Principal

Job Description

K-5th Grade Principal
Master's Degree in Administration required or willingness to work towards. Experience in Catholic education preferred.

The Principal fulfills the mission of the Catholic school by serving as the spiritual, educational, and managerial leader of the institution. The Principal is charged with the implementation of the school's mission and objectives, building Catholic culture, and establishing an environment where students, teachers, and parents grow in their faith. The Principal is responsible for the professional effectiveness of the staff, as well as the religious and academic progress of all students. The principal will adhere to all diocesan guidelines and policies in the management of the school.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
FAITH COMMUNITY
Commits to deepening his or her own understanding of Catholic belief and practice.
Acknowledges that his or her primary responsibility is to minister to all the students at the Catholic School to see that they are properly evangelized and catechized in the Roman Catholic faith.
Embraces the fact that the conduct and example set by the principal in and outside of the school environment is essential to the ongoing work of evangelization in any Christian community.
Holds faculty accountable for participating in diocesan faith formation efforts and completion of required faculty catechetical programs.
Provides opportunities and encouragement to the staff for the deepening of their faith and conformity to Church teaching.
Encourages and helps parents carry out their duty as the primary educators of their children.
Creates an atmosphere and provides experiences for the students so that they can come to a deeper personal love of the Lord and others.
Cooperates with the parish catechetical leader or parish contact person to provide for a working relationship, to promote a total parish educational program.

ADMINISTRATIVE
Personnel Management:
Interviews and hires new teachers for the school.
Discontinues teachers who are not a good fit for Catholic mission or academic excellence, in consultation with the Board President. Evaluates staff competency and makes a report to the Board President concerning the rehiring of staff members.
Holds inviolate confidential information regarding students and teachers.
Assigns duties to teachers and paraprofessionals on the school staff.
Ensures the effective and smooth induction of new personnel onto the school staff.
Is responsible for acquiring substitute teachers.
Provides regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Allows the faculty the opportunity to express their views on the formulation of school policies and programs and utilizes these ideas whenever feasible.
Administers, supervises, and coordinates all educational activities in the school.
Concerns himself /herself with the safe transportation of students for school time activities.

Materials Management:
Furnishes adequate instructional materials and supplies for effective teaching and learning.
Ensures re-evaluation of texts, audio-visuals, library, and other instructional materials.
Plans for the best use of the physical facilities of the school.
Assures efficient operation and maintenance of the school facilities for safe and healthy conditions.
Evaluates custodial services with the school.

Office Management:
Leads the school in evaluating, meeting, and maintaining all standards and processes for accreditation review and recognition compliance.
Maintains student and personnel records adequately.
Assists in developing the annual school budget, projects budget needs.
Develops school calendar within the framework of the diocesan and public-school calendar.
Reports accidents to the proper persons.
Develops regulations and programs that implement diocesan educational policies.
Transacts all school business through the proper channels.
Ensures that official records are properly maintained.
Keeps on file an updated inventory of the equipment in the school which includes cost at time of purchase, date of purchase, and from whom purchased.
Is responsible for the completion of routine reports.
Provides for the dissemination of all directives and information from Department for Catholic Education personnel and other authority.
Maintains on file a copy of each teacher daily schedule.
Is responsible for all government programs, monitors continued use, and effectiveness.
Is responsible for all school schedules.

PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Leads the school advisory board in the development of policies and interprets these for teachers, parents, and students.
Provides proper reception of visitors, prospective families, and stakeholders.
Promotes activities which involve parental attendance and participation.
Provides for the reception of ideas and suggestions from parents, faculty, and the public.
Promotes community development through support and participation in civic activities.
Maintains a good rapport with the local public-school administration.
Educates teachers to value good communication with parents of students.
Mediates differences caused by lack of understanding between parents and teachers.
Keeps informed to help parents find the appropriate services for their child (counseling, healthcare, family services, etc.).
Attends all required professional meetings.

SUPERVISORY
Teacher:
Evaluates teacher effectiveness by regular visits to the classroom, culminating in an annual summative evaluation, which includes post-evaluation conference with teaching faculty.
Offers sufficient assistance to teachers by sharing techniques and professional suggestions.
Monitors and holds faculty accountable for their participation in the diocesan Catechist Formation Program, including completion of all program requirements.
Assesses and makes provisions for professional growth of the faculty through in service workshops, educational meetings, professional literature, and observation of other qualified teachers in their grade or subject area.
Encourages the faculty in their creative ability to inaugurate new trends in the school.
Assesses teacher involvement in activities for the development of the Faith Community among the faculty.
Reviews and evaluates teacher-made tests and lessons and units of work taught.
Provides specific assistance in the use of instructional aids, i.e., audio-visuals, learning games, community resources.
Evaluates and reviews standardized test results with the teacher.
Promotes enthusiasm among the faculty and is a true unifying force among them.
ls available to the faculty at specific times outside of school hours.

Student:
Promotes among students the Catholic philosophy of community, worship, and service.
Promotes the teaching of Catholic values to be lived in civic and parish communities.
Encourages pupil participation in liturgy preparation and involvement.
Ensures student participation in annual nationally normed assessment and religion assessment as prescribed by the Office for Catholic Education.
Reviews placement of students in classes and especially in remedial or advanced sections.
Ensures appropriate placement of students in individual classes.
Directs the guidance and disciplinary services of the school.
Provides adequate supervision of the students, thus guarding the health, sanctity, physical well-being, and safety of the students in all school situations.
Handles discipline at the request of the teacher, after the teacher has addressed concerns.
Provides effective communication between all persons concerned regarding pupil progress and needs.
Offers parent-teacher conferences once a year and when necessary.
Ensures suitable communication both within the school and from school to school.
Works with staff and students to develop a shared responsibility for care and maintenance of the total physical environment.

Curriculum:
Ensures implementation of curriculum directives of the diocesan staff and appropriate public authorities.
Ensures that a curriculum is implemented which can be adapted to the community's needs and interests.
Promotes a school curriculum which addresses itself to Catholic principles in accord with church documents.
Ensure all relevant groups (teachers, parents, etc.) are aware of new curricular developments.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Characteristics:
Practicing Catholic in full communion with the teachings of the Church.
Knowledge of effective assessment methods.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to interact with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Ability to work independently and be self-motivated.
Skilled in organization.
Critical thinker.
High degree of confidentiality.
Able to supervise and handle conflict.
Demonstrates professionalism in conduct, demeanor, and work habits.

About the Employer

The mission of St. Patrick Catholic School is to be an affordable school of choice with high academic and character standards.