PRINCIPAL
REPORTS TO: Academic
Superintendent
General Summary:
Under the general direction
of the Academic Superintendent, the principal
serves as the chief administrative officer
of the school and is responsible for the
management, supervision and operation of
an elementary or secondary school; provides
educational leadership for the students
and staff members consistent with the educational
goals of the district.
Principal Duties and
Responsibilities:
Plan, organize, guide, evaluate and direct
the implementation of all school activities
including instruction, building administration,
communication, staffing and pupil services:
Instruction
· Make recommendations concerning
the school's instructional program.
· Budget school time and resources
to provide for the efficient conduct of
school instruction in order to increase
student achievement.
· Lead in the development, determination
of appropriateness, and monitoring of the
instructional program by understanding the
individual needs of students in the program
and assessing the programs designed to meet
those needs.
· Provides proactive, comprehensive
and facilitative leadership for the school
in the planning and implementation of a
challenging curriculum.
· Works collaboratively with all
staff to strengthen the instructional program.
· Maintain high standards of student
conduct through a guidance and development
program, which focuses on prevention, communication
with parents and high expectations for behavior.
· Enforces discipline fairly, incorporates
building standards from district policy
with sensitivity to diversity issues.
· Hold high expectations for all
students and link expectations to instruction.
· Include staff, students and parents
in the development of instruction.
Building Administration:
· Make recommendations
concerning the schools administration.
· Prepare and submit the school's
budgetary request.
· Encourage collaborative grant writing
and development of other support programs
with community agencies and families.
· Monitor expenditures of all funds.
· Supervise the maintenance of all
required building records and reports.
· Prepare or supervise the preparation
of reports, list and all other paperwork
required or appropriate to the school's
administration.
· Supervise the daily use of the
school facilities for both academic and
nonacademic purpose.
· Provide for adequate inventories
of property and for the security and accountability
for the property.
Communication:
· Maintain communication
with the district to keep the Superintendent
informed of the school's operation.
· Establish effective communication
and maintain positive relationships with
students, staff, parents and the community.
· Assume responsibility for all official
correspondence and news releases.
· Acts as a liaison between the school
and the community.
· Interpret activities and policies
for the state, federal and district encouraging
active, hands-on participation in school
life.
· Be aware of and sensitive to issues
of diversity.
· Have working knowledge and skills
in handling public and media relations.
Personnel/Staffing:
· Participate in the
recruitment, selection and supervision of
all school building personnel.
· Evaluate performance and counsel
all staff members regarding their individual
and group performance.
· Act affirmatively in hiring and
promoting to meet the goals and objectives
of the school district.
· Facilitate the professional development
of all staff through collaborative staff
development planning and implementation.
· Delegates and holds others accountable
for results.
· Participates actively in all school-related
activities and programs.
· Lead the school in developing and
implementing a school improvement plan.
· Guide the staff in professional
development that will enhance their teachings
skills to meet the needs of a culturally
diverse student population and a variety
of learning styles.
Pupil Services:
· Direct disaster preparedness
and safety information programs.
· Coordinate and participate in the
process for recommending students for support
programs.
· Assist with transportation issues
and problems, in cooperation with the Director
of Transportation
· Coordinate food service program
in cooperation with the Director of Nutrition
Services.
Miscellaneous:
· Performs other duties
as determined by role, function and supervisor.
Budgetary Responsibilities:
· The Principal is
responsible for ensuring that staff are
teaching within endorsement area(s) and
do not exceed average and/or maximum class
size based on state class size requirements.
· The Principal is responsible for
the overall monitoring of all financial
transactions at the building.
Contacts and Confidentiality:
· Has internal contact
with all staff and students, other administrators,
other support staff, and with departmental
support resources offices such as Human
Resources, Business Services, Plant Management,
Curriculum and Instruction, and Pupil Services.
· Has external contact with parents,
Board administrators, other school systems,
businesses, public media, sales representatives
and social service agencies; along with
other persons and agencies having business
with the local schools in areas of assigned
responsibility.
· High level of confidentiality of
students' records and educational issues.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
· Responsible for supervising
all Memphis City Schools employees assigned
to the school location.
Hours of work and Working
Conditions:
· Works 40 hours per
week, plus additional evening hours as required
to promote district and school
· May be required to attend additional
meetings and extra-curricular activities
as required by the district.
· Term of employment is twelve (12)
per year.
· Work location is the local school
building.
Qualifications and Training:
· Master's degree from
an accredited college or university with
an emphasis in supervision, educational
administration, and elementary or secondary
curriculum required.
· Tennessee School Principal Certification
required.
· Minimum of three (3) years of successful
experience as an Assistant Principal or
other comparable leadership experience.
· Other combinations of applicable
education, training, and experience which
provide the knowledge, abilities and skills
necessary to perform effectively in the
position may be considered.
Required Knowledge and
Skills:
· Must have motivational
skills to inspire staff, facilitate teamwork,
support innovation and serve as a role model.
· Must have a demonstrated ability
to provide effective leadership by including
vision, goals, purpose, cultures and values
to promote learning.
· Must be committed to high academic
standards for all students.
· Demonstrated ability to communicate
effectively orally and in writing.
· Demonstrated ability to articulate
and promote collaborations among and between
elementary, middle and senior high schools.
· Demonstrated ability to utilize
a variety of process skills for planning,
implementation and problem solving in an
effective efficient manner.
· Demonstrated ability to lead and
support school staff as they collect, analyze
and evaluate data as well as implement curriculum,
curriculum design and effective instructional
methods.
· Demonstrated support for site-based
management and a proven ability to establish
and maintain a participatory management
system with shared decision-making including
staff, parents and community.
· Must be able to work and communicate
successfully with the entire school community
and to develop parental and community involvement
for a diverse community.
· Knowledge of federal and state
legal and regulatory issues pertaining to
education requiring compliance. Must also
have an understanding of public policy's
relationship to education.
· Experience and/or knowledge regarding
managing elementary or secondary budget
and resources allocations.
· Competence in developing and maintaining
an effective student guidance and development
system.
· Demonstrated ability to create
a school environment, which addresses diversity
of needs and allows for the inclusion of
students with special needs.
· Ability to develop and maintain
a positive leaning environment in which
positive, appropriate behavior is encouraged
and discipline problems are minimized.
The statements outlined above
in the description are intended to describe
the general nature and level of work being
performed. They are not intended to be construed
as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities,
duties, and skills that may be assigned
by the immediate supervisor.
