Head of the Class: 10 Memorable TV School Principals

Mr. Belding, 'Saved By the Bell'

Played By: Dennis Haskins
School: Bayside High
Leadership Style: Befuddled doting
Report Card: Belding was close to his students. Zack delivered Mrs. Belding's baby and Screech became the assistant principal on 'The New Class.'
Grade: A for putting the "pal" in principal


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Principal Skinner, 'The Simpsons'

Played By: Harry Shearer
School: Springfield Elementary
Leadership Style: Clueless momma's boy
Report Card: Seymour caused a teacher's strike, got caught with Ms. Krabappel in the janitor's closet and locked Bart in the basement.
Grade: A for being the only animated principal

Mr. Feeny, 'Boy Meets World'

Played By: William Daniels
School: John Adams High
Leadership Style: Demanding and acerbic
Report Card: Feeny didn't become the principal until season two and the show jumped the shark in season six when he became a professor at Pennbrook College.
Grade: C for living next door to Cory Matthews.

Vice Principal Clemmons, 'Veronica Mars'

Played By: Duane Daniels
School: Neptune High
Leadership Style: Grudge holder
Report Card: As the long-suffering vice-principal, Clemmons probably etched a mark in his bedpost for every day wasn't top dog.
Grade: C for not being able to outsmart a high schooler

Dr. Kim, 'The O.C.'

Played By: Rosalind Chao
School: Harbor High
Leadership Style: Imperious but good-hearted
Report Card: Not many principals would welcome a punch-throwing bad boy from Chino. But Dr. Kim saw a heart of gold underneath Ryan's tough exterior.
Grade: B for putting up with Seth Cohen

Principal Green, 'Dawson's Creek'

Played By: Obba Babatundé
School: Capeside High
Leadership Style: Strict but kind
Report Card: This principal is principled, indeed. When Joey's (Katie Holmes) art mural was defaced, Green expelled the culprit -- even though it cost him his job.
Grade: A for being a good example

Principal Snyder, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'

Played By: Armin Shimerman
School: Sunnydale High
Leadership Style: Sniveling dictator
Report Card: The iron-fisted Snyder's attempts to expel Buffy were eventually revealed to be part of the evil demon-Mayor's world-ending plan.
Grade: F for getting eaten by the mayor at graduation

Principal Faraday, 'Happy Days'

Played By: Stuart Nisbet
School: Jefferson High
Leadership Style: Easygoing
Report Card: A motorcycle-driving dropout wants to go back to school? As long as the Fonz takes a look at Faraday's car, suuuure, why not?
Grade: C- for just coasting by until retirement

Headmaster Merten, 'Gilmore Girls'

Played By: Lawrence
Hilton-Jacobs
School: Chilton Prep
Leadership Style: Truly cares for students' academic well-being
Report Card: Merten also took a chance on an underprivileged but smart student in Rory Gilmore. His risk paid off: She eventually got into Yale.
Grade: B+ for a nice beard

Principal Raditch, 'Degrassi: The Next Generation'

Played By: Dan Woods
School: Degrassi Community
Leadership Style: May not remember being young
Report Card: For years, the no-nonsense Raditch haunted Degrassi students, first as an English teacher, then as a principal.
Grade: D for having no sense of humor

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