Job Description for Principal Crestwood Elementary

Position Title: Principal of Crestwood Elementary

Job Status: Full Time

Reports To: Executive Director of Elementary School Performance

FLSA Status: Exempt

Classification: Licensed Amount of Travel: Minimal

Date Created: April 2023 Level: Building Administration

Salary Range: $52,890 to $99,334 Work Schedule: 220 Days

Position Summary: The NLRSD is seeking exceptional applicants for the building leadership position of principal. This position serves as the educational leader of the school. Assumes responsibility for the direction of the school's instructional program. Accountable for student achievement as indicated by applicable student test scores. Responsible for the operation of the school's day-to-day operations, participation in staff and student activities, supervision and safety of participants at school-sponsored activities, and providing school-related community leadership. Plans, directs, coordinates, supervises, and is responsible for all activities of the elementary school as assigned.

Essential Functions: The following duties are representative of performance expectations. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The building-level principal duties will include, but are not limited to the following:

• Responsible for the school culture and environment as it pertains to student/staff safety and security, as well as providing an atmosphere that is conducive to optimum student achievement.
• Responsible for improving student achievement using applicable student test scores as indicators of success.
• Responsible for adhering to and communicating the Arkansas Code of Ethics to all certified staff.
• Responsible for adhering to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) standards dealing with teacher assignment as it pertains to teacher certification, licensure requirements, and DESE School Accreditation.
• Prepare, maintain, and oversee the preparation and maintenance of attendance, activity, planning, or personnel reports and records.
• Commit to inclusivity, fairness, and social equity among all students and staff.
• Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavior or learning problems. Direct and coordinate school maintenance services and the use of school facilities.
• Organize and direct committees of specialists, volunteers, and staff to provide technical and advisory assistance for programs.
• Direct and coordinate activities of teachers, administrators, and support staff assigned to the school.
• Evaluate curricula, teaching methods, and programs to determine their effectiveness, efficiency, and utilization, and to ensure that school activities comply with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Set educational standards and goals, and help establish policies and procedures to carry them out; include responsibilities associated with the building-wide administration of the required district and state testing programs.
• Enforce discipline and attendance rules.
• Observe teaching methods and examine learning materials to evaluate and standardize curricula and teaching techniques, and to determine areas where improvement is needed.
• Evaluate certified staff utilizing the DESE TESS/LEADs evaluation tool.
• Evaluate classified staff utilizing the NLRSD classified evaluation tool.
• Review and interpret government codes and develop programs to ensure adherence to codes and facility safety, security, and maintenance.
• Determine allocations of funds for staff, supplies, materials, and equipment, and authorize purchases. Collaborate with teachers to develop and maintain curriculum standards, develop mission/vision statements, and set performance goals and objectives.
• Annually prepare a school improvement plan and provide updates to the supervisor throughout the year toward the progress of goals.
• Establish a leadership team to work collaboratively to build capacity among staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Competencies:

• Accountability - accepts responsibility and accounts for his/her actions
• Accurate - performs work accurately and thoroughly
• Adaptability - Adapts to change in the workplace
• Communication, Oral - communicates effectively with others using the spoken word
• Communication, Written - communicates in writing clearly and concisely
• Consensus Building - brings about group solidarity to achieve a goal
• Creative - thinks in such a way as to produce a new concept or idea
• Regular Attendance - reports to work regularly to maximize student progress
• Diversity Oriented - works effectively with people regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or job type.
• Enthusiastic - bring energy to the performance of a task
• Ethical - demonstrates conduct conforming to a set of values and accepted standards
• Goal-oriented - focuses on a goal and obtains a predetermined result
• Honesty / Integrity - truthful and seen as credible in the workplace
• Initiative - takes actions to solve problems or reach goals
• Innovative - looks beyond the standard solutions
• Interpersonal - gets along well with a variety of personalities and individuals
• Judgment - formulates sound decisions using the available information
• Loyal - demonstrates a trait of duty to students and coworkers
• Management Skills - organizes and directs oneself, and a classroom, to effectively supervise students
• Motivation - inspires oneself, and students, to reach a goal and/or perform to the best of their ability
• Organized - possesses the trait of being organized to follow systematic methods of performing tasks
• Patience - acts calmly under stress and strain
• Positive attitude - optimistic, team-first attitude displayed at all times
• Presentation Skills - effectively presents information to students, parents, and others
• Problem-Solving - finds solutions for challenges, deals proactively with work-related problems
• Punctual - reports to work on time, reports to class, or other duties on time
• Reliability - dependable and trustworthy
• Responsible - accountable or answerable for one’s conduct.
• Tactful – show consideration for and maintain good relations with students, parents, and coworkers
• Team Building – convinces students, parents, and coworkers to work toward goals

Minimum Qualifications:

• Licensed Arkansas Teacher in Building-Level Administration or equivalent.
• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to job duties and responsibilities preferred. 
• Have a minimum of five (5) years of successful teaching or related experience in building-level leadership.
• Have a minimum of eight (8) years of successful job performance in education, including teaching and leadership experience preferred.
• Experience with educational accountability measures, including federal education reform efforts, state and local standards, and assessments, knowledge of systemic organizational thinking, organizational leadership, and change management. 
• Experience working in a highly collaborative environment where teamwork, creative problem-solving, and self-motivation are necessary for success. 
• Experience in an urban school district is preferred.

Skills and Abilities Required: The following characteristics and physical skills are essential for successfully performing assigned duties.

Building-Level Leadership Expertise: 

• Capable of providing leadership with a vision for transformation. 
• Knowledge of best instructional practices for reading/math and literacy development and intervention for all students in grades K-8.
• Knowledge of topics related to the reading and math curricula.
• Knowledge of local state and federal laws/regulations about public education.
• Knowledge of Arkansas content standards and development guidelines, education theory, developmentally appropriate practices, and literacy and math programs. 
• Knowledge of supervisory fundamentals, principles, and trends. 
• Knowledge of state law and district administrative policies and procedures related to secondary reading, language arts, and integrated literacy education. 

Work Environment: 

• The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while performing this job's essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment may vary from quiet to noisy. The work environment has limited exposure to environmental conditions.

Empathy and Commitment to Cause: 

• Deep commitment to improving student achievement and employee performance.
• Passionately believes that all students can achieve at high levels.
• Demonstrates cultural competence, equity, and a deep understanding of and empathy for issues facing minority and economically disadvantaged families and students requiring special services.

Problem-Solving and Systems Thinking: 

• Understands how various systems and departments interact to achieve district goals.
• Makes decisions using data and technology.
• Takes initiative to solve problems and create stakeholder buy-in.
• Identifies and prioritizes mission-critical issues with alignment of people, time, and

resources.

• Offer innovative solutions to seemingly intractable challenges. 
• Exhibits a strong focus on goals and results. Sets clear metrics for success.
• Demonstrates excellent execution and project management skills, including attention to detail and organizational skills.

Leadership Skills: 

• Motivates, inspires, and moves other adults to action to achieve ambitious goals.
• Use a collaborative approach in assisting teachers in envisioning the goals and ways to be successful.
• Builds and maintains positive relationships with individuals and groups.
• Moves groups to consensus and resolves conflicts. Exhibits willingness to have difficult conversations.
• Builds coalitions and works collaboratively with diverse stakeholders at all levels, including but not limited to district personnel, students, families, communities, and/or advocacy groups.
• Establishes clear expectations, deliverables, and deadlines.
• Sets clear agendas and facilitates effective meetings.
• Ability to train staff from different cultural backgrounds and skill sets.
• Exhibits transformational and servant leadership characteristics in daily work. 

Additional Responsibilities:

• Performs other tasks and assumes different roles and responsibilities as the Executive Director of Elementary School Performance and their designee may assign.