Position: Principal

Position Summary

The Principal serves as the instructional leader and chief administrator of the school, responsible for fostering high levels of student achievement, staff growth, and organizational effectiveness. The Principal leads the implementation of the district's vision for teaching and learning by promoting high-quality instruction, standards-based learning, collaborative professional culture, and a positive school climate. Through effective leadership of staff, systems, resources, and community partnerships, the Principal ensures that every student has access to a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The Principal works collaboratively with students, families, staff, and district leadership to advance continuous improvement and achieve district goals.

Reports to: Superintendent

Salary & Benefits: Salary will commensurate with experience and qualifications and in compliance with the Grand Ledge Administrators' Educational Association's Master Agreement. A competitive benefit package is also available.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Note: These duties and responsibilities are judged to be "essential functions" in terms of the Americans With Disabilities Act or ADA. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The statements below are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person in this position. They are not constructed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed by such a person.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops and administers school programs consistent with school district goals and objectives.
• Provides leadership and direction to staff with regard to the ongoing evaluation and improvement of educational programs, including curricular and extracurricular activities.
• Promotes a culture of belonging where every student, family, and staff member feels valued, supported, and connected.
• Ensures that Board policies, procedures, and negotiated contracts are implemented, enforced, and followed at the school.
• Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, workshops or professional meetings, or by conducting research.
• Encourages staff to continue to grow professionally and to experiment with new approaches or strategies to teaching.
• Leads implementation of standards-based learning practices, including proficiency scales, standards-aligned assessment, and feedback practices that support student ownership of learning.
• Facilitates high-functioning Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) focused on student learning, collective efficacy, common formative assessment, and continuous improvement.
• Leads implementation of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure timely academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and attendance interventions for students.
• Builds leadership capacity among staff through distributive leadership practices, collaborative decision-making, and shared ownership of school improvement efforts.
• Creates a building schedule for all staffing and specials classes needs based upon enrollment.
• Encourages thoughtful innovation and responsible use of technology, including emerging technologies that enhance teaching, learning, and operational effectiveness.
• Ensures that the culture of the school, actions of staff, and leadership is focused on cultural responsiveness and restorative practices.
• Leadership creates a trauma informed and resilience focused environment
• Organizes and manages the budget for the building.
• Supervises and evaluates dean of students, teaching staff, and building support.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and grant-funded programs, including Title and at-risk funding sources, and the ability to align resources to student needs.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading instructional improvement initiatives through collaboration, data-informed decision-making, and systems thinking.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate well with school personnel and parents while complying with the confidentiality requirements in local, state, and federal policies.
• Uses multiple sources of student, instructional, and climate data to identify needs, monitor progress, and drive continuous school improvement.
• Demonstrated strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to organize work routines, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Ability in developing successful working relationships with staff, parents, students, and community members
• Knowledge of instructional leadership, classroom management, and community relations
• Ability to represent the interests of the Board of Education, school community, and district with integrity and credibility.
• Strong professional ethics
• Proficient at identifying problems, establishing priorities, and implementing solutions consistent with the school district's long-range goals
• Ability in articulating, communicating, and supporting well-reasoned positions on important issues within the building and school district
• Ability to lead staff toward a shared vision for teaching and learning while building consensus around instructional priorities that improve student outcomes.
• Ability in modeling instructional methods and evaluating teachers in the classroom

Requirements

• Masters Degree in Educational Administration, Educational Leadership, or Curriculum
• Must hold or qualify for Michigan Administrative Certification or be willing to enroll in an Administrative Certificate Program
• Valid Michigan Teaching Certificate
• Previous successful classroom teaching experience required.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds such as books and materials.

The employee shall remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substance in the workplace throughout his/her employment in the District.