When applying for a grant or changing jobs, principals may request letters of recommendation. People may also submit letters of support for a principal in order to put her forward for a scholarship or other type of recognition. Writing letters of recommendation for principals can be difficult because it requires condensing accomplishments that could be quite long. Additionally, you should humanize the letter so that it doesn’t read like a list of accomplishments from a resume.
Establish your relationship with the candidate and succinctly summarize how you understand her responsibilities at the beginning of the letter. For instance, you might mention that you and three other principals are members of an interdistrict committee tasked with enhancing test results required by law. “Over the past three years, I have seen Julie Cantor work with her school site, Tall Pine Middle School, to improve overall test scores by 18%,” the letter might say. “Providing professional context demonstrates your credibility as a reference, adding more weight to subsequent statements.
According to North Carolina Public Schools, principals are expected to coordinate complicated responsibilities related to a school’s finances, legal obligations, relationships with the school board, staffing needs, and other administrative tasks. Describe a principal’s level of administrative competence before discussing her more complex skills and traits. When possible, use specific examples from the principal’s professional experience. For example, you might state, “Dr. Cantor oversees a team of over 75 teachers and conducts weekly staff meetings at the school to identify, prioritize, and address new issues arising from state-mandated budget cuts made the previous year. The school and nearby companies collaborated to fund a new computer lab last year. ”.
Some principals are reputed to spend all of their time in their offices, cut off from the student body. Your letter of recommendation can highlight the candidate’s passion for overcoming obstacles faced by students, creating a sense of community among students, and attending to their unique needs. A letter of recommendation might state, “Mrs. Every day during lunch, Cantor strolls around campus, talking with students and soliciting their opinions on how to improve the school. She spends a lot of extra time getting to know her at-risk students because she is deeply committed to reducing student gang involvement. ”.
In and outside of the school, principals are expected to foster communities that are secure, productive, and empowered. Effective recommendation letters will speak to the applicant’s capacity for engaging with families and encouraging them to become more invested in the academic success of their children. You can bring up the principal’s good rapport with the school board, neighborhood media, local education non-profits, and local government officials. For example, your letter might state, “Mrs. The school’s first-of-the-year home visitation program was started by Cantor, and it requires each home room teacher to make a commitment to visiting the homes of his or her students’ families. This fosters a good relationship with parents and teachers and makes it easier for them to communicate about students’ progress. ”.
Why is it important to write a letter of recommendation for a principal?
A principal may find a letter of recommendation helpful in a number of circumstances, such as when they are attempting to transfer to another institution. A strong letter of recommendation can be a valuable addition to a principal’s portfolio in these circumstances, where the hiring committee may have a large pool of qualified candidates to choose from, helping to distinguish them from the competition. It may be advantageous for principals who want to pursue educational doctoral degrees to submit a letter of recommendation with their application.
A letter of recommendation could also be helpful when applying for grants, just to name one more scenario. To obtain funding for specialized programming or other improvements to their school, a principal may submit grant applications to the government or other big businesses. They could reassure the grant reviewers that they are a capable principal who is committed to acting in their students’ best interests by including a letter of recommendation.
What is a letter of recommendation for a principal?
A colleague or mentor can write a letter of recommendation for a principal outlining the accomplishments and value of the professional they’re endorsing. These letters assist in giving a third party’s perspective on the skills and qualities a principal possesses that set them apart from the competition. They can include specific accomplishments and information about the most notable ones, like high graduation rates or above-average test scores. They might also include a list of abilities relevant to being a principal, along with instances in which the professional demonstrated those abilities to great advantage.
How to write a principal letter of recommendation
Here are some guidelines you can use when composing a principal recommendation letter:
1. Include the appropriate heading
Including a suitable heading may help convey an image of organization and professionalism, which may affect the reader’s perception of the letters’ legitimacy. Additionally, you can include context and contact details in your headings, which will allow the reviewer to ask more questions and stay organized. You can submit your name, address, phone number, and email. Consider using a short and clear subject line if you’re writing an email instead of a formal letter in case they want to refer to it later.
2. Begin with an introductory paragraph
Introduce yourself and your relationship to the principal at the beginning of your letter of recommendation to give the reviewer some helpful context. Include any additional pertinent details that may help the reviewer understand the situation, such as the school’s location or the length of time you or the subject have worked there. You may also introduce the institution where they work.
This could also be a good opportunity to state that the purpose of the letter is to offer the principal’s support and recommendations. To encourage the reviewer to feel the same way as they read it, it might be helpful to express your joy or excitement at this possibility in the opening paragraph.
3. List their administrative skills
One of the most crucial things to mention in this letter is the principal’s administrative abilities and accomplishments as the chief administrator of an educational establishment. These specifics could reassure reviewers that they are competent in their administrative role. You may describe their abilities related to:
4. Describe their leadership
Another duty of a school’s principal is to lead with clarity and efficiency. Consider mentioning their leadership abilities or other traits that you have seen that make them a strong leader in your letter of recommendation. You can demonstrate their leadership in action by citing an occasion or effort that benefited from their abilities. These examples might include managing a particular committee or event, whether as part of or separate from their regular school responsibilities. You can also discuss their leadership style for students.
Utilize this chance to talk about leadership-related skills like relationship-building and communication. In order to connect with parents, students, teachers, school board members, government officials, or members of the media, a principal may need to have strong interpersonal skills. If you noticed specific abilities in these interactions, you can give instances or descriptions of these
5. Discuss their passions and educational vision
A principal’s educational vision can be crucial because it can set the tone for many aspects of the school, such as curriculum changes and policy. You can talk about the principal’s educational vision by outlining their values and purpose as an educator. You can also discuss the actions they have taken to put their vision into action since becoming the principal. This can help them solidify their credentials and show that they have the ability to put their vision into practice.
6. End with a conclusion and respectful signoff
An efficient way to close your letter is to write a brief conclusion statement that reiterates your support for the recommendation’s subject. Additionally, you can highlight their significance and restate the key ideas of your letter. Think about including a specific recommendation for the position the principal is applying for or the objective they’re attempting to pursue. Before signing off with a kind close like “Sincerely” and your signature, you can also offer your general support and best wishes.
Principal letter of recommendation template
Reviewing a sample letter can be helpful if you’re writing a letter of recommendation for a principal. Then, you can update, modify, or add to the portions of the template that best serve your needs. Here is a sample letter of recommendation for a principal that you can use as a guide:
[Name]
[Location]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Date]
[Name of recipient]
[Job title of recipient]
[Organization name]
[Organization location]
To whom it may concern,
It gives me great pleasure to write this letter on [principal’s name] behalf. Working with [name of principal] for [number of years] as [professional relationship] has been an honor for me. Since taking over as the [name of the school’s] principal in [year], [name of the principal] has [notable achievements] I wholeheartedly endorse [name of principal] for [certain position, grant, or award].
[Name of Principal] is a capable and seasoned administrator with [list of administrative achievements]. Theyre also highly skilled at [administrative skill]. Since taking on the role of principal, [relevant data or proof of claims of administrative competence] They are a great school principal because of the care and consideration they give to every administrative detail.
The principal of this school, as well as the larger [your town/city] community of educators, is an excellent leader. [Name specific leadership event] is where they have made their greatest leadership contributions. I also respect their commitment to setting a good example for students, teachers, and parents. For instance, [include example].
The commitment to their educational values is one of the qualities that makes [principal name] a successful leader. Every choice they make furthers their goal of giving every student who enters our doors a top-notch education and a nurturing environment. They’ve talked extensively about their love for [insert specific value or passion], and I’ve seen them live those values out numerous times. For example, [include example].
I therefore hereby pledge to support [principal name] in their future endeavors with confidence. I am happy to offer my recommendation in support of [principal name] because I am aware that this opportunity to [name opportunity] may [name benefit]. Please feel free to contact me by phone or email if you have any additional questions or would like to discuss this further.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Principal letter of recommendation example
Here is an illustration of a recommendation letter based on the sample provided above:
Julia Lester
Los Angeles, California
(444) 900-8888
[email protected]
December 14, 2021
Hiring Board
Peamont High School
Los Angeles, California
To whom it may concern,
It gives me great pleasure to write this letter on Kate Mitchell’s behalf. I had the pleasure of working with principal Mitchell for seven years while we were both teachers at Viewpoint Academy and for a further four years after she was promoted to that position. Since taking over as Viewpoint’s principal in 2017, Mitchell has built a successful school that has received consistent praise from parents. I enthusiastically recommend her for the position of principal at Peamont High School.
Principal Mitchell is a capable and seasoned administrator who has fostered a climate of cooperation and support within the Viewpoint Academy administration. Establishing a feedback system to ensure effective staff communication was one of her first moves as principal. Additionally, she has a strong background in budget analysis and always thoroughly researches all potential outcomes before making important financial decisions. Since taking over as principal, she has secured two significant grants for the institution. One quality that has made her such a great school principal is the care and attention she gives to every administrative detail.
In addition, Principal Mitchell is a model leader at this school and throughout the greater Los Angeles educational community. One notable leadership accomplishment was founding the Committee for Change, which brings together leaders in the education sector from various local schools to advance the creation of initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. I also respect her commitment to setting a good example for students, teachers, and parents. In October of last year, Mitchell was the first to sign up for the district’s “Bike to School” challenge, and she encouraged many others to follow suit.
Mitchell’s commitment to her educational values contributes to her effectiveness as a leader. Every choice she makes furthers her goal of giving every student who enters our doors a top-notch education and a nurturing environment. She has talked extensively about her love of open communication, and I have seen her demonstrate these values numerous times. She invites any student to visit her and take some candy, for instance, as a way to engage in conversation with the student body. She also always keeps a jar of candy on her desk.
As a result, I can confidently say that I’ll be behind Mitchell in whatever she decides to do in the future. I’m pleased to offer Mitchell my recommendation in favor of this position, as I know that the chance to lead a new and larger educational establishment like Peamont High School may prove to be an exciting next step in her academic career. Please feel free to contact me by phone or email if you have any additional questions or would like to discuss this further.
Sincerely,
Julia Lester
How to get a strong recommendation letter (Get Accepted to Your Dream University Part #8)
FAQ
Can a principal write a letter of recommendation?
Some students request letters of recommendation from their principal, department head, or even a famous person or official. Although the recommendation letter may stand out if the person writing it is familiar with the applicant, the recommender’s authority or notoriety alone won’t necessarily impress admissions committees.
What should be included in a letter of recommendation for principal?
- Administrative Skills. …
- Daily Routine. …
- Relationship Building. …
- Vision and Accomplishments.
How do you write a letter of recommendation for principal of the Year?
Send your letter of support to the particular group or committee that is receiving nominations for the Principal of the Year award. State the principal`s full name, school and school district. Describe to the committee why you think the principal is deserving of being named principal of the year.
How do I write a letter of recommendation for an administrator?
- Introduce yourself and your relevant position. …
- Describe important aspects of the candidate. …
- Relate the candidate and employer. …
- Conclude the letter.
