Police arrested Leslie Chance at her Bakersfield home, five days after a farm worker discovered her husband Todd's bullet-riddled body.
Police won't discuss a motive, but say they found the murder weapon.
Leslie Chance, 46, is the principal at Fairview Elementary. She had been out of school on bereavement this week.
School district officials won't take any action until consulting with attorneys after her arraignment next week.
Ken Chichester, assistant superintendent of personnel at Greenfield Union School District, said Leslie Chance had been employed with the district since 1997. It was her third year as principal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
