Principal Responsibilities

In many Anabaptist schools, principals wear two hats—teacher and administrator. Clarification of both roles is essential in helping a principal do his job well. Jonas provides helpful and practical insights into this multifaceted position.

1. Principals must be clear on their administrative responsibilities, which include hiring, inspiring, and supporting teachers; fostering unity among faculty, board, and parents; evaluating curriculum; and handling procedural tasks such as ordering supplies.
2. Principals must fight against factors that lead to mediocre schools, which include absent or ineffective leadership, overloaded administrators, unclear expectations, or inherited approaches that don’t align with current needs.
3. Principals must do their part to build successful schools, which includes finding capable teachers, nurturing a positive school culture, promoting unity, and evaluating curriculum.
4. Principals must learn to work efficiently, which includes using the 80/20 rule to prioritize impactful tasks, planning strategically, delegating tasks, and leveraging the summer for administrative work.
5. Principals must strive for personal health and servant leadership, which includes balancing their personal life to avoid burnout, discernment, vision, and being accessible to support teachers.

The role of a teaching principal requires wisdom, discernment, and hard work.

“Principal Responsibilities” was presented by Jonas Sauder at CASBI 2025 held at United Christian School in Napanee, Indiana.