Middle School Assistant Principal - Shaker Heights, OH

Distinguishing Features of the Class:

The Shaker Heights City School District is one of the top performing districts in the state of Ohio. The district provides a globally-focused educational program based upon the International Baccalaureate Programme framework. The district has a long tradition and history of academic excellence for more than 100 years. The school district is comprised of one high school, a middle school, one 5-6 grade school and five K-4 elementary schools with an approximate district enrollment of 5300 students.
 

The district seeks a dynamic, energetic and highly-visible, secondary leader to manage, guide and mentor the staff and students to reach superior educational performance consistent with the district’s strategic plan. The Assistant Principal of the Middle School is a direct report to the Middle School Principal.

Nature and Scope of Job

The Middle School Assistant Principal serves as an educational leader of the school and is responsible for leadership and management of the instructional program to promote academic excellence of all students in a nurturing teaching and learning environment.  The assistant principal helps ensure all students are instructed and supervised in a safe, student-centered learning environment that exceeds the Ohio Department of Education Core Curriculum Content Standards, and follows the approved curricula and initiatives of the district. The assistant principal helps to execute the district’s strategic plan to advance the aspirations, vision, mission, and core values of Shaker Heights City School District. The assistant principal informs, implements and manages the school in accordance with the policies, regulations, and procedures of the Board of Education and Ohio Department of Education. As a key communicator of the Middle School, the assistant principal promotes the school, facilitates positive relationships and fosters information networks among students, staff, parents and stakeholders in the local, state, national, and international community.
 

Essential Functions of the Position

1. Continuous Improvement.

• Analyzes data to improve student progress and school operations.  Helps develop and implement the district’s strategic plan.  Identifies and develops partnerships that enhance district services.
• Provides staff leadership and consensus development.  Advances the change process.  Implements strategies and time-frames to accomplish organizational objectives.  Helps resolve problems.
• Encourages program innovations.  Implements funded proposals and complies with reporting requirements.
• Works with students, parents, faculty and staff to identify solutions to address opportunity gaps in the high school with an emphasis on academic disparities. 
• Assists with the development of program schedules (e.g., courses, auxiliary services, student activities, etc.). 
• Coordinates educational program assessment processes.
• Helps manage the planning process to select instructional materials and equipment.
• Assists with the planning and delivery of effective professional development programs that improve teaching and learning outcomes (e.g., methods, skills, commitment, etc.).
• Serves as an information resource.  Keeps stakeholders informed about emerging issues.
• Helps Implement workplace initiatives that advance school and district goals.
   

2. Instruction.

• As needed, provides for district representation at Saturday school, parent conferences, building concerts/functions and Special Education meetings.
• Helps administer the instructional program to provide a culturally-responsive learning environment.  Promotes academic excellence in a nurturing environment combining the IB framework, blended learning and other instructional models, programs and services.  
• Assists with the collection, verification, and recording of program information as directed.
• Sustains an effective and positive work/learning environment. 
• Completes assigned instructional duties on time and to standard.
• Maintains accurate and timely completion of reports, records, and inventories.
• Provides guidance, communicates expectations, and demonstrates ownership of student progress.
• Helps staff resolve problems that impede student participation in appropriate learning activities and extra-curricular activities.
• Assists with student testing programs. Maintains test security. Analyzes test results.  Provides leadership for instructional modifications and interventions that enhance student learning and improve test performance.
• Understands and applies the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System (OTES) and process to maintain teacher accountability for high quality instruction.

3. School Operations, Resources and Learning Environment.

• Participates as an active member of the management team.  Upholds board policies and follows administrative guidelines/procedures. 
• Helps manage the board-approved school budget(s) in accordance with district regulations, board policies and legal requirements.  Approves the purchase of supplies and equipment.  Ensures that program resources are equitably apportioned.
• Promotes staff professionalism. Participates in staff selection (certified and classified), staff orientation and mentoring processes.  Sets high expectations, monitors and evaluates performance of assigned staff in accordance with district and Ohio Department of Education standards.
• Helps develop a master schedule.  Ensures the equitable distribution of workloads. 
• Ensures that classrooms are covered during teacher absences.
• Ensures that students are appropriately supervised (e.g., arrivals/departures, attendance, parking lots, lunch periods, changing classes, study rooms, extracurricular programs, etc.).
• Complies with state policies/procedures for the education of students identified as having a disability and/or special needs.
• Ensures that student services are provided in the least restrictive educational environment.
• Promotes a professional image of the school and district.
• Assists with the enforcement of drug-free workplace rules, board policies and administrative guidelines/procedures.
• Respects privacy and maintains the confidentiality of privileged information.
• Strives to develop rapport and serves as a positive role model for others.
• Maintains a professional appearance.  Wears work attire appropriate for the position.
• Oversees the revision and distribution of student/parent and teacher handbooks.
• Upholds applicable local, state, and federal laws.  Initiates referrals to community resources as needed (e.g., legal, health, guidance, attendance, welfare, etc.). 
• Serves as a school contact for service providers.
• Helps update/implement the school and district’s emergency preparedness/crisis response plan.
• Maintains high standards for appropriate conduct.  Recognizes/responds to prevent aggressive behavior and harassment.  Complies with district procedures and state law when dealing with discrimination and suspected child abuse and/or neglect.
• Promotes a safe, efficient, and effective work/learning environment.  Monitors safety concerns.  Works with stakeholders to manage or eliminate risk factors.
• Assists with the administering of threat reporting, assessment, and response procedures.                                                                                      
• Upholds the student conduct code.  Maintains high expectations for behavior and performance.  Helps with pupil management issues. Prepares student conduct reports and discipline recommendations.
• Applies and upholds the requirements of collective bargaining agreements
   

4. Collaboration.

• Participates in training to keep current with professional standards associated with work duties. 
• Works with colleagues to obtain feedback regarding instructional practices and share best practices to ensure high performing learning environment.
• Updates skills as needed to use available task-appropriate technology effectively.
• Works toward mastery of individualized development/performance goals as directed.
• Keeps current with the district’s scope and sequence framework, and state standards/guidelines.
• Promotes the continuity of the instructional program.
   

5. Parents and Community Engagement.

• Maintains open and effective communications.  Promotes the district’s philosophy and vision. 
• Encourages parent organizations and supports school-sponsored activities.
• Monitors community demographics, resources, and emerging trends.  Helps mobilize the community to maintain a strong commitment of support for the school district.
• Addresses parental concerns and complaints in a timely and effective manner.
   

6. Performs other specific job-related duties as directed.

• Assists with unexpected, urgent and emergency situations as needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
 

• Strong ability to organize, prioritize, work under time constraints and to be flexible in an environment of multiples tasks and changing priorities.

• Exhibit a personality that demonstrates interpersonal skills to relate well across a variety of multi-cultural, multi-experience, multi-background audiences including students, staff, administration, parents and the community.

• Must have excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communications skills and proficiency with current technology; ability to confidentially communicate. Possess excellent leadership skills and teamwork.

• Must have the ability to influence the district’s cultural environment and student achievement through instructional program improvements based on evaluated data and research-based best practices.

• Must be able to articulate a clear educational philosophy and sustainable program implementation strategy.

• Must exhibit effective time management and resourceful problem-solving skills and display flexibility, reliability, self-discipline and a willingness to take on challenging tasks. Must also display visionary and resolute leadership skills in developing/managing people.

Requirements of Education, License, Certification or Formal Training:
 

1. Master’s degree is required.
2. Valid state department of education license/certificate as determined at the time of appointment.
3. Maintains a record free of criminal violations that would prohibit public school employment.
4. Complies with drug-free workplace rules and board policies.
5. Adheres to the Licensure Code of Professional Conduct for Ohio Educators.

Work Experience Requirements: 

The position requires education administration, curriculum/instruction and school finance skills substantiated by training/work experience. Preferred: comprehensive secondary school leader experience which includes extensive programming in the arts and IB.

Technology Equipment Used:

1. Office computer, laptop and MS Office suite software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
2. Operate conference calls and video-conferencing software
3. Use computer and projector

Physical Demands:
 

1. Possess visual acuity and ability to work at a computer monitor for 50% of the day.
2. Possess physical and mental stamina to work irregular hours due to Board of Education  meetings and other district activities
3. Must be available on a 24/7 basis to respond to crisis events and weather emergencies.
4. Must be able to interact at times with aggressive, disruptive, and/or unruly individuals
5. Must be able to lift, carry, and move work-related supplies/equipment of 35lbs
6. Must possess valid driver’s license
7. Must be able to drive and travel to meetings and work assignments in and around the district, city and region

Environmental Demands:
 

1. Air conditioned office building
2. May be required to attend outdoor events
3. At times, must be able to work in adverse weather conditions and temperature extremes

Please go to www.shaker.org to apply for this position