I think about having a good principal over me a lot when I think about becoming a teacher. When my mom was a 3rd grade teacher her principal was in her classroom at least twice a day monitoring the classroom. Also the principal collected the weeks lesson plans each Friday for the following weeks curriculum. I think it is good for the principal to be active in the classrooms but sometimes I wonder where the teacher and the principal should have some sort of boundary between the two. What kind of principal do yall want to have as your boss?

I want a principal who is visible. I don't want to know that he or she is usually in their office. I think that it is important that the students see the principal as well. As far as a leadership role, I want my principal to not ask me to do something that he/she is not willing to themselves. I really don't want a who constantly delineates between his/her title and the "rest of the staff". I want a principal who refers to him/herself as a teacher first and a principal second. My two cents

I agree with Aaron, by having a "visible" principle. I was lucky to have an outstanding elementary principle who set aside time each day to handwrite birthday cards for those who were celebrating their birthday. And in high school both the principle and the asst. were always around. They were either walking the halls, attending all sporting events and rotating in and out of classrooms all day long. I also found it that with the size of our school, well over 2000 students that the principal knew and could call majority of students by name. I do wonder like Beth what type of principal I will be under, but hopefully it will work out smoothly and he/she will exhibit some of the positive characteristics in which i have experienced.

I also want to work with a principal that isn't always in his office. My idea of a good principal is one that always has the children's best interest in mind. I think in order to do that he must be interactive with the students as well as the teachers. I think that it is very important for teachers and the administration to work well together and understand each others roles. From my own experience I know that the students know when there is tension between the two and it can also affect the child's learning experience.

I agree that a principal must be very involved with all of his/her teachers in order for them and the entire school to be effective and successful. I rememeber reading an article in CI 2800 that showed three teachers and how well they did in their first few years as teachers. The one whose principal created a buddy system and was there as constant support for the teacher was the one who enjoyed her job and who stayed in teaching (in the same school system) for more than 5 years. The teachers without good principals and morale boosting were ineffective, unhappy, and frustrated with their jobs. I think it's obvious that when the principal is "visible" (as Aaron put it), we can feel better about what we're doing and we can know that there will be someone there who cares about us and our teaching as we get used to the way things work.

I want a "people person" principal. I know growing up in my elementary school, my principal was awesome. I think it helps to have someone that can relate to the kids as well help out the teachers. I do not want one that wants my lesson plans every week. I feel that is a little too much to be asking for. I would also like a principal that looks out for their student's best interest. The school I am at now, i can sense a very negative tone from the students when the principal walks down the hall. I just think by interacting with the kids will benefit to let them know you are on their side and your office door is always open.

I would love to see the principal doing the so-called "lowest" positions in the school like car-pool duty and lunch-duty and actually enjoying it. When I substitute teach, it makes a big impression on me to have the principal either escort me to the classroom or peep in and see how I'm doing sometime during the day. Actually, it's nice to just have a principal introduce himself/herself. I subbed for 2 weeks this past Christmas break, and the principal invited me to a faculty meeting where the whole faculty had a Christmas party and I went away with an ornament and a drinking glass with the school's name on it. I also like to see if the principal knows every child's name in the school. Right now, things like that are important, but when I'm in the classroom, I want a principal who stands behind me no matter what, especially when parents are involved.

I agree that a good principal supports both the students and the teachers. If all a principal does is sit in his office he will be separated from the rest of the school and will be less effective in his responsibilities. As a teacher I hope that I can address my principal with problems or suggestions. I hope I have a principal who is easy to talk to for all teachers, parents and students. I think people skills are high on the list of qualities for a good principal.