October is National Principals Month

Congresswoman Susan Davis Introduces Resolution Honoring School Principals

U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) introduced a House Resolution to honor and recognize the critical role that school principals play in education. Davis’s resolution designates October 2015 as National Principals Month.

“Leadership is one of the most essential elements for success in life – no less so in education,” said Rep. Davis, a senior member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. “Elementary, middle level and high school principals have consistently provided the vision, dedication, and mobilizing force behind successful school reform efforts. It is important that we take the time to appreciate and reflect on the skills, professionalism and dedication our principals bring to their profession.”

Principals set the academic tone for their schools and work collaboratively with teachers to develop and set performance goals and objectives, all in an effort to improve student achievement. Research by the Wallace Foundation has confirmed that school leadership is second only to classroom instruction in its impact on student learning.

In pursuit of educational excellence, today’s principals are expected to fill a large variety of roles, each complex in its own right, including: educational visionaries, instructional leaders, assessment experts, community builders, public relations experts, budget analysts, facility managers, special programs administrators, and guardians of various legal, contractual, and policy mandates and initiatives.

This is the seventh straight year Davis has introduced her National Principals Month resolution and continues her efforts in the area of school leadership. Davis recently introduced legislation to help schools create programs to find the best and brightest individuals to be principals of their schools. Her School Principal Recruitment and Training Act would provide competitive grants for the recruitment and training of high-caliber aspiring principals. Current principals could receive training to lead high-need schools.

The House passed Davis’s National Principals Month resolution in 2009 and 2010.

In addition to the national resolutions in the House and Senate, see which states have issued official proclamations declaring October as National Principals Month by clicking HERE