Job Description

Primary Function

The Lower School Principal is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Lower School (K-5th grade) program, with an overarching desire to ensure Lower School goals, initiatives and directives are grounded in a Biblical worldview and thus fully aligned with the vision of HHCA– to Know Christ and Make Him Known. This position is a member of the school leadership team and includes responsibilities such as: supporting, encouraging, mentoring, and evaluating staff, in an environment that highly values collaboration and empowers decision-making; ensuring effective parent, teacher, and student communications; fostering teamwork and relationship-building between mentrs and among staff, parents and students; and effectively managing school resources.

Primary Responsibilities

Executive Leadership

• Function as the chief advocate of the Lower School’s programs, goals and initiatives, as well as students and mentors, within the context of a K-12 setting
• Clearly articulate expectations, behavioral guidelines, and other information necessary to ensure that all constituent bases are fully informed consistent with their individual roles.
• Demonstrate awareness of school and community needs, and confidently make decisions for activities to meet those needs, ensuring alignment between the school’s vision and mission statement and such activities
• Effectively implement positive and proactive interpersonal communication skills in a variety of roles including, but not limited to: building and maintaining positive relationships and trust with students, their families, mentors, and community members; leading instructional initiatives; providing and soliciting critical feedback; and facilitating conflict resolution.

Instructional Leadership

• Collaborate with Academic / Guidance Team to support the school curriculum and assessment system.
• Collaborate with administrators and staff on effective implementation of the inquiry-based learning framework.
• Utilize aligned research-based strategies to support mentors in lesson design and instructional practices designed to help students meet their fullest potential.
• Actively participate in the development, supervision, and evaluation of educational and instructional programs.
• Support and train mentors to effectively analyze student data in order to guide instructional decision-making and to ensure mastery of the curriculum.
• Promote the efficient and effective implementation of technology in the teaching/learning process.
• Conduct conferences on student and school issues with parents, students, and mentors.
• Assist the appropriate staff members in relation to the facilitation of meetings for students served by the Academic Resource Center.
• Collaborate with lead mentors, faculty, and leadership team to compile annual budget requests based on documented program and student needs.

Personnel Management

• Supervise Lower School mentors, clerical staff members, and others as assigned, with the goal of encouraging growth and excellence, building positive relationships, and empowering mentors and staff to be innovative leaders in and out of the classroom.
• Maintain openness and visibility with faculty, and build intentional relationships that encourage each mentor to meet their greatest potential.

• Coach and develop mentors and staff by giving individual feedback and aligned professional development opportunities, ensuring all education staff have a professional development plan that supports their growth as an educator.
• Conduct walkthroughs and formal observations of mentors and provide feedback that is constructive and points toward alignment with overall mission and vision, as well as Lower School specific goals and initiatives.
• Actively participate and collaborate with mentors in professional learning communities designed for schoolwide learning, improving instructional practices, and supporting student achievement.
• Lead the interview, hiring and onboarding process for Lower School personnel, including orientation of new staff members.
• Actively work with School Leadership team on overall employee retention strategies, and retention decisions for Lower School staff.

Student Culture

• Promote and support a Christ-centered culture that seeks to glorify God by encouraging curiosity in learning, cultivates capable student leaders, and reflects high morale.
• Build positive relationships of trust and respect with students by being visible, accessible and present throughout the school day and beyond to extracurricular activities.
• Oversee daily school activities by leading the development of class schedules, mentor assignments, and extracurricular activity schedules.
• Help to develop a student discipline management system that results in positive student behavior, and is appropriate and equitable.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will:

• Embrace the aspects of spiritual leadership inherent with the role, making scripturally-informed decisions
• Possess a natural desire to understand, assess and enhance Lower School mentor practices and student and school outcomes with a constant eye toward alignment with HHCA’s vision, mission and overall culture
• Independently exercise sound professional judgment and spiritual discernment, while simultaneously recognizing how to best leverage the strengths and input of team members in decision-making
• Possess a deep knowledge of curriculum, specific to Lower School, and serve as an in-house advisor to teachers and administrators on curricula and education practices
• Show strong leadership skills (i.e.; build mutual trust and respect; lead from a place of humility with a servant leadership mindset; provide motivation and support to team members; hold self and others accountable; give timely and clear feedback; maintain utmost confidentiality in school matters) that guide actions and support others in achievement of goals
• Possess strong written and verbal communication skills to provide clear guidance, instructions or information.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment and be able to be flexible and shift gears quickly based on situations or changing priorities.
• Utilize problem solving skills to develop reasonable solutions to navigate complex problems and systems.
• Possess a demonstrated ability to remain calm in high-stress situations while maintaining an understanding, respectful and supportive attitude.
• Possess efficient and effective time management and effective prioritization skills.
• Have a teachable spirit and be able to take criticism with a willingness to learn and grow.

Requirements

• Be a born-again Christian, committed to the Lord with a demonstrated lifestyle that evidences this commitment
• Be fully in agreement with and able to support the school’s Vision and Mission Statement, Statement of Faith and Christian Role Model Statement.
• Experience as a School Leader / Administrator with proven ability to lead, mentor and supervise employees and positively influence student culture; minimum 5 years of experience preferred, within a Lower School setting is desired
• Experience as a classroom mentor, providing academic instruction for diverse learning groups; minimum of 5 years experience preferred
• Experience with integration of technology for academic instruction.
• Proficiency in common computer applications such as Google Suite for Education and Microsoft Office programs.

Benefits

Health insurance

Sick Leave

Discounted tuition option for school aged children

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