School Principal

POSITION OVERVIEW

This position has supervisory responsibility and creates a unifying workforce vision that brings Team Member Development, Performance Management, and Succession Planning together. The Principal position for JHCA reports directly to the Head of School. The principal plans, develops, and implements programs and services for JHCA. The principal is empowered to execute JHCA policies and procedures. The principal is responsible for conceptualizing, developing and facilitating the implementation of projects in support of policies, goals, and objectives established by the Head of School by performing the following duties personally or through subordinate staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Note: The essential functions below describe the general requirements of this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Incumbents may perform all or most of the primary accountabilities listed below. Specific tasks, responsibilities or competencies may be documented in the incumbent’s performance objectives as outlined by the incumbent’s immediate supervisor or manager.

The principal will support the Academy’s mission and vision and role model the behaviors by:

• Cultivating a positive work environment.
• Prioritizing and setting manageable goals.
• Being efficient with time at work.
• Communicating effectively with management, staff, parents, students, visitors, media and compliance and accountability authorities.
• Being flexible and taking criticism constructively.
• Handling a majority of student discipline.

The principal will support compliance-related items by:

• Following internal procedures and external regulations.
• Bringing compliance issues to the attention of the Head of School.
• Successfully completing regulatory training requirements periodically.
• Working collaboratively in all facets of the position to meet position requirements and support district goals.
• Develops and evaluates the educational program to ensure alignment to state and the Academy’s standards.
• Develops and coordinates the educational programs through meetings with staff, review of teachers' activities and confirmation of directives.
• Confers with teachers, students and parents concerning educational and behavioral problems in school.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with community organizations and other schools.
• Requisitions and allocates supplies, equipment and instructional material as needed.
• Directs preparation of class schedules, cumulative records and attendance reports.
• Walks about school building and property to monitor safety and security. Plans and directs building maintenance.
• Supports long and short-term strategic planning and budgeting based on school goals and growth objectives.
• Hires, trains, develops, and appraises staff effectively.
• Observes and evaluates staff performance. Takes corrective action as necessary on a timely basis and in accordance with district policy. Consults with human resources as appropriate.
• Keeps up-to-date on information and technology affecting functional area(s) to increase efficiency and innovation and ensure compliance. This includes research and follow-up possibilities for the school to expand, change, or remove programs and/or services.
• Creates the structure and processes necessary to manage the school’s current activities and its projected growth.
• Promotes communication and adequate information flow within the district.
• Conforms to all safety rules and the use of all appropriate safety equipment.
• Participates on committees and special projects and seeks additional responsibilities.

Performs all other related duties, as assigned.

EXPECTATIONS

• Ensure the fidelity of the Academy’s mission, vision, core values, expressed and implied expectations;
• Dedication to positive discipline;
• Uphold campus safety standards;
• Support and engage parents;
• Foster a culture of high achievers;
• Maintain high visibility in the community and on the campus;
• Instructional leadership including daily visits in each classroom (2 to 3 weekly minimum);
• Increase student outcomes in all academic areas;
• Consistently exceed state academic standards;
• Maintain high student attendance, enrollment and retention;
• Establish clear expectations for teacher performance;
• Provide quick remediation and/or corrective action for low teacher performance;
• Implement effective data management resources that will enable teachers to monitor student progress and identify areas of strengths/weaknesses;
• Maintain a consistent and frequent performance review process for teachers;
• Conceptualize, develop and facilitate programs and guidelines that will impact student improvement;
• Develop teaching staff to improve individual teaching techniques;
• Create a culture of excellence by insuring instruction is accelerated and instruction is delivered to the high-end of the class;
• Communicate the school’s mission and vision to school staff and all actions and behavior should be aligned;
• Creating high expectations and values as role-model;
• Share leadership and authority when appropriate;
• Demonstrate a willingness to make the same types of changes and dedications asked of others;
• Identifying advocates within the staff;
• Building consensus that permeates the entire staff through the development and implementation of a professional learning community;
• Eliminating any distractions to ensure the maximum amount of classroom time is focused on instruction;
• Establishing a cohesive culture through consistent application of policies and procedures and accountability;
• Develop the instructional capacities of all teachers;
• Develop future school leaders;
• Develop a succession plan for all positions

Principal Duties

• Adhere to the school calendar of events
• Review weekly team leader and mentor meeting notes for each grade level
• Follow up on all phone calls and emails daily
• Plan and leads daily ceremony
• Assist with morning playground duty
• Assist with dismissal duty
• Plan for school-wide staff meetings
• Plan for mentor meetings
• 2 to 3 classroom visits per week with feedback
• Conduct one formal teacher observation in the fall and spring
• Review weekly lesson plans
• Schedule and facilitate parent information nights
• Review upcoming events and write and email articles about these events to the local paper
• Work with discipline as needed (document the incidents and call parents)
• Prepare and facilitate upcoming professional development trainings
• Organize schedules
• Address faculty personnel issues and document
• Address parent issues and document
• Support managing the school’s budget
• Review and approve/disapprove purchases
• Monitor grading period testing results
• Complete the staff work schedules
• Establish school-wide goals (SMART) each year
• Compliance with fire drills, lockdown and evacuation requirements
• Establish and maintain after school clubs

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

Specialized Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Requires in-depth knowledge of school operations. Is considered a subject matter expert within the educational community on school operations.
• Demonstrated program development and implementation skills.
• Plans the work of others and coordinates work with other departments or external agencies.
• Ability to read, write, analyze, and interpret policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from students, parents, community members, faculty, staff, media, supervisors, managers, and directors.
• Must have excellent verbal communication skills.
• Must have high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations. Position requires demonstrated poise, tact and diplomacy. Works effectively and relates well with others including superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside of the district. Exhibits professional manner in dealing with others and works to maintain constructive working relationships. Ability to represent the school and district effectively in a variety of settings with diverse communities. Has the ability to demonstrate understanding and appreciation for diverse cultures.
• Ability to solve problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule forms.
• Strong attention to detail and well organized.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to develop staff.
• Can be depended upon to complete work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments (leads by example).
• Must have flexible scheduling in order to work hours necessary to fulfill job requirements.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

• The incumbent in this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check and Fingerprint Clearance Card
• Must be able to obtain and hold a valid Fingerprint Clearance Card at all times

PHYSICAL AND TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This position requires the need to lift objects (up to 25 pounds) on occasion.
• This position may require sitting for long periods at times, talking on the phone, standing, kneeling, stooping and long periods of concentration.
• Local and in-state travel required.