Do You Buy For The Pricipal?

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I have purchased gift cards for everyone the interacts with my kids at their elementary school except for the princiapal. The gift cards were only for $5 & $10. I am just not sure what to do for the principal. Previously there were donations made for a staff luncheon in lieu of gifts but not this year. What should I give her to without breaking the bank or looking too cheap.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I never gave anything to the principal. I gave Starbucks giftcards to my kids' teachers and made a plate of goodies for the entire administrative staff, principal included.

I have purchased gift cards for everyone the interacts with my kids at their elementary school except for the princiapal. The gift cards were only for $5 & $10. I am just not sure what to do for the principal. Previously there were donations made for a staff luncheon in lieu of gifts but not this year. What should I give her to without breaking the bank or looking too cheap.

 

[cvjw]

We never give anything to the principal of our elementary school. Teachers, helpers, and bus drivers get a gift because they actually interact with my child on a daily basis.

 

[Cindy B]

Don't. In our school, the principals make the six figure salary ( high 100,00's). They make the big bucks.

If you did give the gift directly it would look like you were trying to brownose.. if you will.


A plate of goodies for the whole office staff would suffice. You could write a card if you wished.

 

[Dominus]

We did for the first time this year (today in fact). But that's because our elementary principal is incredible. My wife and I are regulars at the school (lunch, pto, scouts, parites, etc.). So we deal with her on a regular basis. She also was a big reason (I believe anyway) with our school getting an exemplary score as opposed to just being "recognized". $10 gift card to starbucks, nothing too big. We gave her the same as the teachers.

 

[patsal]

Since I am a teacher I buy for my principal, but not my children's principal. I like my administrator and she is very supportive towards me so it is a way for me to say thanks. I do not see the need to buy for the principal of the school my children are/were not "frequent flyers" in the discipline office so it isn't like they'd know me anyway.

If you feel like you would be remiss not to give some token of appreciation, perhaps you could do a batch of fudge or tray of cookies for the whole office staff with a small card thanking them for the role they play in your child's education.

 

[MickeyP]

Principals really do not make big bucks. They discipline, deal with irate parents, stay late at Board of Ed. mtgs. & other nightly activities, deal with whiny teachers, conduct professional development, work together with social workers, and follow up on referrals, etc, etc, etc. I understand this is their job, but I honestly don't believe most principals enjoy their job. Private schools are a different story.

 

[MickeyP]

I think a gift would make a principal's day.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I did when DS was in middle school. He had some health issues and the principal was AMAZING. It was a tough year and all the teachers on his team was so wonderful that I bit the bullet and got 7 25.00 gift cards. This however was an exception. I did a small gift for the same principal the other two years of MS but did not elementary or high school. I would say give only if your child has had direct contact with him or he or she has dealt directly with you.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We buy for our elementary school principal. She is awesome, and our family is in our seventh year at the school. She knows everyone's name and always asks how my older DD is doing in middle school, as well as keeping her eye on my younger DD and all the other kids at the school. She is very supportive of her teachers but also very understanding of the parents.

I did not buy for the middle school principal. Nice guy and a good principal, but he has no idea yet what my DD's name is since she just started there this year and the school is quite a bit bigger.

 

[Pigeon]

No, I don't.

Our schools try to discourage gift-giving in general, but I give a small gift card to my child's primary teacher.

The principals do make considerably more money than the teachers (whether or not you think it's a lot for what they do), and since they were instrumental in trying to dissuade people from gift-giving, I don't think they need or want a gift.

 

[stacy~**]

Just like teachers I am sure the principal would appreciate any sort of recognization! We love our principal and gave her a Crabtree and Eveyln sampler set. She probably has a ton of that sort of thing...but it was something I had got at a great price and need gifting....

 

[spacemountainmom]

When my kids were in grade school, I would get a gift for my kids classroom teacher and send a huge bowl of assorted candy for the teachers' lounge. The first year the secretary told me it was a huge hit when she returned my bowl so I kept doing it every year.

This is the first year that I don't have any in grade school so I felt kind of sad not buying the candy. The secretary retired at the end of last year so she's not there to miss it.

 

[Cindy B]

Principals really do not make big bucks. They discipline, deal with irate parents, stay late at Board of Ed. mtgs. & other nightly activities, deal with whiny teachers, conduct professional development, work together with social workers, and follow up on referrals, etc, etc, etc. I understand this is their job, but I honestly don't believe most principals enjoy their job. Private schools are a different story.

Cetain adminstrators I know leave EARLIER than the teachers. In certain schools, the teacher conduct professional development, teachers work with the socials workers, teachers and the security guards do discipline in the classroom. Teachers go to the board meetings. Teachers analyze the standardized testing data.

Maybe its just the case of what I know, but in this case, the teachers do a lot of the administrator work without the high six figure income.

 

[MickeyP]

Wow. That principal must be one heck of a delegator to have his teachers doing his job. Kudos to him!

 

[Pembo]

Principals in our area have very difficult jobs and very long hours and no 6 figure incomes! And the principal at the private school where I teach does even more for a lot less. It is not a job I'd want.

That said, I did give a gc to the principal the year she went above and beyond for our DS. She was very appreciative.

 

[klj27]

My husband who is an admistrator at a private school (and barely makes over half of six figures ) received some $10 gift certificates to various places which was very much appreciated. He already mailed all of his thank you cards. There are about 900 students in his school and probably 10 families gifted him something so I would say it is the exception to give your principal a gift.

 

[girlsma]

A couple years ago, the principal of my daughters elementary school made mention in her monthly newsletter about giving her gifts for the holiday. She basically said, that this is a season of giving and while she appreciates the gesture, she knows that others are struggling more that she is at this time. So, she suggested donations be made to local food pantry's or other organizations in need instead of giving her a gift. I thought this was a fantastic idea!

 

[summerrluvv]

No I don't...I usually bring something edible for the office though and I assume they all share

 

[tomaszewski58]

We are truly indebted to the teachers because they make a difference in the lives of our most precious commodity. And no gift seems good enough, but regardless, we try.

Regarding the principal, I'm sure that he/she works very hard to provide a nurturing and safe environment for our children. But the daily interaction is so limited that I don't think a personalized gift is required