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What School Leadership Looks Like: A Day in the Life of a Principal
School & District Management Photos

What School Leadership Looks Like: A Day in the Life of a Principal

By Jaclyn Borowski 鈥� June 20, 2022 1 min read
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For school principals, no two days are the same. Here is a photographic look at just one day in the life of two campus leaders.

Michael C. Brown, Principal, Winters Mill High School | Westminster, Md.

Principal Michael C. Brown, from left, talks to seniors Brady D鈥橝nthony, 18, and Sydney Dryden, 17, at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
Michael C. Brown, principal at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, Md., talks with, from left, seniors Brady D鈥橝nthony, 18, and Sydney Dryden, 17, on May 17, 2022.
Steve Ruark for Education Week
Principal Michael C. Brown, left, talks with athletic director Jen Gosselin at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
Brown meets with athletic director Jen Gosselin in his office.
Steve Ruark for Education Week
Principal Michael C. Brown talks with a student and her mother at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
Brown speaks with a student and her mother.
Steve Ruark for Education Week
Principal Michael C. Brown, left, speaks with Assistant Principal Maria Martin at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
In a campus hallway, Brown catches up with assistant principal Maria Martin.
Steve Ruark for Education Week
Principal Michael C. Brown, left, chats with art teachers at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, Md., on May 17, 2022.
Brown stops to chat with some of the art teachers.
Steve Ruark for Education Week
Principal Michael C. Brown, right, watches a U.S History lesson where students are demonstrating line warfare at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, Md., on May 17, 2022.
Students demonstrate line warfare as part of a U.S. History lesson as Brown walks around the high school campus.
Steve Ruark for Education Week

Manuela Haberer, Principal, Boone Elementary School | San Antonio, Texas

Manuela Haberer, center, principal at Boone Elementary School, talks with Norma Farrell, left, principal of Colonies North Elementary, at the conclusion of the Communities In Schools of San Antonio鈥檚 Keeping Kids In School Luncheon at the Westin San Antonio North in San Antonio, Texas on Thursday, May 19, 2022. At right is Salma Cuellar, the Communities in Schools site coordinator for Boone Elementary.
Manuela Haberer, center, principal at Boone Elementary School, in San Antonio, Texas, talks with Norma Farrell, left, principal of Colonies North Elementary, at the conclusion of the Communities In Schools of San Antonio鈥檚 Keeping Kids In School Luncheon on Thursday, May 19, 2022. At right is Salma Cuellar, the Communities in Schools site coordinator for Boone Elementary.
Lisa Krantz for Education Week
Manuela Haberer, principal of Boone Elementary School, visits with kindergartners Amalia Cavazos, 6, and William Dyas, 6, during the Pennies for Literacy event in the school library in San Antonio, Texas on Thursday, May 19, 2022.
Haberer visits with kindergartners Amalia Cavazos, 6, and William Dyas, 6, during the Pennies for Literacy event in the school library.
Lisa Krantz for Education Week
Manuela Haberer, principal of Boone Elementary School, takes a selfie with Whataburger鈥檚 mascot, Whataguy, during the school鈥檚 Pennies for Literacy event in San Antonio, Texas on May 19, 2022.
Haberer takes a selfie with Whataburger鈥檚 mascot, Whataguy, during the school鈥檚 Pennies for Literacy event.
Lisa Krantz for Education Week
Manuela Haberer, principal of Boone Elementary School, moves tables back into place after the Pennies for Literacy event at the school on Thursday, May 19, 2022.
Haberer moves tables back into place after the Pennies for Literacy event.
Lisa Krantz for Education Week
Manuela Haberer, principal of Boone Elementary School, changes from high heels into sandals in her office before heading outside to direct parents and students in the pick-up line at the conclusion of the school day on Thursday, May 19, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas.
Haberer changes from high heels into sandals in her office before heading outside to direct parents and students in the pick-up line at the conclusion of the school day.
Lisa Krantz for Education Week
Boone Elementary School principal Manuela Haberer directs students and parents in the pick-up line at the conclusion of the school day on May 19, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas.
Haberer directs students and parents in the pick-up line at the conclusion of the school day.
Lisa Krantz for Education Week
After directing students and parents in the pick-up line outside in 100 degree heat, principal Manuela Haberer fans herself as she speaks with her secretary, Laura Stiles, outside Boone Elementary School鈥檚 main office in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday, May 19, 2022.
After directing students and parents in the pick-up line in 100 degree heat, Haberer fans herself as she speaks with her secretary, Laura Stiles, outside Boone Elementary School鈥檚 main office.
Lisa Krantz for Education Week
Principal Manuela Haberer works on emails in her office at Boone Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas, at the end of the school day on May 19, 2022. Inspirational words and Wonder Woman stickers adorn her laptop. One of the Wonder Woman stickers includes the words 鈥淟ove, Truth and Justice鈥� and it was Wonder Woman鈥檚 motto that drew her into becoming a fan. 鈥淚 put love into my work, live my truths, and my passion is working towards social justice each day,鈥� Haberer said.
Haberer works on emails in her office at the end of the school day. Inspirational words and Wonder Woman stickers adorn her laptop. One of the Wonder Woman stickers includes the words 鈥淟ove, Truth and Justice鈥� and it was Wonder Woman鈥檚 motto that drew her into becoming a fan. 鈥淚 put love into my work, live my truths, and my passion is working towards social justice each day,鈥� Haberer said.
Lisa Krantz for Education Week

See Also

Left, Principal Michael C. Brown talks on a radio at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, Md., on May 17, 2022. Right, Boone Elementary School principal Manuela Haberer directs students and parents in the pick-up line at the conclusion of the school day on May 19, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas.
Left, Principal Michael C. Brown talks on a radio at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, Md., on May 17, 2022. Right, Boone Elementary School principal Manuela Haberer directs students and parents in the pick-up line at the conclusion of the school day on May 19, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas.
From left, Steve Ruark and Lisa Krantz for Education Week
School & District Management Interactive Hour by Busy Hour: What a Principal's Day Actually Looks Like
Denisa R. Superville, Jaclyn Borowski & Hyon-Young Kim, June 20, 2022
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2 min read

Jaclyn Borowski
Director of Photography & Videography,  Education Week
Jaclyn Borowski is the Director of Photography and Videography for Education Week.
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