How to Write a Eulogy for Your Principal - Eulogy Examples & Tips

Writing a eulogy for a principal feels different than writing one for a family member. The relationship is public and personal at once. You might be a student remembering recess rallies, a teacher remembering leadership in crisis, a parent thanking someone who kept your kid safe, or a colleague thinking about a partner at work. This guide gives a clear plan, real examples you can adapt, and practical tips for delivering a speech that honors the principal and helps the school community grieve together. We explain any terms or acronyms so nothing feels like insider language and we give templates you can steal and make your own.

Who this guide is for

This article is for students, teachers, school staff, parents, alumni, school board members, and anyone asked to speak about a principal at a funeral, memorial, or school service. If you were asked unexpectedly, or if you volunteered, this guide helps you write something honest and memorable without pressure. There are examples for short remarks, formal addresses, student voice, teacher voice, and for complicated or mixed feelings.

What is a eulogy for a principal

A eulogy is a speech that honors someone who has died. When the person was a principal the eulogy often includes leadership moments, the culture they created, and stories that show how they showed up for students and staff. A eulogy is not an obituary. An obituary lists factual information like dates, survivors, and service plans. A eulogy tells a few true stories and offers meaning.

School terms and acronyms you might see

• Obituary A written notice about a death that usually lists biographical facts and service details.
• Order of service The schedule for a funeral or memorial listing readings, music, and speakers. Think of it as the event program.
• PTA Parent Teacher Association a group of parents and teachers who support the school.
• PTO Parent Teacher Organization similar to PTA but structured differently depending on the school.
• IEP Individualized Education Program a legal plan for students with special educational needs. If the principal supported inclusion, that might be worth mentioning in the eulogy.
• SLT School Leadership Team a group of staff and sometimes parents who help set school goals.
• Enrollment The number of students registered at the school. It is often used when talking about growth or changes a principal oversaw.

How long should a eulogy for a principal be

Aim for three to seven minutes. That usually equals about 400 to 800 spoken words. If you are a student or multiple people are speaking, keep it shorter and more focused so the program flows. For a formal service with many speakers check with the organizer about time limits.

Before you start writing

Take a few practical steps to make writing easier and more accurate.

• Confirm the context Will this be at a funeral, a school memorial, or a virtual assembly? Different venues change tone and length.
• Ask about who else is speaking Coordinate to avoid repeating the same stories and to share the emotional load.
• Decide your role Are you speaking as a student, teacher, parent, or colleague? That defines the perspective and language you use.
• Gather short stories Ask three people for a memory each. Short, specific stories beat long lists of achievements every time.
• Pick three focus points Choose three things you want people to remember. It might be kindness honesty vision or how they made space for students.

Structure that works

Keeping your eulogy structured helps both you and the audience. Use this simple shape.

• Opening Introduce yourself and your connection to the principal. Offer one sentence that sets the tone.
• Life sketch Give a brief overview of the principal s role at the school and any defining facts like years of service or major programs they started.
• Anecdotes Tell one or two short specific stories that show character and impact.
• Legacy and values Summarize what they will be remembered for and how the school will carry that forward.
• Closing End with a single line of goodbye a quote short poem or an invitation to a school action like planting a tree or keeping a tradition alive.

Choosing the right tone

The tone should match the principal and the community. If the principal was formal and tradition minded use respectful and polished language. If they were warm and quirky use a conversational voice and a little light humor. If the community is raw and grieving keep it sober and simple. When in doubt check with the family or organizer.

How to write the opening

Open with your name your role and a small clarifying sentence. It gives everyone context and gives you a breathing space.

Opening examples

• Good morning. I am Maya Rodriguez. I taught English under Principal Carter for seven years and I am honored to say a few words about him.
• Hi I am Jamal, a senior in the class of 2025. Mr Nguyen coached our debate team and showed up for us in small ways that meant the world.
• Hello. I am Priya Singh and I serve on the PTA. I want to share how Principal Lee made our school feel like home.

How to write the life sketch

The life sketch is not a full biography. Pick the essential facts that matter for the story you are telling. Keep it brief and use plain language.

Life sketch templates

• [Name] served as principal at [School Name] for [years]. They led the school through [notable events such as renovations grade expansions or pandemic response] and were known for [character trait such as fairness or innovation].
• [Name] started their career as a teacher and later became principal. They believed in student voice community partnership and building a safe place for learning.

Anecdotes that matter

Stories show who the principal was. Keep them short sensory and with a small payoff. A good story has setup action and a line that explains why it matters to the school community.

Example anecdotes

• When our school lost power on graduation day the principal went into action. She grabbed a flashlight took over the microphone and handed out paper programs she had printed from her phone. She made the ceremony feel normal when everything felt upside down.
• A student once came to him terrified about a test. He sat on the classroom floor drew a quick diagram and spent twenty minutes explaining why one wrong answer did not equal failure. That student later became a teacher and called it the turning point.
• Every month he held an open door lunch where any student could drop by. He took the time to learn names not just grade levels and that small ritual built trust across the school.

Examples you can adapt

Below are complete example eulogies you can adapt for different voices and lengths. Replace bracketed text with your details and read out loud to make sure the voice sounds like you.

Example 1 Teacher tribute three to five minutes

Hello I am Alex Moore. I was a math teacher at Lincoln Middle School for nine years and worked with Principal Harper for six of those years. Standing here is hard but it is also a small way to say thank you.

Principal Harper came to our school when enrollment was dropping and morale was low. She did not wave a magic wand. She listened. She brought teachers together to redesign our curriculum and she sat in classrooms not to inspect but to learn. One afternoon I remember a kindergarten class with glue everywhere and Harper sitting on a tiny chair laughing while trying to glue googly eyes on a craft project. She made time for the small messy parts of school because she believed those moments built community.

She expected excellence and she gave people space to get there. She pushed us and she covered us when things went wrong. To me she modeled leadership as service. We will miss her steady presence in the hallway and the way she knew the name of every new student within their first week.

In her honor the staff has decided to continue her open classroom days and to dedicate a bench by the garden where she loved to have meetings. Thank you for being here and for holding her memory with us.

Example 2 Student tribute under two minutes

Hi I am Kayla and I am a junior. Mr Ortiz was the kind of principal who remembered your study habit and your favorite snack at the vending machine. He made assemblies feel like a conversation not a speech. One time he invited the student council to redesign the school mural and he actually listened to our ideas. That trust made us want to show up for school and for each other. Thank you Mr Ortiz for believing in us.

Example 3 Formal address from the school board four to six minutes

Good afternoon. I am Diane Park chair of the school board. On behalf of the board and the district I want to acknowledge the extraordinary service of Principal Morgan. Under their leadership the school improved graduation rates established a successful after school program and strengthened family engagement. Principal Morgan led during difficult budget years and during those times they advocated tirelessly for students and staff. Their work will be felt for years to come.

We will be announcing a scholarship in their name to support students interested in education. That will be one small way to carry forward their commitment. We thank the family for sharing this remarkable educator with our community.

Example 4 For complicated feelings from staff or alumni

My name is Ben and I taught science here for twenty years. Principal Evans had a sharp mind and exacting standards and sometimes that came across as intense. We did not always agree but those debates made the school better. He pushed the science department to think bigger and to try new grants. We argued about budget and about curriculum but the outcome was often better instruction for students. That complexity does not lessen the loss. It simply shows that real people are complicated and that we can hold both frustration and gratitude at the same time.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates to get started. Edit until it sounds like you.

Template A Short student

My name is [Your Name]. I am a [grade] at [School Name]. [Principal s Name] supported students by [short memory]. I will remember [what you will miss]. Thank you for being here.

Template B Teacher or staff

Hello I am [Your Name] and I teach [subject]. [Principal s Name] believed in teachers and showed up by [specific example]. One small story that shows their leadership is [brief story]. They taught me [lesson]. We will carry that forward by [action].

Template C Formal memorial

Good [morning afternoon]. I am [Your Name] [role]. [Principal s Name] served [School Name] for [years]. Their legacy includes [programs achievements] and the culture they built. On behalf of [organization] we extend our condolences and our commitment to continue the work they started.

Practical tips for delivery

Speaking while grieving is hard. These tactics will help you stay steady.

• Print your speech Use large font. Paper is less likely to malfunction than a device and is easier to handle when emotions run high.
• Use cue cards One to two lines per card keeps you from reading line by line and helps your voice feel natural.
• Mark pauses Put a bracket where you want to breathe or where the audience will laugh or clap. Pauses give you time to regroup.
• Practice out loud Read it to a friend a colleague or even to your car. Practice makes the wording feel easier in your mouth.
• Bring tissues and water You might cry. That is okay. If you need a moment just breathe and continue when you can.
• Coordinate mic handoff If you think you may not finish arrange a signal with a colleague who can finish a line if needed.
• Keep backups Leave a copy with the event organizer and bring a spare printed copy with you.

Using humor and school stories

Humor can feel like permission to breathe when done well. Use short anecdotes that are kind and relatable. Avoid anything that singles out or embarrasses a grieving family or student.

Safe humor examples

• He had a habit of wearing two different socks on staff meeting days because he said it sparked creativity and maybe he was right.
• She started morning announcements with a joke and a weather report so accurate we trusted her with both testing logistics and our coffee choices.

What to avoid

• Avoid insider jokes that most people will not understand or that exclude listeners.
• Avoid airing private disputes or disciplinary details that should remain internal.
• Avoid long lists of accomplishments without tying them to a story or impact.
• Avoid theological language unless it was meaningful to the family or requested by the organizer.

How to include readings music and actions

Short readings or poems work best. If you include music check permissions and timing. Community actions like planting a tree or starting a scholarship make a meaningful closing gesture and give people something concrete to remember.

Logistics and who to tell

• Tell the funeral director or event organizer if you need a microphone or AV support.
• Confirm with the family or school leader if there are topics to avoid and if there are specific requests for tone or content.
• Give a copy of your remarks to the person running the order of service so they can include it in the program or memory book if requested.

After the eulogy

People will often ask for a copy. Offer to email it and to share a recording if the family allows. Small memorials like a shared memory board or a digital album with photos and notes can help the community grieve together.

Glossary of useful terms

• Principal The head administrator of a school responsible for daily operations school culture and leadership.
• Obituary A written notice about a death with biographical facts and service details.
• Order of service The schedule for a funeral memorial or school tribute listing readings music and speakers.
• PTA and PTO Parent teacher groups that support school programs and family engagement.
• IEP Individualized Education Program a legally binding plan for students with special education needs.
• SLT School Leadership Team a group that helps set the school s goals and priorities.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start a eulogy if I am nervous

Start with your name and your role. A short opening like Hello my name is [Your Name] I am a teacher at [School Name] gives you a steady place to begin and allows you to breathe. Practice that opening until it feels familiar.

What if I forget my place or start crying

Pause take a breath and look at your notes. If you need a moment allow yourself to pause. The audience will wait. If you cannot continue ask a trusted colleague or friend to step in and finish a line if you arranged that ahead of time.

Is it appropriate for students to speak

Yes students speaking can be very powerful especially when the principal greatly impacted student life. Keep remarks short and focused on personal experiences. Practice and guidance from a teacher can help students feel more prepared.

Can I include school achievements in the eulogy

Yes but link achievements to impact. Instead of listing programs say what those programs did for students like increasing graduation rates offering new opportunities or creating safer spaces.

Should I check with the family before using humor

Yes check with the family or event organizer if possible. Gentle school humor about shared routines is often welcome but avoid anything that might feel disrespectful during a private funeral.

How long should a eulogy be at a school memorial

Three to five minutes is a good target for a school gathering. If multiple people are speaking coordinate times so the program runs smoothly.