15 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 celebrate all these administrators do. Learn everything you need to know about this holiday as well as the best Principals’ Day gift ideas.

What is 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.

Fun Facts About Principals

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.

How Do You Celebrate National Principals’ Day?

There are a few different Principal Appreciation Day ideas for ways to celebrate this holiday.

Hold an Event

You can plan an event with some of your school friends to celebrate your children’s principals.

Thank Your Children’s Principals

Send the principals at your children’s schools a handwritten card from you and the kids.

Give Your Principals a Gift

Best of all, you can get the principals at your kids’ schools a gift! A present shows your appreciation for the important role they play in your children’s lives.

The Best Gifts for Principals’ Day This Year

Here are some of the top Principals’ Day 2023 gift ideas. You’ll find the best principal gift for anyone on your list, from coffee mugs to personalized gifts.

1. Gift Cards

There’s never a bad opportunity for gift cards

Purchase gift cards with Gift Card Granny

One of the best gifts for school principals is a gift card. You can get them a gift card to a restaurant, or a store like Amazon, or many more! We wanted to impart our top five gift cards for principles before we go on with our list! 

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!

Buy an Amazon gift card

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. 

Buy a Dunkin’ gift card

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. 

Buy a Yankee Candle Gift Card

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. 

Get a Staples gift card

2. Personalized Principal Notepad

Always write in style

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.

3. A Funny Calendar

Get a laugh out of every day

Make their year with a funny desk or wall calendar. It makes one of the best Principals’ Day gift ideas. This 2023 Corgi Butt Calendar is as adorable as it is hilarious, or they may like something a little more aesthetically pleasing, such as this Seize the Day 2023 Boxed Calendar. These calendars would also make a great teacher gift too.

4. Funny Candle

It pays to have some fun

Candles always make great presents, and this Principal’s Last Nerve one is hilarious. It’s a white candle that smells like sage and lavender and is guaranteed to make his or her office smell great. This candle is sure to get some laughs around the office.

5. A Principal Tumbler

How administrative professionals drink 

This fun tumbler says that being a principal is like riding a bike, except the bike is on fire. You’re on fire. Everything is on fire. Your principal will get a chuckle out of this travel cup, and they can use it for hot coffee or cold drinks. You can choose the lid type and color of the tumbler to create a gift they’ll love. The Funny Principal Tumbler also makes one of the best gifts for a principal from students like your kids.

6. Best Principal Mug

If the cup says it, it must be true

Think your principal would like a traditional coffee mug to make it through each day? This Google best principal mug is one of the most unique gifts for a principal. You can personalize it with their name, and it comes in 11 or 15 ounces.

7. Superhero Principal Shirt

Because they do heroic things

What principal wouldn’t like a superhero shirt made just for them? This fun t-shirt comes in a wide range of sizes and colors, so you can find the perfect one for your principal. 

8. 6 Port USB Charging Station for Multiple Devices

Give the gift of efficiency

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.

9. Purple Canyon Bath Bombs

Nothing wrong with a spa day

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.

10. Coffee Mug Warmer

Consistent caffeine to power you through long shifts

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.

11. Snack Gift Basket

One or two couldn’t hurt

One of the greatest Principals’ Day gift ideas your principal will love is a gift basket filled with snacks. All you need to do is to get a nice basket and then fill it with fun snacks and treats. Now when your favorite principal stays late at night or skips lunch, they’ll have some snacks to munch on.

12. Personalized Keychain

A charming and unique gift

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.

13. School Principal Alphabet Framed Picture

Tasteful decor fit for an office

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.

14. Acrylic Personalized Principal Name Plate

Liven up any old desk

This nameplate is another one of the best Principals’ Day gift ideas. You can personalize it with two different colors and add the name of the principal. Any principal would love this unique nameplate for their desk. It’s much better than the standard one that sits on their desk.

15. Personalized Print or Canvas Picture

Something to cherish for years to come

This cute print makes a great canvas picture or print. You can also get it in a digital file to make your own unique present. The picture has an image of a tree and the principal’s name, as well as a quote that represents them.

You can customize the quote, name, and colors, as well as the picture size.

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.

If you’re looking for other gifts, you may be interested in these posts too:

The Top 18 Gifts for Kindergarten Teachers to Celebrate National Kindergarten Day

The Best 20 Employee Appreciation Gift Ideas for National Employee Appreciation Day

The 17 Best Gift Ideas for Valentine’s Day 2022