ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL

      Kent School District is accepting applications for outstanding elementary principal candidates. Kent School District is the fourth largest school district in the state of Washington, and is centrally located in the Seattle Metropolitan area.  Kent School District is the most culturally diverse district in the state of Washington, with approximately 27,000 students, over 138 languages spoken and a majority minority student population; an International/National Best Practice site for Microsoft and the National School Board Association; and state-of-the-art technology, providing one-to-one laptops and SMART boards in all classrooms.

     The City of Kent is home to the fourth largest industrial center in the nation, including The Boeing Company, REI, and other aerospace, technology and distribution companies. KSD is the second largest employer in Kent. The breathtaking outdoors setting; sports and entertainment facilities; a contemporary,  open-air  urban village (Kent Station) with housing, access to the train station, retail shopping, dining, movie theatre and colleges; a strong local economy; and a culturally rich city and school district make Kent a great place to live, work and raise a family.

FIRST REVIEW:  This position is open until filled; screening is ongoing. To be considered in the next review, candidates must submit a complete online application and apply their application to this position.  The start date for this position is July 1, 2013.

SCHOOL DESCRIPTION: HorizonElementary School is located in southeastKent, three blocks south ofLakeMeridian. We serve a diverse population of almost 550 students in grades kindergarten through six. The staff and community of Horizon are committed to the success of each student. We continue to focus on instructional practices that help each student achieve and exceed grade level expectations in all content areas. In addition, we work to build a school community that supports the social and emotional well being of our Horizon Hawks. 

COMPENSATION: *Annual Salary Range: $105,548 - $115,044 DOE and education. Salary includes the position’s base pay plus effective education dollars, professional development dollars, and $3000 for doctoral degree.

Additional annual benefits include:  medical, dental, and vision benefits; district retirement contribution; 25 vacation days; 12 sick leave days; 6 flex days; 3 employee discretionary leave days;  TSA match up to $2400; and opportunity to cash-out 10 vacation days annually. Administrators must be an employee on or before January 31, and continuing their employment to receive an annual commitment stipend of $2,050 in each subsequent November.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:  As an instructional leader, the principal is a participating member of the Superintendent’s and District leadership team and responsible for the overall success of the school program.  A primary component of the position will be to provide the instructional leadership necessary to successfully promote an effective learning environment for students from diverse ethnic, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds and to prepare students for college and career, including Washington State and Kent School District Academic Standards.  The essential job duties are as follows: 

• Provide leadership, vision, and inspiration to staff and students; promote a belief system and values driven culture of equity and excellence, setting high expectations for all students, particularly those who have traditionally been vulnerable to failure
• Develop and promote teacher leadership for student success; lead staff in the analysis of student achievement data, develop school improvement and student academic achievement plans specific to the needs of students, and implement and evaluate the plan throughout the school year;  use of data to guide instruction; laser like focus on instruction and closing the achievement gap, monitor adequate yearly progress (AYP), and conduct periodic analysis
• Create a sense of family by working with students and the community to collaborate with staff and parents to develop recommendations and ensure a school climate that effectively promotes powerful teaching and learning experiences for each and every child
• Select, hire, and supervise staff and provide professional development to meet the needs of staff based on student learning needs
• Promote best practices in student learning and accelerating student achievement for diverse student populations 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in educational administration or related field
• Washington State principal certification
• Three years of teaching experience at elementary school level;  five years preferred
• Three years of demonstrated successful school-based leadership experience, preferably at desired school level

(Allowable substitutions: any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that would provide the applicant with the desired knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work and to meet certification requirements, may be allowed at the Superintendent’s discretion)

 Successful candidates will demonstrate the following competencies:

1. Develop and supervise cohesive teams of people within a K-12 setting; guide teams to establish and achieve goals; create a climate in which people want to do their best; assess each person’s strengths and use them to get the best out of him or her; promote confidence and optimistic attitudes; is someone people like working for and with
2. Is a leader who communicates a compelling and inspired vision or sense of core purpose; makes the vision sharable by everyone; encourages distributive leadership among teachers and support staff; can inspire and motivate entire staff
3. Hire the best people available and assemble talented teams; good judge of talent; accurately projects what people are likely to do across a variety of situations
4. Develop, implement, and evaluate interdisciplinary, integrated programs; clearly assign responsibility for tasks and decisions; set clear objectives and measures; monitor process, progress, and results; design feedback loops into work
5. Supervise instructional and support staff by establishing clear directions; set stretching goals, and assign responsibilities that bring out the best in people; promote staff development; establish a good work plan and distribute the workload appropriately; tactfully dispense direct and actionable feedback; is open and direct with others without being intimidating; is a people builder
6. Effectively plan, schedule, and use resources; spend his or her time and the time of others on what is important; quickly senses what will help or hinder the accomplishment of a goal; accurately determine the length and difficulty of tasks and projects; set clear, realistic, and measurable goals; anticipate roadblocks and develop contingencies to redirect tasks so momentum is not lost
7. Strong multicultural and ethnic understanding; support equal and fair treatment and opportunity for all; foster a climate of inclusion, promote culturally responsive instruction and leadership where diverse thoughts are freely shared and integrated
8. Prefer candidate fluent in English as well as a second language, and who holds an ELL (English Language Learner) or bilingual endorsement
9. Manage multiple budgets, master scheduling, and computer technologies to enhance classroom instruction and school management; possess required functional and technical knowledge and skills to do his or her job at a high level of accomplishment; demonstrate active interest and ability to enhance and apply new functional skills
10. Use analysis, wisdom, experience, and logical methods to make quality decisions and to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; appropriately incorporate multiple inputs to establish shared ownership and effective action
11. Steadfastly pushes self and drives for results and perseveres in the face of resistance or setbacks
12. Is widely trusted in the school community at large; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; presents truthful information in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; does not misrepresent himself or herself for personal gain; is warm and easy to approach; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact to diffuse tense situations
13. Represents the school and district in the community at large through business partnerships and other public service activities; is effective in a variety of formal and informal presentation settings; commands attention and manages group process during the presentation; cognizant of audience response and able to adapt content and style accordingly 

 APPLICATION: To access our online administrator application visit www.kent.k12.wa.us. Please address application materials to Screening/Hiring Committee.

In order to fast track your application and for Human Resources to screen for minimum requirements, you are initially only required to do the following application sections:   

• Step One: Complete this section
• Step Two: Complete this section
• Step Three: Complete the “Personal Information” and “Background Information” elements.  You may click through and skip the other elements in this section.
• Step Four: Can skip by clicking “Continue”.  We suggest you print this page for future reference.
• Step Five: You must click on “Submit Your Application”.
• Next, click on “Application Tracking/Upload Documents” to upload your resume and cover letter.
• Click on “Position Search” to apply for positions for which you are qualified and interested in. 

If you meet the minimum requirements and further consideration is desired, we will ask you to go back in and complete all sections. However, you are encouraged  to complete your application, as the turnaround time for submitting additional materials may only be a few days prior to when we need the information.

For a complete application, submit application materials:

• Upload non-confidential items (except transcripts) under APPLICATION TRACKING in your online application:

1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. Non confidential recent letters of recommendations (2 required, may upload up to 4)
4. WA State Principal Certificate (if out of state, leave blank)

• Transcripts, confidential reference forms, and confidential letters of recommendation letters can be submitted by one of the following methods (no duplicate submissions please):

1. Email to: certjobs@kent.k12.wa.us
2. Fax to: 253.373.7055
3. Mail to: Kent School District, 12033 SE 256th Street A-100, Kent, WA 98030

For a full job description, requirements and to apply online, visit www.kent.k12.wa.us and click on KSD Careers

Kent School District, Human Resources, Employment Services, 12033 SE 256th Street, A 100; Kent, WA 98030

      Phone: 253.373.7209, Fax: 253.373.7055,Website: www.kent.k12.wa.us, Email: certjobs@kent.k12.wa.us

Positions Opened Until Filled - Equal Opportunity Employer