But Sharman Andrea Dykes (54) has said the Ministry of Education could take some lessons in listening to those facing funding pressures.
Dykes, who was known as Sharman Glover-Milne when she was Balclutha School's principal, admitted three dishonesty charges in the Dunedin District Court on Wednesday.
On three occasions from 2003 to 2007, Dykes overstated the roll of the school by between 12 and 15 pupils in order to get more funding from the ministry.
The offending resulted in the school receiving $16,700 in Crown funding to which it was not entitled.
New Zealand Principals Federation president and Balclutha School principal Paddy Ford acknowledged yesterday schools were under financial pressure, but did not condone Dykes' actions.
"You just don't do that stuff. It's illegal, immoral and unethical. No matter how short of funding schools are, principals still shouldn't do it."
Mr Ford said Dykes would have been wiser to use her time seeking help available from the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Principals Federation or several other support organisations for educators.
Dykes, now a farmer living in Winton, told One News last night she hoped her story sent a message about the stresses on principals.
She did not advocate people breaking the law.
"I probably did it out of frustration."
"I suppose I was being dishonest in terms of the return. I don't think I was being dishonest in terms of what was best for the children."
Ministry resourcing senior manager Kevin Wilson said Dykes' case was the first for Otago.
Only three principals had been taken to court for roll-tampering in New Zealand in the past 12 years.
Board of trustees chairman Glenn Hutton said the board and staff felt let down by Dykes, and welcomed her guilty plea.
The board was satisfied its accounting and auditing systems were now robust, that had been confirmed by a recent Ministry audit.
