Principal Jobs for OPT Students
Principal roles in education and professional services do qualify for OPT work authorization, but STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on your specific degree field and employer. Most school principal positions fall outside STEM OPT scope, so planning your 12-month timeline carefully is critical before applying.
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Position Type:
Principals & Asst. Principals/Principal - MS
Date Posted:
3/19/2026
Location:
Lanier Middle
Job Code: Principal - MS - 040007
Standard Hours: 40
Department: Administration - School - 240000
Empl Class: NA
Minimum Salary: $124,351.00/Annually
Maximum Salary: $160,079.00/Annually
Scheduled Days: 245
Target Openings: 1
License and Certification Qualifications:
- Must hold Educational Leadership - Tier II certification at Level 6 or higher required or be eligible for a non-renewable Ed Leadership - Tier II certificate field while completing Ed Leadership - Tier II program requirements at a Specialist level or higher for professional certification
Education Qualifications:
- Master's degree in related field required
- Specialist or doctorate degree in related field preferred
Experience Qualifications:
- Three years of successful teaching experience required, preferably at the same level of the administrative position to be held
- Two or more years in an administrative role preferred
Skills Qualifications:
- Knowledge of most effective practices in curriculum, instruction, and child development
- Ability to work effectively with teachers and other education colleagues
- Ability to provide leadership to staff
- Proficiency in oral and written communications
- Demonstrated skills in interpersonal relations
- Demonstrated skills in organization and planning
- Proficient in the use of instructional technology
Primary Responsibilities:
Responsible for leading and implementing a cohesive educational program specific for the grade levels in assigned schools.
- Provide instructional leadership.
- Build and sustain a school vision.
- Shared leadership.
- Lead a learning community.
- Utilize data to make instructional decisions.
-
Monitor curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
-
Oversee the school climate.
- Foster and sustain the school climate.
- Address internal and external dynamics at work in the school.
- Establish a learning environment based on high expectations and respect for all individuals.
- Manage conflict and crisis in a timely and expert manner.
-
Practice shared decision making.
-
Provide human resource administration to maintain effective operations.
- Select quality teachers and other employees.
- Induct and support new teachers.
- Mentor novice teachers.
- Provide professional growth opportunities.
- Establish mentoring programs based on effective practices.
-
Retain quality staff.
-
Oversee the teacher evaluation process.
- Provide a positive climate for teacher evaluation.
- Demonstrate a commitment to teacher evaluation.
- Document teacher performance in multiple ways.
-
Follow legal guidelines for teacher evaluation.
-
Provide school management and local school operations oversight.
- Coordinate safety, daily operations, and maintenance of the facility.
- Utilize data to manage student achievement.
- Seek and allocate fiscal resources appropriately.
- Organize and manage technology resources.
-
Manage financial resources effectively.
-
Manage communication and community relations at the local school.
- Demonstrate effective communication.
- Communicate with teachers, students, parents, and families.
-
Communicate with the larger community.
-
Maintain professionalism and a cohesive learning environment.
- Demonstrate professional standards for the principalship.
- Exhibit ethical behavior.
- Serve as a role model.
-
Participate in professional development for continuous improvement.
-
Support continual student achievement.
- Exert influence on teaching quality and student learning by encouraging, supporting, and facilitating.
- Set, support, and sustain a focus on school goals and school-wide student achievement.
-
Utilize data to guide school success.
-
Perform other duties as assigned.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time. The employee is also required to talk, hear, stand, and walk. The employee may be required to use hands to touch, handle, feel, and/or reach. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to operate a motor vehicle in performance of duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position Type:
Principals & Asst. Principals/Principal - MS
Date Posted:
3/19/2026
Location:
Lanier Middle
Job Code: Principal - MS - 040007
Standard Hours: 40
Department: Administration - School - 240000
Empl Class: NA
Minimum Salary: $124,351.00/Annually
Maximum Salary: $160,079.00/Annually
Scheduled Days: 245
Target Openings: 1
License and Certification Qualifications:
- Must hold Educational Leadership - Tier II certification at Level 6 or higher required or be eligible for a non-renewable Ed Leadership - Tier II certificate field while completing Ed Leadership - Tier II program requirements at a Specialist level or higher for professional certification
Education Qualifications:
- Master's degree in related field required
- Specialist or doctorate degree in related field preferred
Experience Qualifications:
- Three years of successful teaching experience required, preferably at the same level of the administrative position to be held
- Two or more years in an administrative role preferred
Skills Qualifications:
- Knowledge of most effective practices in curriculum, instruction, and child development
- Ability to work effectively with teachers and other education colleagues
- Ability to provide leadership to staff
- Proficiency in oral and written communications
- Demonstrated skills in interpersonal relations
- Demonstrated skills in organization and planning
- Proficient in the use of instructional technology
Primary Responsibilities:
Responsible for leading and implementing a cohesive educational program specific for the grade levels in assigned schools.
- Provide instructional leadership.
- Build and sustain a school vision.
- Shared leadership.
- Lead a learning community.
- Utilize data to make instructional decisions.
-
Monitor curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
-
Oversee the school climate.
- Foster and sustain the school climate.
- Address internal and external dynamics at work in the school.
- Establish a learning environment based on high expectations and respect for all individuals.
- Manage conflict and crisis in a timely and expert manner.
-
Practice shared decision making.
-
Provide human resource administration to maintain effective operations.
- Select quality teachers and other employees.
- Induct and support new teachers.
- Mentor novice teachers.
- Provide professional growth opportunities.
- Establish mentoring programs based on effective practices.
-
Retain quality staff.
-
Oversee the teacher evaluation process.
- Provide a positive climate for teacher evaluation.
- Demonstrate a commitment to teacher evaluation.
- Document teacher performance in multiple ways.
-
Follow legal guidelines for teacher evaluation.
-
Provide school management and local school operations oversight.
- Coordinate safety, daily operations, and maintenance of the facility.
- Utilize data to manage student achievement.
- Seek and allocate fiscal resources appropriately.
- Organize and manage technology resources.
-
Manage financial resources effectively.
-
Manage communication and community relations at the local school.
- Demonstrate effective communication.
- Communicate with teachers, students, parents, and families.
-
Communicate with the larger community.
-
Maintain professionalism and a cohesive learning environment.
- Demonstrate professional standards for the principalship.
- Exhibit ethical behavior.
- Serve as a role model.
-
Participate in professional development for continuous improvement.
-
Support continual student achievement.
- Exert influence on teaching quality and student learning by encouraging, supporting, and facilitating.
- Set, support, and sustain a focus on school goals and school-wide student achievement.
-
Utilize data to guide school success.
-
Perform other duties as assigned.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time. The employee is also required to talk, hear, stand, and walk. The employee may be required to use hands to touch, handle, feel, and/or reach. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to operate a motor vehicle in performance of duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Principal
Confirm your OPT timeline before applying
Most principal roles take months to fill. Check your OPT start and end dates before applying so you're not mid-hiring process when your authorization expires. Build buffer time into your job search, especially for district-level positions with long decision cycles.
Identify whether the role qualifies as STEM OPT
Principal roles in education administration generally do not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. If your degree is in a STEM field, explore corporate or higher education leadership roles where STEM OPT eligibility is far more likely to apply.
Highlight your degree's relevance to the leadership role
OPT requires your job to be directly related to your degree field. Principal candidates should clearly connect their academic background in education, administration, or organizational leadership to the position's core responsibilities in every application document.
Target employers already familiar with work authorization
Larger school districts, private school networks, and university systems are more likely to have handled OPT documentation before. Smaller independent schools may require more education about the process, so factor that into your outreach and interview conversations.
Address OPT proactively, not defensively
When the topic of work authorization arises, be direct and prepared. Explain your current OPT status, its duration, and what next steps look like for H-1B sponsorship if applicable. Confidence and preparation build employer trust far more than vague answers do.
Understand the H-1B pathway from a principal role
If you're pursuing H-1B sponsorship after OPT, confirm the principal role meets specialty occupation standards. Educational leadership roles supported by a relevant master's degree typically qualify, but the employer must be willing to file a petition on your behalf.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a principal on OPT?
Yes, you can work as a principal on OPT if the role is directly related to your degree field. A principal position supported by a degree in educational leadership, school administration, or organizational management satisfies the OPT employment requirement. The connection between your academic background and the job responsibilities needs to be clear and documentable.
Does a principal role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
In most cases, no. Principal positions in K-12 or private school settings fall under education administration, which is not a qualifying STEM field. If your degree is in a STEM discipline and you're pursuing leadership roles in technology, research, or higher education institutions, STEM OPT may apply. Verify your specific degree's CIP code against the official STEM Designated Degree Program list before assuming eligibility.
Will employers sponsor an H-1B visa for a principal role after my OPT ends?
It depends on the employer type and role structure. Public school districts and many private institutions do sponsor H-1B visas for administrative leadership roles, particularly when the position requires a relevant master's degree. Larger networks and university systems are better positioned to handle the process. Discussing sponsorship expectations early in the interview process avoids complications later.
How do I find principal jobs open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is the best starting point. It lists principal and school leadership roles from employers familiar with OPT and visa sponsorship, saving you from applying to positions where work authorization is an immediate dealbreaker. Filtering by authorization-friendly employers significantly improves your response rate and avoids wasted applications during a time-sensitive OPT window.
What documentation does my employer need to verify my OPT employment?
Your employer will need a copy of your EAD card and your Form I-20 with the OPT authorization page. Some districts or HR departments may also request your visa stamp or passport biographic page for their records. Keep digital copies of all OPT documents readily accessible, and notify your DSO promptly if your job title, employer, or work location changes during your OPT period.
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