Garfield Elementary Principal

Job Title:               SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Classification:        Administrator       

Reports To:           Superintendent/Board of Trustees   

Updated Date:       January 15, 2016   

SUMMARY:  The Principal is a strong leader who directs and coordinates educational and administrative activities of a school by performing the following duties personally or through subordinate supervisors.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  Other duties may be assigned

• Develops and evaluates educational programs to ensure conformance to State and School Board standards.
• Fosters shared beliefs and a sense of community and cooperation.
• Establishes a set of standard operating procedures and routines.
• Protects teachers from issues and influences that would detract from their teaching time or focus.
• Provides teachers with materials and professional development necessary for the successful execution of their jobs.
• Is directly involved in the design and implementation of curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices.
• Establishes clear goals and keeps those goals in the forefront of the school’s attention.
• Knowledgeable about current curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices.
• Recognizes and rewards individual accomplishments.
• Involves teachers in the design and implementation of important decisions and policies.
• Recognizes and celebrates school accomplishments and acknowledges failures.
• Communicates and operates from strong ideals and beliefs about schooling.
• Monitors the effectiveness of school practices and their impact on student learning.
• Adapts his or her leadership behavior to the needs of the current situation and is comfortable with dissent.
• Is aware of the details and undercurrents in the running of the school and uses this information to address current and potential problems.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with colleges, community organizations, and other schools to coordinate educational services.
• Develops and manages building budget.
• Directs preparation of class schedules, cumulative records, and attendance reports.
• Walks about school building and property to monitor safety and security.
• Assists in developing and administering educational programs for students with disabilities.

 The above performance responsibilities are not all inclusive and may be altered or added to by the Superintendent of Schools or Board of Trustees.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:  Manages classroom teachers and teacher’s aides.  Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of employees.  Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with school policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:  Master's degree from an accredited college or university; and a valid Montana Educator License with a Principal endorsement.  Prefer five years of successful teaching experience.

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS:  The work environment has increasingly become technology driven.  Lewistown Public Schools expects staff to meet reasonable expectations in the use of computers and other technology.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:  Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents.  Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.  Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style.  Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:  Ability to work with mathematical concepts and apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.  Ability to work within a school budget and maintain fiscal responsibility along with ensuring expenditures are in line with school and district goals.

REASONING ABILITY:  Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions and deal with the variables.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:  Must have a valid Montana Educator License with a Principal endorsement.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  The physical demands described here 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.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:  Employees of Lewistown Public Schools must exhibit acceptable work habits and perform tasks in a professional manner by adhering to the following guidelines:  maintain proper grooming and dress consistent with the type of task being performed; be regular in attendance and punctual for work; initiate tasks in a self-directed manner and perform work with a minimum of supervision; organize work and manage time to achieve efficiency and high quality of work; perform tasks neatly and accurately in accordance with desired quality and quantity; provide positive feedback to supervisor(s) for implementing ideas which will make the work assigned more effective and efficient; maintain self control and a friendly, outgoing disposition; and maintain confidentiality of related work matters as applicable.

DRUG FREE WORKPLACE:  Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment with the Lewistown Public Schools.  Employees of Lewistown Public Schools must submit to a fingerprint criminal background check.  Any appointment will be contingent upon the results of the criminal background report received from the Department of Justice, which must be acceptable to the Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion.

EVALUATION:  Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on Evaluation of Professional Personnel.