Education Resume Examples and Templates
20 Best Principal Resume Examples and Templates for 2025
By Andrew Stoner
, Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Andrew Stoner
Read More
Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Last Updated:
December 12, 2025
A good principal resume focuses on your main skills like teacher recruitment or curriculum design. Give examples of your success as a principal or in other leadership, administrative, or teaching roles. This guide provides expert tips to help you create a resume showing your best principal qualifications.
Key takeaways:
- Spell out the positive impact of your work as a principal. Describe how your efforts helped students, teachers, or the wider school community.
- Follow the hybrid resume format to provide all required information while positioning yourself for principal jobs that interest you.
- Use bullet points to display your achievements. Start each bullet point with a strong verb like “Created,” “Led,” or “Enhanced.”
Most Popular Principal Resumes
Assistant Principal Resume Example
Why this assistant principal resume example is strong:
Jordan’s resume uses metrics to communicate meaningful outcomes, such as reducing disciplinary incidents and increasing reading proficiency. The reverse-chronological structure makes it easy to follow the progression from dean of students to assistant principal.
Key Tips:
- Use numbers and percentages to show impact
- Make leadership growth clear through job titles
Vice Principal Resume Example
Why this vice principal resume example is strong:
Monica’s resume communicates leadership through both strategic and human-centered lenses. The accomplishments clearly show her impact on school systems and culture.
Key Tips:
- Reflect how your leadership affects systems (like grading or graduation rates)
- Focus on both student outcomes and staff growth
School Principal Resume Example
Why this school principal resume example is strong:
Terrence’s resume clearly outlines strategic leadership experience, complete with measurable impacts. It’s also balanced by attention to community involvement and instructional focus.
Key Tips:
- Address budget, hiring, and performance in each leadership role
- Demonstrate your ability to lead both academics and operations
Elementary Principal Resume Example
Why this elementary principal resume example is strong:
Stephanie’s resume reflects her instructional leadership and understanding of young learners. It demonstrates how she builds systems that support both staff and students.
Key Tips:
- Highlight age-appropriate programs (literacy, SEL)
- Include staff development and family engagement efforts
Entry-Level Assistant Principal Resume Example
Why this entry-level assistant principal resume example is strong:
Lindsey’s resume builds a leadership story from her teaching experience. It connects school initiatives, mentoring, and student data to her readiness for administration.
Key Tips:
- Use leadership experiences within teaching to support transition
- Emphasize committee work and mentorship roles
High School Principal Resume Example
Why this high school principal resume example is strong:
Melanie’s resume presents strong, measurable gains in graduation and AP access. It also showcases collaboration with colleges and creative student support systems.
Charter School Principal Resume Example
Why this charter school principal resume example is strong:
Dante’s resume highlights charter-specific accomplishments, such as launching a new school and sustaining high proficiency levels. It reflects both startup and instructional expertise.
Rural School Principal Resume Example
Why this rural principal resume example is strong:
Cynthia’s resume demonstrates leadership in a unique setting. Her ability to wear multiple hats and secure resources makes her resume compelling for small-school contexts.
Bilingual Principal Resume Example
Why this bilingual principal resume example is strong:
María’s resume is specialized and tailored for dual-language leadership. It balances instructional knowledge with community and cultural responsiveness.
STEM-Focused Principal Resume Example
Why this STEM-focused principal resume example is strong:
Isaac’s resume uniquely highlights specialized expertise and large-scale impact in STEM. He demonstrates initiative, funding success, and innovation.
Turnaround School Principal Resume Example
Why this turnaround school principal resume example is strong:
Vanessa’s resume reflects her impact through high-stakes improvement and staff transformation. Her results show she doesn’t just manage change — she drives it.
Private School Principal Resume Example
Why this private school principal resume example is strong:
Edmund’s resume speaks directly to the priorities of independent schools — enrollment, fundraising, academic prestige — and reflects stable leadership.
Alternative Education Principal Resume Example
Why this alternative education principal resume example is strong:
Tanisha’s resume clearly focuses on supporting high-needs students. It pairs real impact with compassion-driven leadership and system change.
K–8 Principal Resume Example
Why this K–8 principal resume example is strong:
Frankie’s resume is uniquely focused on leadership across grade levels, with vertical alignment and student engagement as standout themes.
Interim Principal Resume Example
Why this interim principal resume example is strong:
Renee’s resume proves that interim leadership isn’t just maintenance — it’s mission-critical. Her ability to provide calm, effective guidance during change is clearly demonstrated.
Urban Elementary Principal Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Casey’s resume demonstrates a deep commitment to equity and student support. His leadership achievements are backed by quantifiable success, such as increasing literacy and improving teacher retention. The community-centered leadership approach aligns well with the needs of urban schools. His role evolution also supports a clear narrative of professional growth.
Key Tips:
- Highlight metrics tied to community impact and student outcomes
- Focus on collaboration with external partners
Learn more:How to list education on a resume
Instructional Principal Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Morgan’s resume focuses squarely on instructional excellence, illustrating how her support of teachers translates directly into student achievement. By showcasing coaching, planning, and assessment alignment, she proves her ability to elevate instructional practices.
Key Tips:
- Use evidence of growth in student learning to demonstrate instructional leadership
- Call out leadership in professional learning
Learn more:How to write a compelling resume summary
Special Education Principal Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Jordan’s resume stands out by focusing on compliance, family engagement, and measurable improvements for students with disabilities. It highlights both technical knowledge and leadership in inclusive education.
Key Tips:
- Showcase measurable results in compliance and program development
- Include family engagement and transition planning efforts
Magnet School Principal Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Alex’s resume targets magnet-specific leadership with tangible success in recruitment, student engagement, and program visibility. It shows his ability to connect school identity with strong academic performance.
Key Tips:
- Use enrollment and retention data to show impact
- Highlight specialized program leadership
Learn more: What to include in your work experience section
International School Principal Resume Example
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
Taylor’s resume shines with a focus on international education, showcasing expertise in IB and multicultural leadership. Her results connect strategic goals like accreditation and enrollment with global awareness.
Key Tips:
- Emphasize international achievements and cultural fluency
- Include leadership in accreditation and exchange programs
Learn more: How to include foreign language skills in your resume
Principal Text-Only Resume Examples and Templates
How To Write a Principal Resume
A template can help you organize your career information for an effective principal resume. Your principal resume should usually have these sections:
- Contact information
- Profile
- Key skills
- Professional experience
- Education and certifications
Below are tips and samples to help you organize each resume section.
1. Share your contact information
Give your full name, phone number, email address, location, and links to any online professional profiles. When applying to jobs, double-check your contact info for accuracy – it’s as important as anything else on your resume.
Template:
Your Name
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | City, ST 09876 | LinkedIn
2. Summarize your principal qualifications in a dynamic profile
At the top of your resume, give the three to five main reasons you excel as a principal. Consider what sets you apart from other candidates, such as your:
- Years of experience at similar schools or institutions of learning
- Work style or approach to leading and motivating educators
- Advanced degrees or certifications in your field
(Note: Most job seekers find it easier to write their profile last.)
Example:
School principal with over 12 years of experience leading elementary and middle school environments, specializing in curriculum enhancement, faculty development, and strategic planning. Proven record of increasing test scores, improving teacher retention, and fostering inclusive school cultures.
3. Add your relevant experience with compelling examples
For each job you’ve held, specify your title, school or employer name, location, and work dates. Then, flesh out your description of each role to the extent it speaks to your target principal job. Give just a brief overview of any unrelated jobs, even ones you held a long time. And provide a detailed account of any highly related jobs, even ones you held only briefly. Far from misleading, this approach gives the clearest measure of your background relevant to the leadership role you’re now after.
Example:
Interim Principal, Lincoln Elementary, Des Moines, IA | August 2023 – present
- Improved staff morale survey scores by 27% within six months
- Reinstated PLC meeting cycles and clarified instructional goals
- Partnered with district to recruit and onboard permanent principal
Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience
When possible, cite relevant performance data and metrics to show the results you’ve achieved as a principal. Hard numbers put your work in context and give a better sense of your impact.
Do:
- “Led data-driven intervention programs and staff training that helped raise student reading proficiency by 28% in two school years”
Don’t:
- “Responsible for improving reading skills at the school”
Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume to each application
Before sending your resume, review it carefully against the job posting. Delete any details that don’t speak to the requirements, and consider using that space for more information about your relevant experience. This process takes extra time, obviously. But it can shorten your overall job search by giving you an edge over the many applicants who send a more general, less convincing resume.
What if you have no experience as a principal?
As long as the job posting doesn’t strictly require it, you don’t need direct work experience to write an effective resume. The trick is focusing on your transferable skills, which can come from various areas such as your other past jobs, internships, volunteer positions, or college courses. Consider how your experiences helped you develop as a leader or educator. By detailing these areas in full on your resume, you can ensure it helps you get interviews for your target job.
4. Include principal-related education and certifications
Cite your formal education and any credentials that speak to your abilities as a principal. Below are templates to help you organize this information on your resume (note, years are optional).
Education
Template:
[Degree Name], [School Name], [City, ST] | [Graduation Year]
[Relevant honors, coursework, or activities]
Example:
Master of Education in Educational Leadership, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization] | [Completion Year]
[Description if the credential is lesser-known but relevant]
Example:
School Principal Certificate, Colorado Department of Education | 2021
5. Include a list of skills and proficiencies related to principal
A skills section lets you quickly show the different ways you can contribute and excel in your target position. It also helps your resume perform well on applicant tracking systems (ATS) used by employers to screen candidates. Below, you’ll find some key terms and skills to consider for this section:
| Key skills | |
|---|---|
| Budget management | Classroom observation |
| Community engagement | Conflict resolution |
| Curriculum design | Data-driven instruction |
| Faculty mentorship | Instructional leadership |
| Parent communication | Professional development |
| Restorative practices | School culture development |
| School improvement planning | Staff evaluation |
| Strategic planning | Student behavior intervention |
| Teacher recruitment | Team building |
| Technology integration | Title I program management |
Resume writer’s tip: Use common action verbs
Start each bullet point with a strong action verb. Dynamic verbs help you keep the reader’s attention and tell a compelling story about your experience.
The following list can help you find a good mix of action verbs for your principal resume:
| Action verbs | |
|---|---|
| Collaborated | Created |
| Decreased | Designed |
| Directed | Diverted |
| Enhanced | Evaluated |
| Fostered | Generated |
| Grew | Guided |
| Hired | Implemented |
| Improved | Increased |
| Introduced | Led |
| Lowered | Managed |
| Mentored | Motivated |
| Oversaw | Planned |
| Presented | Prevented |
| Ranked | Reduced |
| Resolved | Restored |
| Reversed | Revitalized |
| Spearheaded | Streamlined |
| Supervised | Updated |
| Won | |
How To Pick the Best Principal Resume Template
Choose a template that’s clear and straightforward, and avoid any template with elaborate graphics or various colors and font styles. Simple design helps the recipient of your resume scan for important information. It also helps you tailor the document to each job application and update your work history going forward. (Tip: When given the option, save and submit your resume as a pdf file to preserve formatting across screens and systems.)
Frequently Asked Questions: Principal Resume Examples and Advice
How do you align your resume with a principal job posting?
First, look closely at the job post text and note any words that are repeated or emphasized. Compare these phrases with the language in your resume, particularly the profile and key skills sections. Then, seek ways to align your resume language with the job posting while not copying phrases or misstating your background.
For example, if the organization seeks someone collaborative, call out that aspect of your experience in your profile. Or if the school has many students who speak English as a second language, cite your foreign language skills both in your profile and as a separate section farther down the document. With adjustments like these, you can make your resume more relevant to each opportunity.
What is the best principal resume format?
Most principals should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format's experience section and the functional format's profile section. (The resume examples on this page all use combination format.)
A combination resume offers the best of both worlds by fusing these two features. The experience section lets you outline your recent work history - essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section enables you to display your career highlights at the top, whether they're from that work history or another part of your background.
As a result, you can present yourself both clearly and strategically. With this format you give hiring managers the best view of your experience and relevant strengths so they can decide to call you for an interview.
Expert advice:
include a cover letter with your resume
A good cover letter sharpens your job application by saying directly why you’re interested in the school or principal job opening. When possible, quote or paraphrase text from the job posting and explain why it caught your attention.
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Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.
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