Our principal is suddenly nit-picking everything we do. Double checking that we follow by-laws to the "T" and has gotten us mixed up in some very petty arguments with teachers/staff/parents. We get the feeling that he would like a new board for next year. BUT we are all determined to hang tough. We enjoy the kids and what we do for them. When we announced the spirit day class winners/delivered box top prizes and distributed popcorn the day before spring break we all felt so good and remembered that's why we do it.

Think of all the positives and greet the principal with a smile knowing in your heart that you're doing good.

Hmmm-how about you stop battling and begin to be the bridge between the two. I think "liking the principal" has less to do with this than finding a common ground to broach your mutual desire to support the children in your school. Ask him/her what their goals are; ask how you can encorporate the considerable talents of the parents you represent and then learn to understand the "P" that pertains to YOUR school and figure out how to get your goals encorporated into theirs.
Frankly--I have NEVER heard of a PTO going against a principal and winning (in the big scheme of things)...it is their school for way longer than your child's tenure with them... You have to understand their motivations, their goals, their basis and learn to get your goals and basis complimented through that understanding. That is how you can win over a reluctant adminstrator. If you do not communicate then you will lose your strongest ally, and find your greatest enemy and probably, they will win...

Now as to the spirit thing...YOU CAN DO THIS...we DO THIS...every day. There are not always matches made in heaven but there is often found heaven when matches are made. Just the fact that you want to step out and work this means that you are rising above the norm and becoming one of the group of "I cans" as opposed the to youknowwhos. I heard today that positive people have a basis of GOOD that they work from...I promise you, if you spread that GOOD...years from now a child you may never meet..will do something GOOD because they picked up the idea from YOU....
Boy-this job doesn't pay much does it..?
d

So what do you do when you do not like your principle.... why am I volunteering so much to battle with Parents and have conflicts with the principle. Some times I want to throw in the towel. Can you lift my spirits please!