Principal Mock Interview
Master 27 Principal interview questions covering leadership, school culture, and strategic decision-making.
Question 6 of 27
What qualities make an excellent principal?
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Audra Kresinske is an educator with over 7 years experience teaching English and employment readiness skills.
Chances are you already have an opinion as to what makes an excellent principal. Consider all of the various roles that a principal takes on and what qualities are necessary to ensure everything gets done and teachers and families have a voice within the school. It would be helpful to also explain why those qualities are important for the job and how you demonstrate them in your every day. You definitely can't go wrong by naming qualities like effective communicator, decisive, approachable, intentional, and honest.
Audra Kresinske is an educator with over 7 years experience teaching English and employment readiness skills.
"A lot is expected of principals and they are often face a lot of scrutiny because of the numerous amount of people counting on them to deliver. However, the best ones are strong communicators. They speak clearly, with authority, and leave no room for misinterpretations. The best principals are also highly approachable and friendly. They make time to communicate with their staff, students, and families and get to know them on a personal level. A principal should also be a creative thinker and decisive. They are the leader of the school, so they should be filled with ideas as to how to improve student experience and then promptly implement those ideas."
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I believe the best principals are strong communicators, decisive, and collaborative. They speak clearly, with authority, and leave no room for misinterpretations. The best principals are also highly approachable and friendly. They make time to communicate with their staff, students, and families and get to know them on a personal level. A principal should also be a creative thinker and decisive. They are the school's leaders, so they should be filled with ideas on how to improve the student and staff experience, share the ideas with stakeholders, and then collaboratively work with staff and community to implement those ideas.
Marcie's Feedback
Awesome! You have mentioned lots of qualities that a principal should possess. But do you possess them? That's the real question. Don't forget to remind the interviewer that you are a strong communicator, decisive, collaborative, approachable, friendly, creative, and so on.
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