Admin - Assistant Principal @ Garden Heights Elementary

ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

SALARY & BENEFITS

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Elementary Associate Principal serves as a key instructional and operational leader, with a targeted focus on supporting students who are not yet meeting academic standards, particularly in literacy and mathematics. In partnership with the Principal, this role helps ensure a safe, inclusive, and high-performing learning environment aligned to the mission, vision, and core values of the Moses Lake School District.

The Associate Principal leads the development, implementation, and monitoring of behavior systems that promote positive student conduct, reduce disciplinary disparities, and support the social-emotional growth of all students. This leader maintains high visibility throughout the school, builds strong relationships with students and families, and ensures consistent, fair, and restorative practices in student discipline. The Associate Principal also plays a key role in the supervision and evaluation of both certificated and classified staff.

In partnership with the Principal, the Associate Principal ensures a safe, inclusive, and academically focused learning environment aligned to district goals and LAP/LAP High Poverty requirements. This includes coordinating evidence-based interventions, supporting data-driven decision-making, and aligning behavioral supports to maximize instructional time for identified students.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Master’s degree in education or related field
• Valid Washington State Administrator Certificate (or eligibility)
• Minimum of three years of successful teaching experience
• Demonstrated experience supporting student behavior and school climate
• Experience in staff supervision and/or evaluation preferred
• Strong belief in equitable outcomes for all students
• Knowledge of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), PBIS, and/or restorative practices
• Ability to remain calm, solutions-oriented, and student-centered under pressure
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with students, staff, and families
• Commitment to ethical, transparent, and student-centered decision-making

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

• Builds trust and positive relationships with students, staff, and families
• Demonstrates strong emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills
• Communicates clearly and effectively across diverse audiences
• Applies a restorative and instructional approach to student discipline
• Promotes consistency, fairness, and equity in behavioral expectations
• Supports a collaborative and student-centered school culture
• Uses data to inform decisions and improve systems

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Student Behavior & School Climate

• Leads the implementation and continuous improvement of schoolwide behavior systems (e.g., PBIS, MTSS) to increase student engagement and maximize time in core instruction.
• Manages student discipline in alignment with district policy, emphasizing restorative practices, explicit teaching of expectations, and student growth to ensure timely re-engagement in learning.
• Ensures consistent and equitable application of behavioral expectations and responses to create predictable, supportive conditions for academic success.
• Analyzes discipline and engagement data to identify trends, address disproportionality, and strengthen systems that support improved student outcomes.
• Provides coaching and support to staff in effective classroom management and behavior intervention strategies that increase student access to instruction.
• Develops and implements positive support plans in collaboration with staff, families, and support teams to remove barriers to learning for students needing additional support.
• Maintains high visibility throughout the school to build relationships, reinforce expectations, and proactively support student engagement in learning.
• Coordinates with counselors, behavior specialists, and outside agencies to align supports that improve student readiness to learn and sustained participation in instruction.

Instructional & Staff Leadership

• Assists in the supervision and evaluation of certificated staff, including conducting formal and informal observations, providing feedback, and supporting professional growth aligned with district frameworks.
• Assists in the supervision and evaluation of classified staff, ensuring clarity of expectations, accountability, and professional development.
• Supports the Principal in implementing district curriculum, instructional practices, and school improvement efforts.
• Provides targeted coaching to staff related to classroom environment, behavior management, and student engagement.
• Supports Professional Learning Teams (PLTs), particularly in analyzing behavior and engagement data.
• Leads and supports the coordination and administration of state and district assessments, ensuring full compliance with testing protocols, timelines, and security requirements; monitors assessment implementation and data integrity; collaborates with staff to ensure proper training and execution; and uses assessment results to inform instructional practices and support continuous school improvement.
• Promotes a positive, collaborative culture focused on continuous improvement.

Operations & Compliance

• Assists in overseeing building operations, including safety procedures, supervision systems, and student records.
• Ensures compliance with district policies, state laws, collective bargaining agreements, and evaluation procedures.
• Supports emergency response and crisis management procedures.
• Helps coordinate student supervision schedules and building coverage.
• Coordinate and monitor LAP/LAP High Poverty funded services and interventions, ensuring they are evidence based and aligned with student learning plans and data. 
• Use student data to identify students for support services and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. 
• Ensure compliance with all LAP program requirements, including documentation, reporting, and allowable use of funds. 

Family & Community Engagement

• Communicates proactively with families regarding student behavior, supports, and interventions.
• Builds partnerships with families to promote positive student outcomes.
• Participates in school events and community engagement opportunities.

Student Support & Well-Being

• Counsels and supports students in developing appropriate behavior, decision-making, and social-emotional skills.
• Promotes a safe and inclusive environment where all students feel valued and supported.
• Supports attendance improvement efforts and interventions.

District Collaboration & Leadership

• Collaborates with the building principal to support effective school leadership and operations. The evaluating principal will assign and may adjust areas of responsibility based on building needs. The Associate principal may lead and oversee functions such as student discipline, instructional leadership, staff supervision and evaluation, school climate, family engagement, and school operations.
• Participates in district committees and leadership teams.
• Engages in professional learning related to behavior systems, leadership, and school improvement.
• Assists the Principal with special projects and other duties as assigned.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION

The Moses Lake School District #161 does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boys Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the school district’s Title IX, Affirmative Action, and Equal Opportunity officer, Michelle Musso, 1620 S Pioneer Way, Moses Lake, WA 98837, (509) 766-2650, mmusso@mlsd161.org; OR Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Samantha Burgess, 1620 S Pioneer Way, Moses Lake, WA 98837, (509) 766- 2670, sburgess@mlsd161.org.