Job Title:                       Principal

Reports to:                    Dependent on assignment

Pay Grade:                    Administrative/Professional - PG 7

Dept/Campus:              Assigned Campus or Level

Wage/Hour Status:       Exempt

Days:                             220

Primary Purpose:

Direct and manage instructional program and supervise operations and personnel at campus level. Provide leadership to ensure high standards of instructional service. Oversee compliance with district policies, success of instructional programs, and operation of all campus activities.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification:

Master’s Degree

Texas principal or other appropriate Texas certificate

Certified T-Tess Appraiser (or ability to obtain certification)

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Working knowledge of curriculum and instruction
• Ability to evaluate instructional program and teaching effectiveness
• Ability to manage budget and personnel
• Ability to coordinate campus functions
• Ability to implement policy and procedures
• Ability to interpret data
• Ability to create and lead professional learning
• Strong organizational, communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills

Experience:

          Two years experience as a classroom teacher

          Two years experience in instructional leadership roles

          Administrative experience preferred 

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Instructional Leadership

• Monitor instructional and managerial processes to ensure that program activities are related to program outcomes and use findings to take corrective actions.
• Provide instructional resources and materials needed to accomplish instructional goals.
• Establish clear expectations for staff performance with regard to instructional strategies, classroom management, and communication with the public.
• Communicate and promote expectations for high-level performance to staff and students. Recognize excellence and achievement.
• Foster collegiality and team building among staff members. Encourage their active involvement in decision-making processes.
• Solicit regular input from campus-level committee about planning, operation, supervision, and evaluation of campus educational programs. Include students and community representatives when appropriate.

School or Organization Improvement

• Build a common vision for school improvement with staff.  Direct planning activities and implement programs to ensure attainment of the school’s mission.
• Use the campus planning process and campus site-based decision making committee to develop and set annual campus objectives for performance improvement in areas identified by the Texas Academic Performance Report, state accountability system, local accountability system and other sources.
• Effectively recognize, implement and support district initiatives at the campus level.
• Develop, maintain, and use information systems and records necessary to show campus progress on performance objectives identified above.

Student Management

• Work with faculty and students to develop a student discipline management system that results in positive student behavior and enhances the school climate.
• Ensure that school rules are uniformly applied and that student discipline is appropriate and equitable in accordance with Student Code of Conduct and student handbook.
• Conduct conferences about student and school issues with parents, students, and teachers.
• Management of Fiscal, Administrative, and Facilities Functions
• Comply with district policies, state and federal laws, and regulations affecting schools.
• Develop campus budgets based on documented program needs, estimated enrollment, personnel, and other fiscal needs. Keep programs within budget limits. Maintain fiscal control. Accurately report fiscal information.
• Effectively oversee the management of affiliated parent and community support organizations.
• Compile, maintain, and file all physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents required including accurate and timely reports of maximum attendance to requisition textbooks.
• Manage use of school facilities. Oversee maintenance of facilities to ensure a clean, orderly, and safe campus.
• Ensure the emergency operations procedures are fully implemented including keeping required safety documents updated and completing required safety drills.
• Direct and manage extracurricular and intramural programs including management of multiple activity funds according to district guidelines. (Secondary Principals Only)

 Personnel Management

• Make timely recommendations for hiring new staff and assigning staff on campus. Take an active role in interviewing new staff.  Approve all personnel assigned to campus.
• Make recommendations on the suspension, nonrenewal or termination of employees assigned to campus.
• Observe employee performance, record observations, and conduct evaluation conferences with staff.
• Ensure the completion of annual performance appraisals for campus professional and paraprofessional staff, and file completed appraisal documents according to district guidelines.
• Confer with subordinates regarding their professional growth. Work with them to develop and accomplish improvement goals.
• Work with campus-level planning and decision-making committees to plan professional development activities based on campus needs.  Complete annual staff development plans prior the beginning of school.

School or Community Relations

• Articulate the school’s mission to the community and solicit community support in realizing the school’s mission.
• Maintain a positive and professional image of yourself and school in the community.
• Foster a spirit of cooperation and community with all district campuses.
• Demonstrate awareness of school and community needs and initiate activities to meet those needs.
• Use appropriate and effective techniques to encourage community and parent involvement.
• Provide for two-way communication with superintendent, staff, students, parents, and community.

• Effectively communicate district/community needs/initiatives to faculty and staff.

Other

• Attendance at regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Trustees.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Superintendent that are consistent with the general requirements and qualifications for the position.

Equipment used:

Personal or laptop computer, printer, copier, fax machine, calculator, telephone, electronic mobile devices, projector, and display monitor

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Supervise, evaluate, and recommend the hiring and firing of staff assigned to campus including assistant principal(s), teachers, counselor(s), librarian(s), instructional aides, and clerical support staff.

Working Conditions:

Physical Demands /Mental Demands/ Environmental Factors:

The working conditions described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations. 

Regularly sit, talk or hear; frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; frequent repetitive hand motions; prolonged use of computer; occasionally lift and/or move up to 10-50 pounds; occasionally required to stand, walk reach with hands and arms; vision abilities include close vision; and color vision, regularly work with frequent interruptions, maintain emotional control under stress; the noise level is usually moderate. The employee may spend long hours in intense concentration which requires attention to detail and high levels of accuracy.  There are a number of deadlines associated with this position, which may cause significant stress.  The employee must also deal with a wide variety of people on various issues. Predictable and regular attendance expected.