Dear M. Burton,
A school principal may be referred to as ‘Principal’ as in “where is the Principal’s office?” but formally he/she is addressed in writing as Dr./Mr./Ms. (Name) and identified as the ‘principal’.
Principal (Name) is most often used in informal conversation. Only occasionally is it used in written communications.
—- Envelope or address block on an email:
—- —- Mr./Ms./Dr. (Full Name)
—- —- Principal
—- —- (Name of School)
—- —- (Address)
————- Which looks like:
————- —- Dr. Grady Wade
————- —- Principal
————- —- James Madison Elementary School
————- —- 4211 Old Glebe Road
————- —- Arlington, VA 22207
—- In a salutation he or she is:
——– Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. (Surname)
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.) The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___ What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions , etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.
—- #1) At right on desktops , at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones , is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.
—- #2) If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.) Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.
—- #3) If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question – but always change all the specifics.