Principal - Aspen Middle School 2025/26 School Year

Position Title: Middle School Principal

Department: Aspen Middle School

Reports to: Superintendent or designee

Classification: Salaried, Full-time Exempt

Contract Period: 210 Days as determined annually

Salary: $110,000 - $140,000 starting salary DOE (annual increases as determined for the full administrator group)

Administrators receive one year of service for every year of service in an administrator role of the same level and one year of service for every 2 years of experience in an administrator role with less responsibility (i.e. two years as an assistant principal equal one year of service toward a principal role). Placement is based on years of experience, with credit up to 10 years which is the top of the pay range.

Family housing is available for this position.

ASD offers district funded employee and dependent health benefits including medical, vision, dental, and life insurance to benefit eligible employees. Other benefits include (as eligible): paid leave, CO PERA (pension plan) enrollment with district contribution, TSA options, free transportation for employees from Carbondale to Aspen, employee assistance program, wellness program, and supplemental insurance (ie cancer, disability, etc).

Position Summary

The essential function of the position is to provide the leadership and management necessary at Aspen Middle School (grades 5-8) to maximize the efforts of teachers and students in an environment which is conducive to educational enhancement, growth and achievement for students. The position is responsible for directing all daily operations of the school campus, supervising and coordinating the work of all professional and support personnel, ensuring adherence to District and school policies, regulations and goals, preparing required reports, and performing other professional, administrative and supervisory work as required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This list represents the essential tasks performed by the position. These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other duties as assigned.

• Provides leadership and management of Aspen Middle School, including all instructional and administrative programs and activities.
• Supervises all professional and support staff members, including selecting or recommending selection, training, assigning and evaluating work, counseling, disciplining and terminating or recommending termination; completes annual employee performance evaluations.
• Holds all staff accountable for instructional practice that is intellectually challenging, authentic to student experience, recognizes student strengths, and is differentiated.
• Supervises, reviews and evaluates the instructional program; observes classroom environment and makes recommendations for improvement in instruction and class management as appropriate.
• Assigns responsibilities to Assistant Principal to foster professional growth and effective instructional programming; assigns responsibilities to professional staff, including assignments to instructional groups, rooms and supervision duties.
• Plans, organizes and implements staff development programs.
• Seeks to maintain an atmosphere conducive to good teacher-teacher and teacher-administrator relationships.
• Prepares and administers the school’s operating budget; serves as overall custodian of school funds allocated to or collected by the school; adheres to state statute and District policies related to financial accounting.
• Seeks, secures and administers school-level grants for projects and programs. Plans, evaluates and recommends school-wide programs, policies, goals and objectives.
• Ensures that all Board and administrative policies are effectively explained and implemented.
• Ensures school compliance with approved curriculum, IB objectives, and that state standards are being met.
• Oversees school enrollment.
• Directs the development of master schedules and plans; develops staffing patterns.
• Maintains high standards of student conduct and enforces discipline as necessary, complying with due process and rights of students.
• Understand current research and effective best practices to design, implement, and maintain a quality International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme.
• Communicate and reinforce the District Strategic Plan as well as the vision and goals of IB MYP.
• Oversees efforts to reward student achievement and recognize outstanding staff.
• Receives and responds to inquiries, concerns and complaints from teachers, students and parents; maintains effective relationships with students and parents; works to resolve administrative, instructional and behavioral problems.
• Reviews, approves, helps in planning and exercises ultimate supervision over all school programs, clubs, special services, projects, events and publications; provides leadership and administrative support to volunteers, parent-teacher organization officers and members, and others; coordinates school activities with those of other District schools as appropriate; attends special events, including night activities; assists in supervising students in school-sponsored events; encourages teacher participation in school and/or school-related activities.
• Enforces policies and procedures designed to protect the safety and welfare of students and staff while on campus; prepares and maintains the school crisis management plan; conducts emergency drills.
• Keeps the Superintendent informed of events and activities of an unusual nature as well as routine matters related to the Superintendent's accountability.
• Conducts meetings of the staff and attends other District meetings as necessary.
• Maintains a positive working relationship with the local community and business partners.
• Attends training, conferences and workshops as appropriate to enhance job knowledge and skills.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of middle school student development: Understanding the unique challenges and needs of middle school students.
• Leadership: The ability to guide and motivate staff, students, and parents towards achieving school goals.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interact effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Problem-solving: Identifying and addressing issues that arise within the school environment.
• Decision-making: Making informed decisions based on data and considering all perspectives.
• Conflict resolution: Mediating disagreements between students, staff, and parents in a constructive manner.
• Curriculum development: Understanding and overseeing the school curriculum to ensure alignment with educational standards; Understand IB Approaches to Teaching, Learning and Assessment.
• Staff management and evaluation: Evaluating teacher performance, providing feedback, and supporting professional development. Be adept in coaching and mentoring for Inquiry and Conceptual Based teaching methods.
• Community engagement: Building positive relationships with parents, local businesses, and community organizations.
• Technology proficiency: Familiarity with educational technology tools to support teaching and learning including learning management systems/platforms.
• Legal and ethical awareness: Understanding school policies, regulations, and ethical considerations.
• Interpersonal skills: Building positive relationships with students, staff, and parents.
• Budgeting and resource management: Managing school finances effectively.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion for all students.

Minimum Qualifications

• Possess or be able to obtain an initial or professional Colorado principal's license within the first 3 months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Educational Administration, substantial experience teaching at the middle school level, strong leadership and communication skills, the ability to manage diverse student needs, and a demonstrated understanding of adolescent development
• Experience with IB Programme Standards and Practices including units of inquiry curriculum development, instruction and assessment.
• Spanish Bilingual

Work Environment

• Office environment; exposure to computer screens
• Mostly clean and comfortable surroundings

Essential Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, stand, stoop, kneel, climb, and crouch or crawl.
• The employee is frequently required to rise from a seated position; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and occasionally, balance.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally move up to 30 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Acknowledgement

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. This position will be required to follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as assigned by the Superintendent or appropriate administrator. The Aspen School District reserves the right to update, revise, or change this job description and related duties at any time.