18 Best Principals’ Day Gift Ideas They'll Love and Appreciate
​​Much like teacher appreciation, getting a present for your kids’ school principals is a great way to show gratitude for all of the work these administrators do day in and day out. They have a huge impact on the lives of students, and they deserve to be celebrated!
That’s why today we’re showcasing some of the best and most unique Principals’ Day gifts, gift cards that will make an administrator’s life way easier, and taking notes on how this holiday came to be in the first place.
Class is in session! âœï¸
The Best Gifts for Principals’ Day This Year
Principals are busy people who tend to care deeply about making a difference in the lives of their students, and the best Principals’ Day gifts will reflect that. These gifts strike the right balance between personal and practical, which will earn them a place of pride on any administrator’s desk.
1. Personalized Principal Notepad
Image courtesy of Charming Touch Parties on Etsy.
Personalized principal notepads make great female or male principal gifts. Add some nice ink pens, and you have the perfect inexpensive gift for a school principal. You can select from just a single notepad or a full set of notecards, notepads, address labels, envelopes, and envelope stickers.
2. Funny “Last Nerve” Candle
Image courtesy of Amazon.
While rewarding, it’s no secret that being an educational professional can drive you a little crazy sometimes. This “last nerve” candle is relatable, funny, and lavender-scented, which means when your child’s principal is having one of “those” days, they can enjoy the ambiance and unwind.
3. Best Principal Mug
Image courtesy of BreezyDeco on Etsy.
Principals have to get up pretty early in the morning to have the school prepped and ready before the kiddos even sit down in class, which means a little coffee can go a loooooong way. This simple Best Principal mug is a great starting point for a gift that will let them know their work is appreciated.
Want some extra credit? Pair it with an interesting coffee blend or, even better, a coffee subscription to keep the fuel for whatever the semester has to throw at them.
4. Superhero Principal Shirt
Image courtesy of TeesCo on Etsy.
Principals are often the unsung heroes of the school… so why not sing their praises with this awesome shirt? This fun t-shirt comes in a wide range of sizes and colors, so you can create one just for them in colors that show their superhuman school spirit.
5. 6 Port USB Charging Station for Multiple Devices
Image courtesy of Amazon.
If you’re looking for a useful gift idea, this 6-Port USB Charging Station is perfect for organizing your principal’s various electronic devices on their desk. It can charge all the various devices like tablets, watches, and Airpods, and more. Plus, it will keep their desk neat.
6. Purple Canyon Bath Bombs
If you’re looking for gift ideas for a female principal, these Purple Canyon Lavender Bath Bombs make great presents for women. Lavender promotes relaxation, so these bath bombs are the perfect self-care gift for a principal that needs to relieve stress.
They also make good principal gift basket ideas. You could create one that focuses on self-care and stress relief to help after a stressful day putting out fires at school.
7. Coffee Mug Warmer
Image courtesy of Amazon
This present goes with the coffee mug above. Most principals and teachers are busy all the time and probably never get to finish a warm cup of coffee. This coffee warmer keeps their coffee warm and has an auto-shutoff, so they don’t forget. They’ll never need to drink a cold cup of coffee again with the warmer. I think many of us could use this gift.
8. Snack Gift Basket
Image courtesy of Packed with Purpose.
Snack gift baskets get a reputation as a boring gift, but who doesn’t love a little treat? Especially for busy principals who might find themselves burning the midnight oil or skipping lunch, it helps to have some tasty snacks on hand.
This basket from Packed with Purpose has a little something for everyone – sweet, salty, and in between. Plus, Packed with Purpose is all about supporting small businesses and ones that give back to their community – a goal we’re sure that any principal would support!
9. Personalized Keychain
Image courtesy of ThatKindaGirl on Etsy.
This cute keychain is the perfect useful gift for the principal at your children’s school to use for home and school keys. You can even personalize it with their name and add their school. This keychain speaks the truth! It says, “Behind every great school is a caring principal.” It’s a great gift idea that’s simple yet meaningful.
10. School Principal Alphabet Framed Picture
Image courtesy of ColorMePretty on Etsy.
This cute picture makes the perfect present for a principal to hang in their office. It’s an adequate depiction of all the things principals do to make their schools better and mentor kids and teachers. The picture comes in 8x10 or 11x14.
11. Personalized Name Plate
Image courtesy of CraftNameSign on Etsy.
Getting sent to the principal’s office is a scary idea as a kid, but most educators go out of their way to create a personal, welcoming environment where they can get work done and support their students! This stylish nameplate is probably an upgrade over what’s sitting on their desk right now.
12. Totally Accurate Notebook
Image courtesy of WTF Notebooks.
When you’re the big boss in your school, you can’t always say I told you so! even when you were totally right. Since the principal in your life probably has to hold themself to a higher degree of professionalism in the workplace, consider a funny notebook like this one to give them just a little validation… and maybe a laugh, too.
13. “You Make the World Better” Trinket Dish
Image courtesy of Natural Life.
Anyone with a desk knows you’ve always got tons of little odds and ends floating around. Erasers, paper clips, those earrings that were just a little heavy to wear until the end of the day. Help your favorite principal keep their desk organized with this adorable trinket dish. Not only does it contain a nice message, it’s also got a flower motif, which feels fitting considering how principals nurture their students and help them grow!
Top Gift Card Picks for Principals’ Day
Now, if none of these physical gifts resonate with you, don’t worry – you can always go with a gift card
Sometimes gift cards get written off as not being thoughtful, but the truth of the matter is they’re practical and pretty much everyone appreciates receiving them. These best-selling gift card options are sure to show any principal you care, and for an added personal touch, consider Gift Card Granny’s Handwritten Card option.
1. Amazon
Buy an Amazon gift card
Amazon gift cards are classic gift cards. Amazon has something for everyone. You may not have a great read on your kid’s principal’s interests, and that’s a-okay. An Amazon gift card keeps them covered. Amazon gift cards are easily added to their account, so there’s no chance they forget about it or lose the gift card. We recommend Amazon gift cards as a great place to start. Let’s check out our other favorites!
2. Barnes and Noble
Buy a Barnes and Noble gift card
Not all principles have the time to read, but some enjoy settling down with a good book at the end of a long day. If you know your kid’s principal enjoys reading from time to time, then a Barnes and Noble gift card is an excellent choice. Books are expensive, and a gift card is an excellent incentive to let the principal pick out something amazing.
Buy a Barnes and Noble gift card
3. Dunkin’ Donuts
Buy a Dunkin’ gift card
On to another classic gift card, we will make a coffee-filled stop. Dunkin’ Donuts is a superb gift and is perfect for coffee drinkers everywhere. You can substitute this with a local cafe if you know of a good one in the area, but Dunkin’ is at the top of our list because there’s one or two in every town.
4. Yankee Candle
Buy a Yankee Candle Gift Card
Oh, candles. We love candles. While they may not be allowed in the principal’s office, a candle is a fine addition to any home. They fill the room with an amazing scent and, with the gift card, a scent of the principal’s choosing.
Half the fun of a Yankee Candle visit is checking out all of the possible scents. With different kinds of candles in all shapes and sizes, the experience of shopping for their candle is a gift unto itself.
5. Staples
Get a Staples gift card
Rounding out our list is a gift card for some office supplies. Staples is one of our most popular gift cards and with good reason! A gift card for office supplies, while perhaps not the most exciting, is always appreciated by principals.
Staples is the go-to place for office supplies, and with so much work happening in schools, a gift card to Staples is an excellent and pragmatic gift card to give a principal to purchase some necessities. Office supplies are expensive, and a gift card makes that purchase a lot easier and may be exactly what they need to splurge on the good stuff.
Class is in Session: A Brief History of School Principals’ Day ?
Janet Dellaria, a teacher in Michigan, founded School Principals’ Day to recognize all school principals. School Principals' Day takes place every May 1st. Every school principal makes a direct impact on the schools they work at, so she knew there needed to be a holiday that celebrated these amazing educational leaders, just like teachers.
While many students may see principals as people we deal with when we are in trouble, like teachers, principals are the backbone of every school. The role principals play is often overlooked, but they manage students and help them achieve more. They are essentially teachers playing an important part in the educational system, making a difference in many students’ lives.
â Principals Deserve Some Extra Appreciation! â
Now for some fun facts about principals that will help you appreciate them even more.
Principals Work REALLY Long Hours
According to Edweek, many principals work more than 60 hours each week. That’s way more than the average 40-hour workweek.
Principals are the Main Budgeters for Their School
The school principal is the person responsible for budgeting and requisitions like finding funds and grants to pay for school-related expenses.
Principals Wear More Than One Hat
Your school principal has more than one job. They organize board meetings, work as the go-between for students and teachers, and are often the first ones to get to school. And principles are usually the last ones to leave at the end of the day.
Principals Act as Mentors to Many
Principals aren’t just mentors to students; they are to teachers and other school staff too. They are mentors to all educators essentially, and even to people in the community.
Final Thoughts on Principals’ Day Gift Ideas
Now you know some of the best gift ideas for principals to celebrate this holiday. They are sure to love anything on this list as these presents are all fun, useful, or unique. The best present for a principal is one that means something to them, helps them get through their long day, or makes their life easier.
Any of these gifts shows you recognize the work they do and thanks them for being an integral part of the educational system.
And if you choose to go the gift card route, Gift Card Granny has all the gift cards you could want for Christmas, birthday gifts, and more.
Originally posted on 5/1/2023. Last updated 3/1/2026.