The Illinois Principals Association (IPA) encourages all communities in Illinois to celebrate Principal Appreciation Week October 20-26, 2024, and Principal Appreciation Day on Friday, October 25, 2024. This state-endorsed recognition was first approved by the Governor of Illinois in 1990 and is celebrated annually. The IPA also joins the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA) to recognize October as National Principals Month.

Principal Appreciation Day provides learning communities an opportunity to publicly recognize the work, commitment and importance of principals, assistant principals, and deans throughout the state. We invite all teachers, students, parents, and community members to perform some act of appreciation on Friday, October 25, 2024 to acknowledge the leadership of building administrators in Illinois’ public and private schools.

Below are a number of ideas or good acts that can be performed for your principal.

Write to Your Principal

Write poems, letters or notes of appreciation and leave them on the desk of your principal.

Prepare Souvenirs and Specialty Items

Print your principal’s name on coffee mugs, t-shirts, schoolbags etc. to advertise the efforts of your Principal.

Make Notes

Have your students write notes like “Well Done!” “Thank You” and “You’re Appreciated” and put them on the desk of your principal before he/she arrives at work.

Decorations

Decorate the office and hallways of the school showing your appreciation for your principal.

E-mail

Teachers can have their students send their principal thank you notes via email during computer class.

A Day to Reflect

Principals have little time for themselves while dealing with the immediate and urgent details of their job. Give them a day to unplug, get away from the building, and take time to recharge and reflect on how they can be better leaders.

Be creative and have fun!