773-555-0100 I CherylSmith@email.com I Secaucus, NJ May 5, 2023 St. Helen's High School Dear hiring manager, I'm excited to submit my application for principal at St. Helen's High School. I attended this school as a student, and the teachers and staff I worked with as an adolescent have shaped my education and life. It has always been my dream to return to St. Helen's High School and to use my experience and expertise to help inspire and encourage students. I'm a dedicated educator with over 25 years of education experience who is passionate about creating safe and encouraging atmospheres for students and staff. My most recent role is at Hampton Highs school, where I've been the principal for seven years. At Hampton high school, I designed and implemented a new AP class curriculum to increase GPAs by 30% school-wide and improve student body college acceptance by 15%. I can bring my experience implementing new methodologies and updating class offerings to St. Helen's and ensure your students get the best possible education to set them up for success. I also believe that a healthy work environment for faculty and staff creates a healthy educational environment for students. That's why I Increased job satisfaction and staff performance by 40% by instituting regular instructional training and feedback sessions to improve staff-wide communication channels. I also restructured staffing decisions by overseeing interviews and hiring processes, decreasing teacher turnover by 10%. This dedication to my colleagues can be an asset at St. Helens. Thank you for your consideration. My experience and dedication to student life and faculty development can help St Helen's create a nurturing and supportive environment for its students. I am available to discuss my experience further in-depth if you call me after 3 p.m. on a weekday. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Cheryl Smith To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.
What to include in a principal cover letter
Here are some elements you can include in a cover letter when applying to become a principal:Contact information
Contact information is one of the most important things you can include in a cover letter because it helps the employer reach out to you with updates about your application. If they want to schedule an interview or have more questions about your candidacy, they can contact you using the phone number or email address you provide. Putting your name at the top of your cover letter is also an essential identifier so the hiring manager can quickly identify your application from those of other candidates. Related: FAQ: Should I Be a Principal? (With Duties, Benefits and Salary)Career summary
In your cover letter, you can explain your vision for the school you want to work at and the skills you can bring to the position. As the leader of the school, a principal should have enough experience to lead and a desire to make a change in the lives of their staff and students. You can use your cover letter to explain how the work you've already done exhibits these qualities and how you would like to continue to grow your career. Related: Learn About Being a PrincipalSkills
You can highlight the specific skills you have that make you a strong candidate for the position. When describing your previous experience and plans for the future, you can mention the skills you've developed and how they can help you perform your duties and improve the school where you work. When choosing what skills to discuss in your cover letter, consider any specific skills mentioned in the job description. Here are some common skills that principals require to be successful:- Communication: Working with students and staff requires strong communication skills to understand each other.
- Critical thinking: A principal chooses initiatives and direction for the school, so using their necessary thinking skills helps them make intelligent choices that benefit the most students.
- Problem-solving: As the school leader, they are the authority for any problems that may arise for students or staff. Constructively resolving these problems is essential for a principal's job.
- Leadership: A principal is the highest administrative official at a school, and they respond to the board of education or board of directors. They use their leadership skills to guide the school and its students and staff to create successful experiences for the students.
- Budgeting: The school principal allocates funds to different departments and initiatives as needed, so a strong budgeting background can help a principal make smart financial decisions.
- Scheduling: The principal creates schedules for the students and staff, so understanding scheduling and time management is essential.
- Networking: One of the duties of a principal is securing funding for the school and making connections that can help provide the best resources for their students, so networking is an essential skill.
- Curriculum building: The principal makes decisions about the curriculum offered at their school, including what classes the school offers and the subject matter covered.