Job Title:           Principal - Elementary School

Department:     School-Based

Pay Grade:        Uniform Salary Scale Grade 300 Work 

Calendar:          All 12 Month Staff

FLSA Status:     Exempt

GENERAL PURPOSE

Reporting to the Executive Director of Elementary Leadership, the Principal provides leadership for the school’s staff to develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive educational program in accordance with state, local, and federal requirements. As a building administrator for Stafford County Public Schools (“Stafford Schools”), the Principal will be a role model to students and staff, and serve as a representative of Stafford Schools to families and the community at large.

MAIN JOB TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Establish a strong culture for student and staff to fuel student success

• Develop a clear vision and priorities for the school and align strategic decisions to that vision, in accordance with the overall Stafford Schools strategic plan.
• Design and monitor short- and long-term goals for the school, including but not limited to instructional programs, student achievement, and student engagement, and ensure goals are monitored and assessed as part of the school’s annual School Improvement Plan(s).
• Assume responsibility for a safe and healthy school environment.
• Supervise all curriculum and support programs to enhance individual student education and development.
• Cultivate partnerships with parents and other community members to provide students with opportunities in and beyond their classrooms.
• Ensure consistent implementation of the Code of Student Conduct with a goal of preventing misconduct and helping students develop the necessary skills to change behavior leading to misconduct.
• Contribute to division-wide efforts to evaluate and improve instructional programming in collaboration with other administrators and teacher leaders.
• Supervise and evaluate the school’s co-curricular and extra-curricular program, and attends both school-sponsored events and student-involved events in the community.
• Keep the Superintendent and other leaders informed of activities at the school to enable celebration of successes and quick solutions to challenges. Principal – Elementary School Stafford County Public Schools Page 2 November 2022 Hire, develop, and retain an effective staff of educators and support personnel.
• Lead school-based recruitment and selection activities for both licensed and service personnel.
• Participate in division-wide efforts to recruit licensed staff to Stafford Schools.
• Provide an orientation program for newly assigned staff members and assists with their onboarding and development.
• Sets expectations for performance for all school-based personnel. • Design and implement in-service programming and other professional growth opportunities for staff in the building.
• Ensure consistent evaluation practices and standards among the school’s administrators for licensed and service personnel.
• Collaborate with assistant principals, teacher leaders, and the Department of Human Resources to develop performance improvement plans where necessary.
• Develop a staff handbook consistent with School Board policies.

Ensure effective operations and administration of the school

• Develop and implement a master schedule of organization that meets the academic needs of the student body.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the school’s functions, and establish procedures and protocols to ensure smooth daily functioning of the school.
• Supervise the maintenance of accurate records and reports.
• Provide prompt responses to written and oral requests from parents and colleagues and set expectations for the same among building staff.
• Ensure a coherent public relations approach for the school consistent with School Board policies and practices.
• Maintain school property in a neat, clean, and appropriate fashion.
• Ensure appropriate security and inventory of SCPS property within the school
• Maintain fiscal oversight over the school budget as well as various funds. generated by student- and school-related activities in accordance with relevant state and local laws, regulations, and policies.
• Plan and supervise the emergency preparation program, and exercise decisive leadership in crisis situations.

Support and demonstrate core values of Stafford Schools

• Engage in ongoing professional development relevant to position.
• Participate in cross-divisional planning and coordination activities as required.
• Respond promptly and thoroughly to written and oral requests for information.
• Maintain a clean, neat appearance, appropriate to position.
• Maintain a record of appropriate attendance and punctuality.
• Serve as a role model for students, colleagues, and the general public.
• Work in close harmony with colleagues, supervisors, and co-workers.
• Comply with all SCPS policies and regulations, including but not limited to guidelines for confidentiality.
• Perform other related duties as required/assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution required; substantial experience in excess of requirements combined with meeting other requirements will be considered in lieu of graduate degree.
• Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution required; substantial experience in excess of requirements combined with meeting other requirements will be considered in lieu of graduate degree.
• Valid Virginia Postgraduate Professional license with an endorsement in Administration and Supervision (or eligibility to obtain same) required.
• Three (3) years of successful full-time experience as an assistant principal or other administrator in a K-12 school required; at least one (1) year at the elementary school level preferred. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge

• Public school administration expectations and support activities o Virginia instructional standards for grades K-5, and best practices for ensuring student success in multiple learning environments o State and federal laws, regulations, and rules related to public school administration, including budget management and data confidentiality

Abilities

• Manage time and tasks effectively Communicate effectively with students, staff, parents, and the broader community through written and oral communication o Deescalate conflicts among students and staff to ensure a safe and productive work environment
• Lead a diverse team to meet goals
• Organize and perform work independently
• Accept and address feedback in an appropriate manner
• Adapt to change and maintain flexibility
• Show sustained effort and enthusiasm in quality and quantity of work. 

 WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work environment is primarily inside with moderate noise and controlled temperatures, but includes outdoor responsibilities with exposure to weather and limited exposure to chemicals or other negative air quality elements
• The work is light work, requiring exertion of up to 20 pounds of force to move or lift objects.
• The following physical and mental abilities are representative of those expected to complete the essential functions of the job: standing for prolonged periods; sitting for prolonged periods; operation of motor vehicles or heavy equipment; repetitive motions with the hands, wrists, or fingers; repetitive motions with force on the back or lower body; ability to feel, grasp, or hold objects by hand; discernment of colors visually; discernment of letters or numbers; understanding and communicating in spoken language; understanding and communicating in written language; perception of sounds; making decisions using logic and rational thinking

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations shall be made, as required by law, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.

Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties, just as though they were actually written out in this job description.