Elementary School Principal

Position Type:
Administration/Principal - Elementary

Date Posted:
4/22/2025

Location:
BJ Hooper School

Date Available:
07/01/2025
QUALIFICATIONS:
Appropriate State of Illinois Administrative License
Master's Degree

REPORTS TO: Superintendent

SUPERVISES: Building Administrative, Certified and Classified Staff

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

PURPOSE: The elementary school Principal provides effective educational leadership that promotes the development of each student. The Principal's primary responsibility is to improve instruction, spending the majority of their time focused on curriculum and staff development, while also overseeing the organization, safety, and administration of the school.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

•   Lead the development and implementation of the School Improvement Plan, ensuring it aligns with district goals and priorities.
•  Lead with integrity, respect, and kindness, fostering a collaborative approach that promotes student and staff success. Champion a positive school culture focused on authentic student learning experiences and professional development for staff.
•  Foster a culture of continuous improvement in instruction, curriculum, and staff development, while maintaining high professional standards and working collaboratively with staff in the best interests of students.
•   Assist in recruiting, screening, hiring, and training of both certified and classified staff to ensure high standards of performance.
•  Supervise and support instructional programs, ensuring the use of research-based strategies and materials that promote student growth. Regularly observe classroom instruction, provide constructive feedback, and support teachers in improving their practices.
•  Conduct performance evaluations for certified and classified staff according to district guidelines. Address any unsatisfactory work through established procedures and provide ongoing support and development.
•  Lead instructional improvement by aligning curriculum with district goals and supporting staff development. Oversee the planning and implementation of professional learning programs to address both student and staff needs.
•   Analyze student performance data to make informed decisions and recommend new or revised programs that meet diverse academic and social-emotional needs.
•  Ensure the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) team has access to necessary student data and adequate time for meetings. Review building-wide and individual student data trends, track interventions, and ensure interventions are implemented with fidelity through active oversight and monitoring.
•  Provide oversight for building-level special education referral processes, ensuring collaboration with the Director of Special Education to support proper placement and the effective delivery of services for students with disabilities.
•  Oversee compliance with state and federal special education laws, offering guidance on student services, including EL programming and other specialized student needs. Serve as a resource on federal and state regulations regarding student records and special education rights.
•  Ensure the health, safety, and welfare of students, staff, and visitors. Develop and implement emergency plans, safety drills, and crisis management strategies in compliance with district, state, and federal guidelines. Maintain a clean and safe building environment.
•  Maintain high standards of student conduct and enforce discipline policies in accordance with Board policy, state, and federal laws. Ensure due process rights for students and provide restorative opportunities to support student development.
•  Communicate regularly with parents, fostering cooperative relationships to support student success. Ensure timely, professional communication with all stakeholders, including responding to correspondence and inquiries within 24 hours on days of operation.
•  Attend school and community events, acting as a liaison between the school and the community. Promote the school and its achievements within the broader community, leveraging local resources to enhance the educational program.
•  Develop, manage, and monitor the building budget, ensuring responsible allocation of resources to meet student and staff needs. Oversee the expenditure of school activity funds and collaborate with district leadership on financial matters.
•  Work closely with the Superintendent and district leadership, keeping them informed about the school's operations and activities. Act as an advisor on policy formulation and execution, and ensure administrative coverage during any absence from the school. Address concerns and issues referred by the Superintendent and report unresolved matters.
•  Organize school schedules, programs, and resource allocation to meet student needs. Ensure the efficient conduct of school operations, including supervision of extracurricular activities and community use of facilities.
•   Ensure timely completion of reports and compliance with district, state, and federal regulations.
•  Oversee the administration of state and district assessments, including IAR, ISA, ACCESS, and MAP. Ensure compliance with testing protocols, proper preparation, scheduling, and data analysis to guide instructional planning and improve student performance.
•   Ensure that all school policies and practices align with Board policies, state laws, and federal regulations, including overseeing adherence to employment and facility regulations.
•   Attend one Board meeting per month and present on school matters as requested.
•   Perform additional tasks and responsibilities as directed by the Superintendent or designee to support the effective operation of the school. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
•  In-depth understanding of school improvement planning and alignment with district and state goals; comprehensive knowledge of instructional programs, curriculum development, and research-based instructional strategies; thorough understanding of special education laws, including IEPs, 504 Plans, and the special education referral process; knowledge of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for addressing academic and social-emotional needs; familiarity with student discipline policies, restorative practices, and legal guidelines for student conduct; knowledge of school safety regulations, emergency planning, and building operations management.
•  Leadership and strategic decision-making skills for leading school improvement and staff development initiatives; strong communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships with students, staff, parents, and the community; organizational and planning skills for overseeing school operations, including scheduling, budgeting, and staff assignments; instructional supervision skills to observe classrooms, provide feedback, and improve teaching practices; data analysis skills to review student performance, monitor interventions, and make informed decisions; financial management skills for developing and overseeing the school budget, ensuring responsible use of resources.
•  Ability to collaborate with staff, district leadership, and the community to achieve school and district goals; ability to manage student discipline and ensure a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment; ability to lead and facilitate effective meetings, including MTSS, IEP, and school improvement discussions; ability to develop and implement professional development programs for staff and provide ongoing support; capacity to address challenges proactively and maintain high professional standards throughout the school community. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 12 Months/260 Days. Salary to be established by the Board.

EVALUATION: Performance of this job will be evaluated by the Superintendent in accordance with provisions of Board policy.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 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 may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public through the use of the telephone and personal contact as normally defined by the ability to see, read, talk, hear, handle or feel objects and controls. Physical capability to effectively use and operate various items of office related equipment, such as, but not limited to, a personal computer, calculator, copier, and fax machine.
The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with the public and other staff.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in this environment is quiet to loud depending upon the activity in the particular part of the day and location.

Starting Salary: $115,000.00 per year
Payroll Schedule: Distributed over 26 periods, every other Friday

Summary of Administrator Benefits

Health, Dental/Vision Benefits Information:
•   Health Benefits Options: 3200 HSA Plan; 700 PPO Plan . click apply for full job details