What are the responsibilities and job description for the Bridges High School Principal position at Roaring Fork School District?
“Our mission is to ensure that every student develops the enduring knowledge, skills, and character to thrive in a changing world.”
Position: High School Principal
School Year: 2026-2027
Location: Bridges High School
Reports to: Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer
Classification: Certified Exempt - Full Time
Contract Period: 212 working days.
DEFINITION
Roaring Fork Schools is seeking the next principal of Bridges High School, an alternative education high school in Carbondale, CO. Bridges High School offers a small school experience, typically enrolling between 50-100 students each year, and operates on six 6-week hexters rather than semesters. Bridges High School also includes Ready For The World, an 18-21 transition program.
The next Bridges HS Principal will be responsible for the collective success of a school, including the learning, growth and achievement of both students and staff. As the schools’ primary instructional leader, they will enable critical discourse and data-driven reflection about curriculum, assessment, instruction, and student progress, and create structures to facilitate improvement. They will create systems that maximize the utilization of finite resources and human capital, foster collaboration, and facilitate constructive change to improve outcomes for students. By creating a common vision and articulating shared values, they will lead and manage the school in a manner that supports its ability to promote equity and to continually improve their positive impact on some of our most impacted students and families.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives direct supervision from the Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer.
Supervises building licensed staff and non licensed staff.
Primary Duties
The following are examples of primary duties assigned to the Principal. Other related primary duties and responsibilities may be assigned.
Strategic Leadership: Collaboratively develop the vision, mission, values, expectations and goals of the alternative education campus school; Provide for data-based progress monitoring; Collaborate with staff and school community to implement strategies to move those goals forward.
Instructional Leadership: Promote school-wide efforts to establish, implement; and refine appropriate expectations for curriculum, instructional practices, assessment and use of data on student learning that result in student academic achievement; Support teachers through ongoing, actionable feedback and needs-based professional development; Hold all staff accountable for setting and achieving rigorous performance goals for all students, and empower staff to achieve these goals across content areas.
School Cultural and Equity Leadership: Articulate, model and positively reinforce a clear vision and values of the school’s culture, and involve students, families and staff in creating an inclusive and welcoming climate that supports it.
Human Resource Leadership: Establish and effectively manage processes and systems that ensure a knowledgeable, high-quality, high-performing staff; Ensure that the school is a professional learning community; Participate in job fairs, screen applications and interview candidates for certified and classified positions;
Managerial Leadership: Establish systems to improve student learning and overall healthy development for all students; Proactively manage interactions and relationships, including those among and between parents/guardians, students and staff; Ensure that the school provides a supportive environment that fosters a climate of safety, respect, and well-being; Provide supervision of the school campus during school hours Supervise student discipline to promote a positive school climate.
External Leadership: Design and/or utilize structures and processes, which result in family and community engagement, support and ownership for the school; Develop systems and relationships to leverage the school district and community resources available to them both within and outside of the school in order to maximize the school’s ability to serve the best interest of students and families.
Qualifications
Knowledge of:
EXPERIENCE & TRAINING GUIDELINES
A minimum of three years teaching, preferably at high school level and/or in alternative education campus
A minimum of three years as an Assistant Principal, or equivalent combination of years and experience including supervisor/management experience
Preferred Experience
career and technical education (CTE) programming, special education, MTSS, trauma informed practices
Spanish bilingual
Training
Equivalent to the completion of a Master’s degree from an accredited college in education or a related field.
License Or Certificate
Possession of or enrollment in a program to obtain a Principal’s license through the Colorado Department of Education. Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain an appropriate valid Colorado driver’s license.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Office environment; exposure to computer screens; travel from site to site. Primary functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting for prolonged periods of times; use of computer keyboard; light lifting and carrying.
SALARY RANGE AND DAYS WORKED
Salary range: $106,413.00 to $129,136. This position is on a 212 day calendar.
School administrators are paid on this salary schedule, dependent on education and years of experience. Wages will be earned during the school calendar at the number of days required below, but will be paid over the twelve month contract period.
Benefits: The Roaring Fork School District offers full district-paid employee health benefits as well as voluntary vision, dental, and dependent coverage. Other benefits include: PTO leave, paid parental leave for mothers and fathers, a robust retirement plan under Colorado PERA with a district contribution of over 20% of an employee’s wages each month, Employee Assistance programs, and access to discounted ski passes and other community benefits.
Days worked: this is an exempt position, scheduled to work 212 days/year.
About Rfsd
With 14 schools and 5,600 students, the Roaring Fork School District is located in the culturally vibrant and naturally stunning Roaring Fork Valley serving the communities of Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and Basalt. The Roaring Fork Schools believe that teachers are our most important asset, and our teachers enjoy a true teacher voice in decision-making; clear and collaborative leadership; a highly competitive and progressive salary schedule; access to our affordable housing program; and a culture of self-care and well-being. We believe diversity is a strength, and our staff makes a real difference for our students who come from different ethnicities, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Why Work for Roaring Fork Schools? Mary says it all! Check us out at: https://youtu.be/nYEsuFVucJ8
Position: High School Principal
School Year: 2026-2027
Location: Bridges High School
Reports to: Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer
Classification: Certified Exempt - Full Time
Contract Period: 212 working days.
DEFINITION
Roaring Fork Schools is seeking the next principal of Bridges High School, an alternative education high school in Carbondale, CO. Bridges High School offers a small school experience, typically enrolling between 50-100 students each year, and operates on six 6-week hexters rather than semesters. Bridges High School also includes Ready For The World, an 18-21 transition program.
The next Bridges HS Principal will be responsible for the collective success of a school, including the learning, growth and achievement of both students and staff. As the schools’ primary instructional leader, they will enable critical discourse and data-driven reflection about curriculum, assessment, instruction, and student progress, and create structures to facilitate improvement. They will create systems that maximize the utilization of finite resources and human capital, foster collaboration, and facilitate constructive change to improve outcomes for students. By creating a common vision and articulating shared values, they will lead and manage the school in a manner that supports its ability to promote equity and to continually improve their positive impact on some of our most impacted students and families.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives direct supervision from the Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer.
Supervises building licensed staff and non licensed staff.
Primary Duties
The following are examples of primary duties assigned to the Principal. Other related primary duties and responsibilities may be assigned.
Strategic Leadership: Collaboratively develop the vision, mission, values, expectations and goals of the alternative education campus school; Provide for data-based progress monitoring; Collaborate with staff and school community to implement strategies to move those goals forward.
Instructional Leadership: Promote school-wide efforts to establish, implement; and refine appropriate expectations for curriculum, instructional practices, assessment and use of data on student learning that result in student academic achievement; Support teachers through ongoing, actionable feedback and needs-based professional development; Hold all staff accountable for setting and achieving rigorous performance goals for all students, and empower staff to achieve these goals across content areas.
School Cultural and Equity Leadership: Articulate, model and positively reinforce a clear vision and values of the school’s culture, and involve students, families and staff in creating an inclusive and welcoming climate that supports it.
Human Resource Leadership: Establish and effectively manage processes and systems that ensure a knowledgeable, high-quality, high-performing staff; Ensure that the school is a professional learning community; Participate in job fairs, screen applications and interview candidates for certified and classified positions;
Managerial Leadership: Establish systems to improve student learning and overall healthy development for all students; Proactively manage interactions and relationships, including those among and between parents/guardians, students and staff; Ensure that the school provides a supportive environment that fosters a climate of safety, respect, and well-being; Provide supervision of the school campus during school hours Supervise student discipline to promote a positive school climate.
External Leadership: Design and/or utilize structures and processes, which result in family and community engagement, support and ownership for the school; Develop systems and relationships to leverage the school district and community resources available to them both within and outside of the school in order to maximize the school’s ability to serve the best interest of students and families.
Qualifications
Knowledge of:
- Educational needs of high school students
- The unique nature of alternative education campuses
- Knowledge of curriculum development and effective instructional practices
- Knowledge of using data to promote student achievement
- Positive discipline and classroom management techniques
- Effective public speaking and presentation techniques
- Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation
- Pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulation
- English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation
- Modern office procedures and methods
- Principles of business and letter writing and basic report preparation
- Supervise, plan and direct standards based education practices and curriculum development
- Hold high expectations of self, staff, and students along with strong relationships
- Implement district programs
- Oversee, direct and coordinate the work of staff
- Recruit, select, supervise, develop and evaluate staff
- Analyze situations and generate effective strategies
- Develop goals and implement plans, systems and procedures to achieve them
- Attend professional development, conferences and meetings (including evenings and weekends)
- Attend and supervise student and community activities (including evenings, weekends and holidays)
- Make presentations as required; create excitement for learning
- Be reflective on performance and have a continuous improvement mindset
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
- Motivate staff and students to achieve high levels of engagement and performance
- Ability to execute a strategic vision
- Team oriented: effective as a team leader and team member; works with staff to create conditions for collective efficacy
- Drives for results
- Ability to influence
- Problem solving ability
- Showing confidence to lead: presents with confidence, puts oneself in challenging situations, takes personal responsibility for mistakes
- Demonstrates persistence
- Planning: plans, organizes and manages responsibilities effectively
- Cognitive complexity: analytical, conceptual, multidimensional
- Awareness of emotions in self and others
- Trustworthy: follows through on commitments, treats others with respect, builds relationships
- Ability to work with and respond to the community.
EXPERIENCE & TRAINING GUIDELINES
A minimum of three years teaching, preferably at high school level and/or in alternative education campus
A minimum of three years as an Assistant Principal, or equivalent combination of years and experience including supervisor/management experience
Preferred Experience
career and technical education (CTE) programming, special education, MTSS, trauma informed practices
Spanish bilingual
Training
Equivalent to the completion of a Master’s degree from an accredited college in education or a related field.
License Or Certificate
Possession of or enrollment in a program to obtain a Principal’s license through the Colorado Department of Education. Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain an appropriate valid Colorado driver’s license.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Office environment; exposure to computer screens; travel from site to site. Primary functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting for prolonged periods of times; use of computer keyboard; light lifting and carrying.
SALARY RANGE AND DAYS WORKED
Salary range: $106,413.00 to $129,136. This position is on a 212 day calendar.
School administrators are paid on this salary schedule, dependent on education and years of experience. Wages will be earned during the school calendar at the number of days required below, but will be paid over the twelve month contract period.
Benefits: The Roaring Fork School District offers full district-paid employee health benefits as well as voluntary vision, dental, and dependent coverage. Other benefits include: PTO leave, paid parental leave for mothers and fathers, a robust retirement plan under Colorado PERA with a district contribution of over 20% of an employee’s wages each month, Employee Assistance programs, and access to discounted ski passes and other community benefits.
Days worked: this is an exempt position, scheduled to work 212 days/year.
About Rfsd
With 14 schools and 5,600 students, the Roaring Fork School District is located in the culturally vibrant and naturally stunning Roaring Fork Valley serving the communities of Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and Basalt. The Roaring Fork Schools believe that teachers are our most important asset, and our teachers enjoy a true teacher voice in decision-making; clear and collaborative leadership; a highly competitive and progressive salary schedule; access to our affordable housing program; and a culture of self-care and well-being. We believe diversity is a strength, and our staff makes a real difference for our students who come from different ethnicities, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Why Work for Roaring Fork Schools? Mary says it all! Check us out at: https://youtu.be/nYEsuFVucJ8
Salary : $106,413 - $129,136