PRINCIPAL - Primary

Responsibility:The principal of the primary school is directly responsible to the superintendent of schools or their designee.

General Duties:The principal will plan, organize, administer, manage and coordinate the total school program.

Specific Duties:

• Provides instructional leadership and promotes student behavior that is supportive of and conducive to the implementation of the instructional program.
• Supervises all professional, administrative and support personnel assigned to the school and evaluates staff in keeping with the district’s established procedures.
• Visits classrooms as frequently as possible for the purpose of observing instruction and supporting the instructional process.
• Assists in the development, revision, and evaluation of the curriculum at the primary school level.
• Organizes and supervises all student activities and oversees the maintenance of standards concerning students’ discipline, health, safety, and general welfare.
• Provides general supervision of all school areas including classrooms, corridors, the cafeteria, the gymnasium, and school grounds and coordinates the use of the building for both day and non school use.
• Directs the maintenance of all school records including health, grade reporting, and attendance records.
• Directs and supervises the preparation of reports requested by the superintendent of schools, the State Department of Education, and other state and federal government agencies.
• Approves field trip requests that support the instructional program.
• Has, subject to district policy, state law, and approval of the superintendent, complete responsibility for hiring and termination of all personnel in the building.
• Assumes responsibility for the implementation and observance of all School Committee policies and regulations by the school’s staff and students.
• Serves as Co-chairperson of the School Council and oversees the development of the school improvement plan.
• Plans and supervises programs for school volunteers
• Plans and supervises staff orientation and mentoring programs and has overall responsibility for those professional development programs conducted in the building.
• Supervises the administration of student discipline in keeping with the concepts of due process and as written in the student handbook and assists in the preparation of recommendations relative to the updating of the primary student handbook.
• Maintains an inventory of school supplies, furniture, equipment, books, and determines the needs in each of these areas for the purpose of preparing the annual budget.
• Maintains and directs the accounting of all school funds and reports annually in this regard to the office of the superintendent of schools.
• Works with staff and students to promote building cleanliness and maintenance.
• Plans and supervises evacuation drills and other elements of the emergency preparedness program.
• Serves on system-wide curriculum and program development committees.
• Interprets school policy and generally works with parents, teachers, and citizens to promote the effective flow of communication.
• Assists in preparing students for transition to the middle school level.
• Organizes informational programs and meetings for students and parents and develops a program of public relations designed to further the community’s understanding and support of primary education.
• Develops and oversees systematic procedures for the continual assessment of pupil achievement.
• Coordinates involvement and provides supervision of student teachers.
• Arranges for necessary substitute coverage, supervises and evaluates performance of substitute teachers.
• Keeps abreast of current educational trends through the reading of professional journals and visitations, for the purpose of evaluation, of schools having innovative programs.
• Delegates authority to assume responsibility for the school in the absence of the principal.
• Performs other such duties as may be assigned by the superintendent of schools.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated leadership ability.
• Vision to advance 21st Century Skills into the curriculum and school based activities.
• Proven ability to work in a collaborative and effective manner with many different constituents.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to succeed in complex and changing environments.
• Minimum of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with graduate coursework in school administration.
• Ability to satisfy MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education licensure requirements for Elementary Principal
• Bilingual candidates, preferred
• Candidates with experience teaching/leading in a diverse community, preferred

Terms of Employment:

• The successful candidate will be extended a contract with terms contingent on experience and qualifications.
• Competitive benefits will be included in the contract offered.
• Effective date of employment will be on or about July 1, 2023