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6 Ways to Thank Your Principal for National Principals Month!

(Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2019 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness.)

This October is National Principals Month, a time dedicated to celebrating hard working, determined, and visionary principals across the country. Whether you are a teacher, parent, or student, take this time to consider how your local principals have helped shape the community.

To help you show your appreciation for these valuable school leaders, we’ve compiled a list of six different ways you can say “Thank You” to your favorite principal. From writing a thoughtful note, to sharing an honorary post on social media, your simple act of gratitude is sure to make their day.

Don’t forget to view the bottom of the post for extra thank you note examples you can use to write your principal this year!

1. Write a Thank You Note or Message!

Principals’ hard work may often go unnoticed, but these amazing leaders play a huge role in the success of teachers, staff, and students. Send them a physical or digital note to show your appreciation.
Be sure to encourage your students to write thank you notes as well!

“Dear Principal Gonzalez,
I just wanted to share my sincerest thank you. It has not been an easy transition for any of us, but your leadership and positive attitude have helped pull us through. Amy loves your Zoom read-alouds and looks forward to them each week. I really appreciate your weekly newsletters and your constant dedication to keep us parents updated and informed, especially during these rapidly changing times. Your dedication to our students shows and is much appreciated. We feel very fortunate to have you as our principal during these challenging times. Thank you for all that you do. We are #EagleStrong!”

“Dear Principal James,
We are continually impressed with your ability to unite our campus community. You have fostered a sense of support and appreciation that allows us as educators to improve our practice daily. Your long hours and hard work make such a difference to ensure the learning and growth of both our students and staff. We are forever grateful for all you do, thank you!”

(Explore many more examples at the bottom of this page.)

2. Write a Testimonial About Your Principal To Share With Your School or Community

Record a video or audio testimonial with clips from the community to play during the morning school announcements or share via ParentSquare!
Consider contacting the local newspaper to run a piece featuring an appreciative testimonial of all the amazing things your principal has accomplished.

3. Give Your Principal a Shoutout on Social Media

#ThankAPrincipal is the national hashtag for honoring principals everywhere! Share a thoughtful message or photo of your principal and post it to social media with the hashtag #ThankAPrincipal.
Utilizing social media to talk about our principals helps spread the word about the importance of consistent leadership across our school systems.

4. Leave a great review

Rate your school on GreatSchools.org and leave a kind note about your principal in your review!

5. Give a Little Gift of Appreciation

Small tokens can go a long way in showing your gratitude! Send a Starbucks or Amazon gift card, a succulent, a box of candy, etc., or pass along something thoughtful from your child.
If you can’t give a gift yourself, consider asking local businesses to get involved by making a donation or offering a special “Principals” discount.

6. Simply Tell Them You Appreciate Them

Make an effort to thank your principal in person the next time you see them, or be sure to pass along the message through your student if you are a parent. Simple “thank you’s” don’t take much time, but can make a big difference in someone’s day.

Sample Thank You Notes From Teachers:

“I am writing to express my sincere thanks for all you do to improve our school. Without your impressive organization and incredible passion for the students, our community would not be what it is today. You have made a great difference in the lives of Redwood High’s teachers, staff, and students and for that we are forever grateful.”

“I can’t thank you enough for all you have done as school principal! Your vision, wisdom, and passion for this school is apparent every time you hold an assembly or speak to us as teachers. You do an incredible job of listening to any concerns of the staff and keep us excited about improving our school. Your impact has really made a difference, thank you.”

“Thank you so much for being such an impactful leader and motivating our students to strive for success daily. Your input on our after-class learning program has really brought students and teachers together. Thank you for setting such a welcoming and positive tone on campus, and creating a wonderful example for other teachers and staff members. You are a principal whose legacy will be remembered fondly.”

“Strong leadership is the foundation of school success and without you that would not be possible. Because of you, our graduation rates are at an all-time high! Thank you for inspiring our students to achieve their dreams every single day.”

“Thank you for setting high expectations for our students and educators. As principal, you have shaped the conditions for our teachers and students to learn and succeed. We are forever grateful for your impact on this school, keep up the great work!”

“Words cannot begin to describe how thankful we are for the work you do as school principal. You are the glue that keeps Longville together. Your ability to empathize with our students and constant belief in the staff inspires us all to learn new things. Never forget how amazing you are and how much of a difference you have made at this school!”

Sample Thank You Notes From Parents:

“Thank you so much for being my kids’ best principal to date. Your leadership during the time that my two children attended your school has been remarkable and inspiring. I know other parents and students feel the same way, though we might often forget to tell you how much we appreciate you. The school is definitely a better place because you are there.”

“Having you as our school’s principal for the past three years has been a true blessing. We appreciate your tireless efforts to improve the school and the lives of our students. Your involvement in school-wide fundraisers, donations, and special extracurricular events has made not only our campus, but our community a better place. My child has had nothing but good things to say about you, and your hard work has not gone unnoticed! Thank you.”

“Dear Principal Rice,
Thank you for creating a safe and welcoming environment for our students at school. Your communication, compassion, and commitment to the wellbeing of the campus community is invaluable and truly makes a difference. Because of you, my son, Will, is excited to leave for school every morning, which is no small feat. Keep up the amazing work!”

“Thank you for being such an amazing high school principal! As busy parents, we really appreciate your weekly communication updates and the effort you put in to keeping us involved in our student’s life. Sam will never forget the time you volunteered at the dunk tank during the school carnival. We hope you have an amazing school year ahead, and please let us know if there is anything we can do to provide our support!”

“We are so grateful to have you as our principal! Your improvement of school communications has done wonders for the safety of our children! We really appreciate staying up to date with the lives of our students despite our own busy lives as parents. Thank you!”

“I want you to know how much we appreciate having you as our school principal. Your High School Readiness Program has really allowed our child to feel prepared for the transition out of middle school. Thank you for being so thorough and dedicated to your role as a school leader. We can really tell how much you care about the wellbeing of the students both on and off campus. I feel confident sending my child to school everyday knowing that your leadership is in place, thank you!”

“Thank you for making decisions with our students as your top priority. Your hard work is the foundation for their achievement. We can only imagine how difficult the job of school principal is, but you handle it with grace and enthusiasm. We can’t wait to see what else you have in store for our school, thanks again!”

Sample Testimonials

“The first day Principal Mercado started at Rockland High School, I knew students, teachers, parents, and staff would love her. She is one of the most hard-working, compassionate individuals I know. Mercado genuinely cares about the social, emotional, and academic well-being of her students and encourages them to define their own version of success each day. Continually raising the bar for leadership at Rockland High School, she never fails to keep up with the ever-evolving landscape of education. Organized, positive, an excellent communicator and friend, Principal Mercado is all we could ask for and more. From all of us at Rockland, our school would not be the same without you, thank you for everything you do!”

“Mount Moore Middle School would like to honor Principal James for National Principals Month. Serving as principal for over fifteen years, Principal James has contributed to countless educational initiatives, school sporting events, and staff trainings — touching the lives of all in our community. His dedication to Mount Moore is unparalleled and we are forever grateful for his support and hard work. Thank you so much Principal James!”

Resources

For more information on how to best support your local principals, visit www.principalsmonth.org.

Check out The Principle Pipeline podcast to hear testimonials from real principals on the importance of creating strong pathways that help develop great school leaders.

Read the story of how Jennifer Straub, Principal at Francis T. Maloney High School (CT) used ParentSquare to maintain a close community between school and home after school closure and distance learning.

Interested in learning more about how ParentSquare supports principals with unified school-home communications? Check out our website.