabulary for jobs and daily living. They may also focus on preparing their students to take the citizenship exam.

In one class, an ESL teacher may have students from many different countries and cultures. Because the ESL teacher and the students may not share a common native language, ESL teachers must be creative in fostering communication in the classroom to achieve their education goals

Work Environment

Adult literacy and GED teachers often work in community colleges, community-based organizations, and public schools.

Adult literacy and General Education Development (GED) teachers are often employed by community colleges, community-based organizations, and public schools. Some work in prisons.The following industries employed the most adult literacy and GED teachers:

Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private Junior colleges; state, local, and private Other educational services; state, local, and private State and local government, excluding education and hospitals  Students in adult literacy and GED programs attend classes by choice. As a result, they are often highly motivated, which can make teaching them rewarding and satisfying.

Work Schedules

Classes are held at times when students are not at work, so many teachers work in the mornings and evenings.