High School Principal - Hood River Valley High School

Application Deadline:   April 11, 2025.   Position will begin July 1, 2025.

Selection Process:

• Listening sessions with staff, students, and the community will take place in early April to gather input on the leadership qualities needed in the next principal.

• Students, staff, and parents will be involved in the screening and interview process.

• Interviews are expected to conclude by late April or early May, with the new principal starting July 1, 2025

Application Process:

Submit your TalentEd/Recruit & Hire application; link is available on the District website (www.hoodriver.k12.or.us). 

Include the following: 

• A letter of interest addressed to Bill Newton, Superintendent
• Current resume
• Three (3) recent letters of reference
• Copy of your Administrative license. 
• NOTE:  Official college transcripts will be required upon hire.  

General Statement of Duties:

The high school principal serves as the instructional leader and chief administrator of the high school. The high school principal plays a critical role ensuring an equitable education for all students, fostering a school environment where diversity is celebrated, and addressing disparities in achievement and opportunity.  The principal is responsible for implementing and adhering to all federal, state and district policies, regulations and procedures. Areas of responsibility include directing and administering all educational programs and activities, student supports, planning, curriculum development, program evaluation, student activities, personnel management, financial management, emergency procedures, resource scheduling, facilities operations, school climate and community relations for the building.

This position requires demonstrated expertise in educational programs, curriculum, pedagogy, professional development, and culturally sustaining instructional strategies. This position also requires directly related administrative experience to ensure success in a high school leadership role. This administrative experience includes the ability to lead collaboratively, support and promote diversity, foster a student-centered approach leading to student engagement and success, and the ability to create and maintain an emotionally healthy and physically safe school culture. This position requires strong communication and relationship building skills with both internal and external stakeholders.

The high school principal is also a member of the Hood River County School District’s administrative council. The high school principal works collaboratively with the district office leadership team to advance the HRCSD Strategic Plan.

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES:

• Committed to the pursuit of excellence: Demonstrates a willingness to speak honestly, listen openly, and lead purposefully as a building leader and supervisor. 
• Committed to providing innovation and leadership towards reaching extraordinary results in a comprehensive educational environment. 
• Develop and implement a school-wide vision that prioritizes equity and inclusivity, ensuring that all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, disability, language proficiency, or any other factor, feel valued and have the opportunity to succeed.
• Ensure that all students have equitable access to rigorous academic programs, extracurricular activities, and support services, addressing any barriers to participation or success.
• Engage families from diverse backgrounds in the educational process and work to eliminate barriers to their participation in school activities and decision-making.
• Engaging change agent striving for exceptional results in staff and student performance. 
• Personal and professional honesty and integrity with strong ethical and moral standards. 
• Visible in the school and active in the Hood River County community as well as the region’s larger educational community. 
• Strong interpersonal skills – a team builder and a team player. 
• Innovative and creative problem-solving abilities, engaging others in decision-making, and willing to assume responsibility for decisions. 
• Strong supporter of all staff and students. 
• A strong work ethic.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serves as the instructional leader and demonstrates collaborative leadership skills, capable of making tough decisions and leading a cohesive team. 
• Plans, designs, and conducts follow-through strategies for teaching and learning designed to meet the differentiated and individualized needs of students and the educational community. 
• Leads inclusive decision-making process to ensure the development of a comprehensive school improvement plan with annual student achievement targets, supported by parents, staff, and community members. 
• Oversees the school’s performance evaluation systems to ensure that site goals and objectives are achieved, and that all staff adheres to district, state and federal standards and goals. 
• Establishes the master schedule for instructional programs, ensuring rigorous and articulated learning experiences aligned to state standards and required instructional hours. 
• Supervises the evaluation of all building staff, coordinates all staff development activities, and ensures professional development and support for all staff. 
• Ensures that the instructional programs engage the learner in tasks that require analytical and critical thinking, problem solving and creativity, address the range of skills and developmental needs found in the classroom, encourage the student to define individual goals and accept responsibility for learning, and that they provide a variety of methods for the student to demonstrate performance and achievement. 
• Serves as a role model for students, dressing professionally, demonstrating the importance and relevance of learning, accepting responsibility, and demonstrating pride in the educational profession. 
• Uses data to guide data teams to identify and monitor student needs and growth, and collects and analyzes data to inform practice, develop new programs and make improvements to existing programs. 
• Plans, develops, organizes, and administers support systems which provide optimal educational opportunities for adolescent age students. Oversees a multi-tiered system of support to meet individual student needs. 
• Empowers students, staff and parents to articulate and implement their goals and ideas. 
• Develops, implements and oversees budget planning and financial procedures in accordance with all laws, regulations, and policies. 
• Manages a safe and well-maintained facility, identifying needs and recommending additions, modifications, and services. 
• Manages, supervises, observes, and conducts staff professional development and staff training programs that encourage and grow leadership. 
• Confers with site council and district staff in decision-making processes, and in the development of alternative approaches to addressing concerns and issues. 
• Assists in the development, implementation, interpretation, and administration of policies, rules and regulations, and negotiated employee agreements. Ensures compliance with all laws, administrative codes, board policies and regulations. 
• Establishes and maintains procedures for the resolution of conflict in an effort to maintain a high level of staff morale. 
• Responsible for managing, monitoring, auditing, and evaluation of school finances and specially funded programs. 
• Plans, develops, and provides, as required, management reports pertaining to the educational climate and the functions and activities of the school. 

GENERAL PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Perform duties in a courteous and efficient manner that builds the confidence of staff, students and the public in the Hood River County School District and enhances learning.
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance at work and work activities, and is punctual in meeting deadlines, attending meetings, and following schedule.
• Observe laws, district policies and procedures, and professional standards for this position.
• Work effectively and collaboratively with diverse student, parent and community populations
• Carry out work responsibilities with strong organizational skills, effectively under pressure of deadlines, difficult situations, interruptions, and new or emergency conditions.
• Respect confidential information and the privacy of students, staff and parents.
• Collect, record, store, retrieve, assimilate, organize and utilize information and records electronically and by using traditional methods. 
• Develop job skills necessary to meet changes in the position.
• Maintain personal appearance and hygiene appropriate to the position as defined by the district.
• Meet applicable district physical ability/health and safety guidelines for the position. 

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.

• Master’s Degree in Education or related field and a valid Oregon TSPC Administrative License (or the ability to immediately obtain a license by the date of hire). 
• Minimum of seven (7) years’ experience in teaching and working with adults or adolescents. 
• At least two (2) years administrative experience as a principal, assistant principal or central office administrator. Administrative experience should include a record of effective educational leadership, demonstrated commitment to a positive learning environment, excellent communication skills, and a strong commitment to educational equity. 
• Demonstrated commitment to educational equity and excellence for all students. 
• Bilingual and bicultural skills and abilities are highly desirable. 
• Possession of strong leadership skills.
• Excellent ability to be a strong instructional leader and to develop culturally sustaining instructional and curricular initiatives. 
• Ability to motivate and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. 
• Unwavering evidence of strong integrity, good moral character and initiative. 
• Consistent usage of highly effective communications skills. 
• Evidence of being flexible, innovative, creative, straight-forward, fair and equitable. 
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to follow-through with tasks, plans and promises. 
• Ability to manage budgets and implement spending procedures. 
• Knowledge of the AVID College Readiness System preferred
• Knowledge and experience using Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching Standards as a professional growth and evaluation tool. 
• Ability to proficiently use the following programs: Google Suite, Excel, email internet applications, social media, and website(s).  
• Demonstrated proficiency with word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software. Must be able to use District IT systems to perform routine tasks, such as: performance management assessments, accessing financial reports and managing school staffing and budget information.
• Ability to interact with a broad and diverse population of internal and external stakeholders. 
• Valid Driver’s license and ability to maintain insurability under the District’s vehicle insurance policy. 
• Possession of CPR/First Aid certificate desirable.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills preferred.

Required Testing:  Any offer of employment made by Hood River County School District to an external candidate is contingent upon satisfactory results of:

• Drug screening tests for any illegal drug or substance classified in Schedules I through V under the Federal Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 811 to 812. This includes, but is not limited to, marijuana, mind-altering substances or narcotic drugs such as hallucinogens, amphetamines, barbiturates, or any other illegal drug or controlled substance, except those federally recognized as legally prescribed by a physician and used as directed.
• Nationwide criminal history verification - a background check for any convictions directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position. Unless otherwise required by law, only job-related convictions will be considered and will not automatically disqualify the applicant from employment.

This is a 230 day/year position.   Salary range listed is for the 2025/26 school year.

HOOD RIVER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. Reasonable accommodations for the application and interview process will be provided upon request and as required in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  Disabled persons may contact Hood River County School District at 541/387-5016 for additional information or assistance.  Speech or hearing-impaired persons may contact Hood River County School District for assistance through the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 1-800-735-2900. 

Salary : $150,494 - $153,982