DCTC School Principal Pool ($104,519+)

Dorchester County Public Schools is seeking a visionary and results-driven leader to serve as Principal of the Dorchester Career and Technology Center (DCTC). This role extends beyond traditional school leadership and includes system-level responsibility for the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of high-quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Career-Connected Learning (CCL) programs.

The Principal will lead the integration of academic instruction, workforce development, and real-world learning experiences in alignment with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Pillar 3) and evolving guidance from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Accountability & Implementation Board (AIB).

This leader will ensure that all students have access to rigorous, equitable, and industry-aligned pathways that prepare them for postsecondary success, including college, careers, apprenticeships, and military service.

This is a unique leadership opportunity for a principal who wants to redefine what high school looks like. The Principal of DCTC will play a critical role in ensuring that every student in Dorchester County graduates with a clear, supported pathway to success—whether that is college, career, or both.

This position is ideal for a leader who is ready to:

• Build innovative, workforce-aligned programs.
• Expand opportunities for students through real-world learning.
• Lead at the intersection of education, industry, and community.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Instructional Leadership & Program Coherence

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of high-quality CTE programs aligned to state-approved Programs of Study and industry workforce needs.
• Ensure integration of Career-Connected Learning (CCL) experiences, including internships, apprenticeships, capstones, and school-based enterprises, into student pathways.
• Align all programs to industry-recognized credentials (IRCs) and ensure students have meaningful opportunities to earn credentials valued by employers.
• Ensure instructional alignment between academic content, technical skill development, and workforce expectations.
• Lead continuous program improvement using student outcome data, credential attainment, and workforce alignment metrics.

Career-Connected Learning System Implementation

• Oversee implementation of Maryland’s Career-Connected Learning system, including:

• Ensuring students complete high-quality, documented work-based learning experiences (minimum 250 hours per experience)
• Monitoring work plans, student artifacts, and evaluation processes aligned to MSDE expectations
• Supporting scheduling structures that allow flexible pathways (Core-Flex model)

• Collaborate with career coaches, counselors, and school leaders to ensure effective 6-year student planning and advising systems.
• Expand access to career-connected opportunities for all students, not just those enrolled in traditional CTE pathways.

Grants Management & Compliance (Perkins & Beyond)

• Serve as the lead administrator for the Federal Perkins Grant and related funding streams, ensuring:

• Full compliance with federal and state requirements
• Accurate budgeting, reporting, and monitoring
• Strategic alignment of funds to program improvement and student outcomes

• Oversee fiscal management of CTE programs, including equipment, facilities, and program expansion.
• Ensure compliance with all MSDE, federal, and AIB accountability requirements.

Workforce & Postsecondary Partnerships

• Build and sustain strong partnerships with:

• Local Workforce Development Boards (WIB)
• Employers and industry partners
• Community colleges and higher education institutions
• Apprenticeship and workforce agencies

• Expand dual enrollment, articulation agreements, and credentialing opportunities.
• Serve as the district liaison for regional and state CTE and workforce initiatives.
• Serve as a member on all Program Advisory Committees (PAC) at DCTC.

Staff Leadership & Organizational Development

• Supervise and evaluate CTE teachers, support staff, and related personnel.
• Collaborate with district leadership to ensure alignment between DCTC and all secondary schools.
• Support recruitment, hiring, and retention of highly qualified CTE instructors.
• Lead professional learning focused on instructional rigor, industry alignment, and student outcomes.

Student Experience & School Culture

• Ensure a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment that reflects both academic and workplace expectations.
• Promote high expectations for student achievement, attendance, and employability skills.
• Support equitable access to programs for all student groups.

Systems Leadership & Strategic Alignment

• Align DCTC programs to the district’s strategic plan: Believe in Us: Achieving Our Potential Together.
• Use data to drive decision-making, including enrollment trends, credential attainment, and postsecondary outcomes.
• Lead innovation in program design to meet emerging workforce demands.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Superintendent or designee

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Eligible for and hold Maryland Administrator II Certification prior to appointment.
• Minimum of three (3) years of successful school-based administrative experience
• Minimum of three (3) years of successful teaching experience.
• Experience in Career and Technical Education (CTE) leadership or program development.
• Experience managing federal or state grants (Perkins strongly preferred).
• Knowledge of:
  • Industry-recognized credentials and CTE program approval processes.
  • Career-Connected Learning systems and work-based learning models.
  • Workforce development systems and partnerships.
• Experience working with community colleges, workforce boards, or industry partners.
• Deep understanding of CTE program design, credentialing, and workforce alignment.
• Ability to lead complex systems that integrate instruction, workforce, and postsecondary pathways.
• Strong financial and grant management skills.
• Ability to analyze and use data to improve programs and student outcomes.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to lead change and drive continuous improvement in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to work with multiple agencies.
• Ability to make decisions in accordance with precedents, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to apply Board policy to daily work decisions, exercise good judgment,
  courtesy, and tact in dealing with all stakeholders on the telephone, writing, and in person. 
• Must be able to work independently on routine, complex and confidential tasks.
• Must maintain good attendance record and be willing to work outside of general
  working hours occasionally.

Please Note:

• Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview. Internal candidates will be considered alongside external applicants, and only those whose qualifications most closely match the needs of the position will be contacted for an interview. 

SALARY:                    This is a twelve (12) month, benefited position. This position is on the A-S VI High School Principal Lane of the Dorchester County Administrators’ and Supervisors’ Association Salary Scale. The current base salary range for this position is $104,519.00 - $132,585.00.

Salary : $104,519 - $132,585