K-12 Principal

Job Title: School Principal Wage/Hr Status: Exempt

Reports to: Superintendent Paygrade: Certified

Dept./School: Assigned Campus Revised: February 2025

Qualifications:

Education/Certification (must hold a graduate degree in Educational Leadership from a NCATE- accredited Arkansas college or university):

• Master’s degree in educational administration and/or
• Master’s degree in Education and/or
• Master’s degree in a content/endorsement area

Must hold the following certification from the Arkansas Department of Education:

• Building Level Administrator

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Working knowledge of curriculum and instruction
• Ability to evaluate instructional program and teaching effectiveness
• Ability to manage budget and personnel
• Ability to coordinate campus functions
• Ability to interpret policy, procedures, and data
• Strong organizational, communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills
• Calm and patient demeanor with students and others

Experience:

• Four years of teaching experience in the classroom, or as a school counselor, or as a school librarian
• Must have completed an internship in an Educational Leadership program

Evaluation:

Principals will be evaluated on an annual basis.

Primary Purpose:

The Blytheville School District is seeking dynamic building leaders for their school campuses. The community of over 13,000 residents seeks transformational leaders with a vision for school turnaround, in a setting that will enable them to thrive with partnership and support that is designed to move the buildings towards betterment in all facets of the educational journey. The principals must be prepared to promote a transformational vision and mission by providing instructional leadership to staff and ensuring the wellbeing of students in a safe and effective educational environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Other duties may be assigned.

Transformational Leader:

• Monitor instructional and managerial processes to ensure that program activities are related to program outcomes and use these findings for corrective action and improvement, as well as for recognition of success.

• Work with staff to plan, implement, and evaluate the District curriculum on a systematic basis; include students and community representatives (when appropriate).

• Provide instructional resources and materials to support teaching staff in accomplishing instructional goals.

• Foster collegiality and team building among staff; encourage their active involvement in the decision process.

• Provide for two-way communication with superintendent, assistant superintendents, central office personnel, staff, students, parents, and community.

• Communicate and promote expectation for high-level performance from staff and students; recognize excellence and achievement.
• Facilitate effective and timely resolution of conflicts.

• Identify and develop a common vision with staff for school improvement; implement program improvement initiatives collaboratively with staff to ensure attainment of school's mission.

• Identify, analyze, and apply research findings (e.g., effective school correlates) to promote school improvement.

• Lead a collaborative process to develop campus performance objectives involving staff, parents, and community members.

• Develop, maintain, and use appropriate information systems and records necessary for attainment of campus performance objectives addressing each academic excellence indicator.

• Interview and select all assigned campus personnel by utilizing the District approved personnel process.

• Define expectations for staff performance regarding instructional strategies, classroom management, and communication with the public.

• Observe employee performance, record observations, and conduct evaluation conferences with all staff.

• Make recommendations relative to personnel placement, transfer, retention, promotion, and dismissal.

• Confer with subordinates regarding their professional growth; work jointly with them to develop and accomplish improvement goals.

• Comply with district policies as well as state and Fiscal/Facilities federal laws and regulations affecting the schools.

• Develop budgets based upon documented program needs, estimated enrollment, personnel and other fiscal needs; implement programs within budget limits; maintain fiscal control; accurately report fiscal information.

• Manage the use of school facilities; supervise maintenance of facilities to ensure a clean, orderly, and safe campus.

• Direct and manage extracurricular and intramural programs including management of multiple activity funds.

• Work with faculty and encourage student input to develop a student management system that results in positive student behavior and enhances the school climate.

• Ensure that school rules are uniformly observed and that student discipline is appropriate and equitable in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and student handbook.

• Conduct conferences with parents, students, and teachers concerning school and student issues.

• Use information and insights provided through assessment instruments, the district appraisal process, evaluative feedback from line supervisors, and professional development programs to improve performance.

• Provide leadership in addressing challenges facing the profession; pursue professional development activities; disseminate ideas and information to other professionals.

• Observe professional ethical standards in accordance with generally accepted community standards and the Arkansas Department of Education code of ethics.

• Work in a supportive and collaborative fashion with district personnel.

• Articulate a positive image of the school district and school district personnel.

• Demonstrate awareness of school/community needs and initiate activities to meet those identified needs.

• Use appropriate and effective techniques for community and parent involvement.

Management/Supervisor Responsibilities:

Supervise and evaluate assistant principal(s), teachers, librarians, support professionals, paraprofessionals, custodians, and others assigned to campus.

Working Conditions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made if necessary

Mental Demands

Maintain emotional control under stress; subject to deal with a variety of stressful situations as they arise

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand and move throughout the facility. Duties also typically include considerable walking, standing, stooping, bending, and moderate lifting. Physical intervention may be required at times to manage student behavior; normal office environment as well as inside and outside duties; occasional district wide and statewide travel; frequent prolonged and irregular hours.

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills that may be required.

Salary Range: $85,000 - $105,000 to be determined based on experience, credentials, and other factors taken into consideration by the district.