If you want to make a difference in the state of California, there may be no better path than becoming a principal. Be a leader in California schools and have a long-lasting impact by following this advice from Noodle.
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As one of Massachusetts’s leading teacher preparation schools, we continue to develop new coursework and programs with our experienced.
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Learn to become a transformational leader with the skills to create and implement effective policy and programs at all.
Learn More American University: Masters in Education Policy and LeadershipIf you are interested in becoming a principal in California, it is going to require a lot of hard work, coordination, and patience. The credentialing process can sometimes be confusing, so Noodle has provided a guide to help you navigate each step. Important to note is that California offers a two-tiered credentialing process. The first tier includes a preliminary credential, which is good for five years; the second tier includes a clear credential, which allows you to be a school administrator indefinitely. To become a principal in California, you must first possess an Administrative Services Credential. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to obtain this credential.
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing offers more details about the administrative services credential preparation programs. Once you obtain the clear credential, you are qualified to apply for any principal position in California.
If you are not from California, but are interested in landing a California principal job, your education and credentialing will need to be comparable to what California requires.
According to the California Department of Education, during the 2016-17 school year, California enrolled 6.2 million students in 10,500 schools. The populous state currently lists 194 principal jobs and 155 vice principal jobs on EdJoin’s job board. While California’s teacher shortages are ongoing, it appears to be difficult to recruit California principals as well. This may be because California is ranked 47th in the U.S. for the number of students per administrator, and also because California doesn’t pay principals as much%5B1%5D.pdf) as would some other states.
There is no doubt that being a principal in California poses challenges. However, the state offers many resources to help develop and foster leadership in education. At the end of the day, serving as a California principal is a sincerely rewarding job.
One well-known resource for principals is the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), which serves as a blanket organization for school leaders throughout the state. The ACSA offers support by dividing the state into 19 geographic regions, so that local issues may be addressed and handled appropriately. ACSA’s mission is to provide bold and authoritative advocacy, inspirational networks of discovery, mutual commitment to excellence, and universal accessibility to learning, in order to develop communities that strengthen individual students and society-at-large. The ACSA offers a list of member services and benefits to California principals, which include a mentor program as well as leadership, networking, and advocacy opportunities.
The California Department of Education (CDE) also provides resources for administrators, such as a digital chalkboard that encourages California educators to collaborate and share resources. CDE is a great source of information on things like standards and frameworks, school and district reporting, conference calendars, common core, nutrition education, and other fiscal and data driven items.
If you wish to become a principal in California, there are a number of vacancies throughout the state. Glassdoor currently has 170 principal jobs posted on a statewide basis, with 26 located in San Francisco, 41 located in Los Angeles, and 7 located in San Diego.
San Francisco. If you would like to become a principal in San Francisco Bay Area, the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) has multiple opportunities for you to explore. SFUSD is committed to finding the best leaders to help support and transform a learning environment so that students will graduate with the skills necessary to achieving their future goals. If you are currently a teacher in San Francisco, SFUSD offers an Aspiring Administrator series that provides career pathways, interview preparation, and instruction on best practices for administrators.
Los Angeles. Many Los Angeles teachers choose to become principals in order to make an even greater impact on the 1.5 million students enrolled in LA’s K-12 schools. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), which is the second-largest school district in the country, requires very specific qualifications for principals, including eight years of full-time public school certificated service. LAUSD lists its administrative vacancies on the district website, and provides additional resources to administrator applicants from any outside districts.
San Diego. San Diego provides detailed job postings on the San Diego Unified Job Opportunities board. The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) also encourages prospective employees to apply by providing an overview of the benefits of becoming an educator. SDUSD’s mission is to have all San Diego students graduate with the skills, motivation, curiosity, and resilience necessary to succeed in their lives. San Diego also implemented a district-wide long-term plan for student achievement called Vision 2020. The community-based school reform plan will engage parents, staff, students, and community members to develop a world-class school system by the year 2020.
Salary.com provides a list of salaries and benefits for principals within 79 cities throughout California. In Los Angeles, the median annual school principal base salary is $115,734, and the median salary with benefits is $157,922. San Francisco principals make an average base salary of $127,791, and $173,652 with benefits, while San Diego principals make an average base salary of $110,168, and $150,645 with benefits. The annual benefits include social security, retirement funds, health insurance, pension, and paid time off.
The BLS reports that the annual mean wage for education administrators in California was $118,810 per year, while the national average was $94,390 per year, as of May 2017. Although the cost of living is much higher than in other states, this puts California in the 75th percentile for principal salaries. Glassdoor indicates that California principals’ average salary is currently $100,438, while Indeed indicates the average principal salary is $95,951.
If you have a passion for teaching and are willing to take on an education system in the most populated state in the country, you should seriously consider California. Becoming a principal in California will allow you to take on new challenges, have a big impact, and learn and grow as both an administrator and a person.
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