Title:  Principal

Reports to:  Superintendent

Job Objective:  Administers planning, delivery, assessment, and ongoing improvement of the school program.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Valid state department of education license/certificate appropriate for the position.
• Meets all mandated health screening requirements.
• A record free of criminal violations that would prohibit public school employment. 
• Adheres to the Licensure Code of Professional Conduct for Ohio Educators.
• Complies with drug-free workplace rules, board policies, and administrative guidelines/procedures.
• Ability to establish working relationships with co-workers and function as part of a cohesive team.
• Commitment to keep current with work skills essential to the objectives of the position. 
• Successful teaching experience.
• Effective organizational planning and project management skills.
• Ability to identify, evaluate, and implement program options/instructional practices that support the diverse learning needs of students.

Essential Functions: The following are typical work responsibilities. A reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform essential functions.

• Serves as the school’s head administrator and instructional leader. 
• Serves as an active member of the management team.
• Articulates a clear philosophy and shared vision of learning.
• Upholds board policies. Implements administrative guidelines/procedures.
• Advances the district’s professional image.
• Maintains open/effective communications.
• Uses problem-solving techniques to tactfully address and resolve questions/concerns.
• Promotes the district’s mission.
• Monitors community demographics, resources, and emerging trends.
• Cultivates relationships that promote a strong commitment of public support for the district.
• Encourages innovations. Analyzes data to improve school operations.
• Serves as an information resource.
• Helps develop and implement the district’s strategic plan.
• Provides staff leadership.
• Engenders staff enthusiasm and teamwork.
• Promotes a safe, efficient, and effective work/learning environment.
• Manages change processes.
• Implements strategies and time-frames to accomplish organizational objectives.
• Helps resolve problems.
• Administers the board-approved budget for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Approves the purchase of supplies and equipment.
• Ensures that program resources are equitably apportioned.
• Pursues funding opportunities.
• Prepares grant/foundation applications.
• Implements funded proposals and complies with reporting requirements.
• Facilitates staff selection and orientation processes.
• Expresses high expectations and provides support to improve staff performance (e.g., observations, consultations, meetings, etc.).
• Promotes professionalism.
• Implements state mandated and locally developed personnel appraisal standards.
• Participates in collaborative planning of effective staff development programs that improve teaching outcomes and student learning (e.g., methods, skills, commitment, etc.).
• Administers the instructional program.
• Promotes academic excellence in a nurturing environment.
• Facilitates the development of curriculum guides and courses of study.
• Manages the planning process to select instructional materials and equipment.
• Keeps current with state academic content standards, benchmarks, and indicators.
• Promotes the continuity of the instructional program.
• Develops a master schedule.
• Ensures the equitable distribution of workloads.
• Ensures that classrooms are covered during teacher absences.
• Administers the development of program schedules (e.g., courses, auxiliary services, student activities, etc.).
• Coordinates program assessment processes.
• Oversees enrollment and withdrawal procedures.
• Administers policies regarding immunization, age, attendance, legal residence, guardianship, classification, promotion, retention, testing, etc.
• Administers state-mandated testing programs.
• Maintains test security. Analyzes test results.
• Provides leadership for instructional modifications and interventions that enhance student learning and improve test performance.
• Complies with federal/state policies/procedures for the education of students identified as having a disability.
• Ensures that services are provided in the least restrictive educational environment. 
• Participates in parent conferences/student planning meetings as needed (e.g., IAT, ETR, IEP, etc.).
• Communicates expectations, provides guidance, and shows an active interest in student progress.
• Helps staff resolve problems that impede student participation in appropriate learning activities.
• Upholds the student conduct code.
• Maintains high expectations for behavior and performance.
• Helps with pupil management issues.
• Prepares conduct reports and discipline recommendations.
• Ensures that students are appropriately supervised (e.g., arrivals/departures, parking lots, lunch periods, changing classes, extracurricular programs, etc.).
• Oversees the revision and distribution of student/parent and teacher handbooks.
• Monitors safety concerns.
• Works with stakeholders to manage or eliminate risk factors.
• Upholds applicable local, state, and federal laws.
• Initiates referrals to community resources as needed (e.g., legal, health, welfare, etc.).
• Serves as a school contact for service providers.
• Helps evaluate and revise emergency preparedness/crisis management plans (e.g., fire, weather, security, etc.).
• Implements threat reporting, assessment, and response procedures. 
• Supervises the collection, data entry, verification, and reporting of program information as directed.
• Prepares/maintains accurate records.
• Submits required paperwork on time.
• Maintains the confidentiality of privileged information.
• Reports suspected child abuse and/or neglect to civil authorities as required by law. 
• Encourages parent organizations and promotes school-sponsored activities.
• Pursues educational opportunities to enhance professional performance.
• Supports workplace initiatives that enhance personal productivity and advance district goals.
• Strives to develop rapport and serve as a positive role model for others.
• Helps students understand and embrace ethical conduct and democratic values. 
• Maintains a professional appearance. Wears work attire appropriate for the position. 
• Performs other specific job-related duties as directed.

Additonal High School and Middle School Principal Duties:  Works with the athletic director to improve the athletic program. Monitors student eligibility verification and medical records functions.

Abilities Required: The following personal characteristics and skills are important for the successful performance of assigned duties.

• Anticipates time constraints.
• Manages tasks efficiently to meet deadlines.
• Averts problem situations and intervenes to resolve conflicts.
• Uses active listening, observation, reading, verbal, nonverbal, and writing skills effectively.
• Interprets information accurately and initiates effective responses. 
• Maintains an acceptable attendance record and is punctual.
• Respects diversity. Manages individual and group interactions skillfully.

Supervisory Responsibility: Supervises and evaluates assigned staff under the direction of the superintendent. Assumes responsibility for the results of duties delegated to staff.

Working Conditions:  Safety is essential to job performance. Employees must exercise caution and comply with standard safety regulations and district procedures when involved in the following situations:

• Exposure to adverse weather conditions and temperature extremes.
• Exposure to blood-borne pathogens and communicable diseases.
• Interacting with aggressive, disruptive, and/or unruly individuals.
• Operating and/or riding in a vehicle.
• Traveling to meetings and work assignments.

Performative Evaluation:  Job performance is evaluated according to policy provisions and contractual agreements adopted by the Graham Local School District Board of Education.

The Graham Local School District Board of Education is an equal opportunity employer. This job description identifies general responsibilities and is not intended to be a complete list of all duties performed. This document is subject to change in response to student demographics, staffing factors, funding variables, modified operating procedures, program/curriculum changes, and unforeseen events