Elementary School Principal

South Whidbey School District No. 206

Job Description

TITLE: Elementary Principal, Grades ITK-5 and Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) 1-8

REPORTS TO: Superintendent

Provide instructional leadership ensuring every student learns at the highest levels and embraces the heart of the South Whidbey Community. Lead the ITK-5 and ALE 1-8 programs with shared facilities between two adjacent buildings. Foster an environment characterized by high expectations, data-driven decision-making, continuous improvement, cultural competence, and community embedded/place-based integration.

This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.

Instructional Leadership

●    Establishes and maintains a clear mission and vision focused on high expectations for all students

●    Plans, implements, and evaluates instructional programs using assessment data to improve student learning

●    Facilitates Professional Development and implements rigorous standards-aligned curricula and assessments across ITK-5 and ALE programs

●    Leads inclusive programming for students receiving Special Education, English Language Learners, and Highly Capable Services

●    Designs and leads Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to address school-wide approaches to academic, social emotional, and behavioral interventions and enrichment

●    Develops and maintains a safe, cohesive learning community for diverse students

●    Develops and monitors School Improvement Plans to assist in establishing curriculum goals aligned with district-wide goals

Manager of Talent

●    Recruits, hires, trains, mentors, and evaluates all school staff

●    Increases teacher effectiveness through professional learning and rigorous supervision

●    Utilizes Professional Learning Communities to analyze data and inform instructional improvement

●    Provides regular, direct, actionable feedback to teachers regarding classroom practice

●    Monitors instruction using the districts instructional framework

●    Facilitates collaborative processes and staff development for continuous improvement

Equity Leadership

●    Identifies equity gaps for student groups and leads plans to eliminate them

●    Initiates activities and discussions that increase staff cultural competence and communities of care

●    Expands teaching practices to better serve all students

●    Ensures compliance with student discipline, emergency procedures, and building security

Community Leadership

●    Communicates school successes to the broader community

●    Creates partnerships fosters and grows programming enhancing the commitment to sea, forest, and farm and connections to outdoor education

●    Seeks out and applies for funding to bring additional resources into the school

●    Advocates for students, families, and staff

●    Effectively engages families and community members

●    Serves as liaison with parents, community, and school administration

Operations and Management

●    Plans, prepares, and monitors building budgets and expenditures

●    Maintains accurate personnel, student, and fiscal records

●    Collaborates with other building administrators on shared facilities, maintenance, and safety

●    Ensures compliance with district policies and state/federal requirements

●    Ensures all mandated reports are submitted accurately and on time

District Leadership

●    Collaborates with other principals and district administrators on ITK-12 program development

●    Serves as integral member of district administration team for daily, short-term, and long-range planning

●    Attends district administration meetings and coordinates special projects and committees

●    Monitors own performance and seeks feedback for professional improvement

●    Maintains current knowledge on educational issues and legal requirements

●    Performs other duties as assigned by the Superintendent

Certificates and Licenses

●    Washington State Administrative Certificate with Principal endorsement

●    Valid Washington State teaching credential

●    Valid first aid and CPR certification

●    Valid Washington driver’s license or evidence of mobility

Experience

●    Successful administrative and teaching experience (elementary preferred)

●    School-wide behavioral positive behavioral interventions

●    Special Education Knowledge Oversight

●    Outdoor educational experience into the school setting

Knowledge

●    Local, state, and federal funding rules and regulations

●    Elementary school operations and requirements

●    Curriculum, instruction, and assessment best practices

Skills

●    Clear, effective oral and written communication

●    Curricular and instructional leadership

●    Program and staff evaluation

●    Personnel management and supervision

●    Conflict resolution and problem-solving

●    Budget planning and administration

●    Data analysis and data-driven decision-making

●    Technology proficiency

Abilities

●    Provide innovative and responsible leadership with integrity

●    Make timely, effective decisions and resolve complex issues

●    Work independently and collaborate effectively

●    Establish and maintain effective working relationships

●    Demonstrate strong organizational and time management skills

The employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to handle objects, and reach with hands and arms. Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, and crouch. Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is typically performed in office and classroom environments. The employee is frequently required to attend evening and weekend meetings or activities and may need to deal with distraught or difficult individuals. May be exposed to standard infectious diseases. The noise level is usually moderate.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position is evaluated by the Superintendent in accordance with AWSP guidelines. The evaluation includes performance of the above duties and responsibilities and specific professional objectives developed by the Superintendent and Principal.

Created January 2026

The South Whidbey School District #206 does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, 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 Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

Civil Rights Compliance, Title IX, Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator: Principal John Patton, 360-221-4300, jpatton@sw.wednet.edu. Section 504/ADA Coordinator: Superintendent Becky Clifford, 360-221-6100, bclifford@sw.wednet.edu, 5675 Maxwelton Road, Langley, WA 98260.

Title IX inquiries may also be directed to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html

Information about nondiscrimination and sex-based discrimination policies and grievance procedures: https://www.sw.wednet.edu/resources/title-ix