Principal

Job Title: Principal
Location: Harrison Elementary School
Reports to: Superintendent

Southwest Local School District, situated in the southwestern corner of Ohio, is composed of: Harrison Elementary School, Miami Whitewater Elementary School, Crosby Elementary School, the Southwest Early Childhood Learning Center, Harrison Junior School and William Henry Harrison High School. The District has achieved an “Excellent” rating from the Ohio Department of Education for the past four years and each of our schools have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with Blue Ribbon Awards for Excellence in Education.

Our Mission: "Academic and Social Growth for all students, every day!"
Our Motto: "Excellence through Relationships"
Our Core Values: Trust, Respect, Ownership and Leadership

Southwest Local School District believes in providing the best possible learning environment by hiring, developing and retaining quality personnel. We believe that education needs to take a leadership role in improving society by enhancing activities/programs that help develop well-rounded students who can cope with everyday pressures. We are seeking a Principal for the 2025 - 2026 school year and beyond to join our team at Harrison Elementary.

Job Summary: The Principal will skillfully assume responsibility for the organization, administration and supervision of all programs and personnel within the school building.

Overall:

• Be under the direct supervision of the superintendent of schools.
• Assume responsibility for the organization, administration and supervision of all programs and personnel, certified and classified, within the building.
• Assume responsibility for the safety of all students and staff in the school and on school grounds at all times.
• Assume responsibility for ensuring the maintenance, repair, and cleanliness of the building and grounds.
• Report items of major importance to the superintendent or director of operations.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of student motivation and PBIS and the ability to effectively address issues of student discipline and attendance.
• Oversee the development of the master schedule and make appropriate teacher assignments to maximize teacher performance and student achievement.
• Effectively evaluate all certified and classified personnel in the school, providing specific and actionable feedback that allows for reflection and growth.
• Demonstrate strong instructional leadership skills with evidence of deep knowledge of instructional strategies, staff development, student achievement and assessment, and instructional improvement.
• Demonstrate the ability to analyze multiple, pertinent data sources and to create data driven instructional decisions.
• Collaborate with guidance counselors, teachers, and administrative staff to implement intervention strategies for at-risk students and communicate regularly with parents or guardians the students' progress.
• Maintain high expectations for all staff and students and promote high levels of achievement for all students.
• Supervise the implementation and evaluate the effectiveness of RTI and PBIS programs.
• Coordinate and collaborate with all staff to continually evaluate the effectiveness of instructional programming to ensure that all students graduate college and career ready.
• Maintain a budget with fiscal responsibility and equity in allocation of resources and submit orders for materials as needed.
• Coordinate and collaborate with Elementary or Junior School administration and staff to develop a successful transition plan for students.
• Develop and implement a strategic plan for continuous improvement. • Comply with all federal and state regulations regarding safety drills and safety plans.
• Communicate regularly with parents and community regarding school-related events and activities.
• Communicate in a timely manner with parents all incidents of student discipline or academic concerns.
• Serve as a liaison with community outreach programs to provide wrap-around services for student needs.
• Represent the school at athletic, performing arts, and community events.
• Assist in developing Functional Behavior Plans, attendance plans, and Individualized Education Plans for students and attend team meetings for the development and progress monitoring of such plans.
• Oversee student attendance, communicating and collaborating with building administration to assess students with truancy and /or tardiness problems and communicate regularly with counselors, parents and truancy court, maintaining compliance with state reporting requirements.
• Perform other significant or related duties as assigned by the superintendent.

Supervisory – This person will supervise the Assistant Principal and all building staff.

Qualifications – To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above/ 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

Education and Experience:

• Master's degree in Educational Administration.
• Successful teaching experience and administrative experience, preferred.

Certifications, Licenses and Registrations:
Valid Principal's certificate/ licensure as issued by the Ohio Department of Education.

Language Skills:
Ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, colleagues and administration. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret facility and survey results, financial reports and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries and complaints from students, parents, agencies, teachers, or members of the school community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conforms to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to administration, staff, public groups, and / or Board of Education.

Other Skills and Abilities:
Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory based on school objectives. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and the community. Ability to speak clearly and concisely in written and oral communications. Ability to perform duties with awareness of district requirements and BOE policies. Must have excellent organizational and time management skills. Excellent written communication skills required. Experienced and proficient in use of technology. Excellent verbal (including listening) and non-verbal communication skills. Must be able to provide demonstrated leadership in the execution of communication strategies. Must be able to work independently. Pushing the agenda and goals of the school district is imperative. Political acumen and organizational support is strong focus as well.

Benefits:
Southwest Local School District participates in the Southwest Ohio Organization for School Health (SWOOSH). SWOOSH is a health and wellness consortium for school districts and government agencies that come together to provide stability and quality access to health care and benefits to all eligible members. Full-time employees have access to the benefits below:

• Retirement
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance – 100% paid by District
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Mental Health Benefits
• Paid Time Off

Southwest Local School District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.