MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

GOAL: Under the general direction of the Superintendent of Schools, the Principal shall serve as the chief administrator of Bennington Middle School in both a leadership and management role. The responsibilities extend to all activities and programs of the school. The Principal may delegate performance of management duties, but such delegation does not relieve the Principal from ultimate responsibility or accountability.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of five (5) years teaching experience.
• Current State of Nebraska Administrative Certificate or endorsement as a Principal.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board of Education may find appropriate and acceptable.

REPORTS TO: Superintendent of Schools

SUPERVISES: All students and personnel assigned to Bennington Middle School or as assigned by the Superintendent.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Certified Personnel position, full-time with a contract of 225 days. Requires a current Nebraska Teaching or Administrative Certificate with appropriate endorsements. Salary and work year to be established by the Superintendent and approved by the Board of Education.

EVALUATION: Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board’s policy on Evaluation of Administrative Personnel.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Educational Leadership:

• Serve as the chief administrator and educational leader of the school and as a positive contributing member of the district administrative team.
• Administer the development and maintenance of a positive educational program designed to meet the needs of all students and to carry out the policies of the Board of Education.
• Provide a leadership structure to ensure rules and instructions to school employees and students are in compliance with Board policy.
• Set or recommend educational standards and goals, including the minimum goal of maintaining accreditation, and recommend and implement policies and procedures to carry them out.
• Study and review with staff all curriculum guides and courses of study on a continuing basis. Recommend to the Superintendent, for Board adoption, curricula, courses, textbooks, the school calendar and time schedules.
• Prescribe rules for the classification and advancement of students in accordance with policies.
• Evaluate curricula, teaching methods, and programs to determine their effectiveness, efficiency and utilization and to ensure that school activities comply with federal and state laws and regulations and Board policy or directives, and implement changes as appropriate.
• Collaborate with the administrative team and teachers to develop and maintain curriculum standards, mission statements, and to set performance goals and objectives.
• Determine the scope of educational program offerings and the staffing and facility required to provide the educational program.
• Observe teaching methods and examine instructional materials in order to evaluate and standardize curricula and teaching techniques, and to determine areas where improvement is needed.
• Plan and develop instructional methods and content for educational programs.
• Review and approve new programs, or recommend modifications to existing programs, submitting program proposals to the Superintendent for Board of Education approval as necessary.
• Collect and analyze survey data, regulatory information, and data on demographic and employment trends to forecast enrollment patterns and curriculum change needs.
• Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavioral or learning problems.
• Counsel and provide guidance to students regarding personal, academic, vocational, or behavioral issues.
• Enforce discipline and attendance rules.
• Organize and direct committees of specialists, volunteers, and staff to provide technical and advisory assistance for programs.
• Teach classes or courses to students when necessary in the absence of teachers.
• Establish, coordinate, and oversee particular programs, such as programs to evaluate student academic achievement.
• Ensure completion of student assessments in accordance with Board policy and state and federal laws and regulations. Initiate program changes in light of such assessments.
• Ensure that the mission and goals of the school district are adequately reflected in the school’s educational program and operations.
• Ensure implementation of all board-approved curriculum and inclusion of state-mandated programs and curriculum content standards.
• Develop strategies to promote parental involvement in their children’s education and provide opportunities for parent-teacher interaction.
• Develop and maintain a positive, professional rapport with students and parents.

Relationship with Superintendent:

• Attend and participate in Board of Education meetings and its committees as directed by the Superintendent.
• Prepare and submit to the Superintendent and administrative team recommendations relative to all matters requiring Board of Education action, placing before the Superintendent and administrative team such necessary and helpful facts, information, and reports as are needed to ensure the making of informed decisions.
• Submit to the Superintendent explanation of any proposed procedure that would involve either departure from established policy or the expenditure of substantial sums.
• Act on own discretion if emergency action is necessary in any matter not covered by Board of Education policy, report such action to the Superintendent as soon as practicable, and recommend policy in order to provide guidance in the future.
• Make a continuous study of the development and needs of the school. Inform and advise the Superintendent about the programs, practices and challenges of the school.
• Keep informed of current curricular and educational trends and practices, as well as proposed legislation impacting the school district, and inform the Superintendent of significant developments in these areas.
• Provide long term planning to guide Board of Education policy development, present recommendations for the adoption or revision of policies, communicate policies to personnel, students, and the public, and ensure through delegation to staff that all policies of the Board of Education are implemented.
• Serve as a leader to assist the Superintendent to develop a vision for the school district and a comprehensive long-range plan. Recommend to the Superintendent, annually, district-wide goals and monitor and report on the progress toward achieving established goals.
• Confer periodically with professional and lay groups concerning the school programs and transmit to the Superintendent and administrative team suggestions gained from such conferences.

Personnel Administration:

• Assist in the development of parameters and processes for recruiting and interviewing prospective employees.
• Assign employees to their positions as deemed in the best interests of the school district and report such action to the Superintendent’s office for information and record.
• Direct, supervise and evaluate any subordinate administrative staff assigned to the building or as assigned by the Superintendent.
• Direct and coordinate activities of teachers, administrators, and support staff.
• Recommend and implement the school district’s professional development plan and staff training.
• Conduct staff observations and evaluations in accordance with the Board of Education evaluation policy and legal requirements and assure that observations and evaluations are completed by others who are delegated such duties. Implement improvement or corrective action plans when needed.
• Recommend to the Superintendent for final action the promotion, salary changes, demotion, or dismissal of any employee. Where such are within the authority delegated to the Principal, take such actions with employees and report, when appropriate, to the Superintendent.
• Hold meetings of teachers and other employees for the discussion of matters concerning the improvement and welfare of the school district.
• Communicate directly or through delegation all actions of the Board of Education or the Superintendent relating to personnel matters to all affected employees and communicate to the Superintendent communications employees wish the Superintendent to receive.
• Develop and maintain a positive and professional working relationship with the staff.
• Supervise administration of collective bargaining agreements, including the handling and resolution of grievances consistent with such agreements.

Management of Finances:

• Budgeting: Recommend budget priorities and the allocation of sufficient funds for each program of the school. Prepare at request of the Superintendent the annual budget needs of the school. Administer the adopted budget for the school in accordance with legal requirements and adopted Board policies.
• Funding Sources: Prepare and submit grant proposals and access other available funding beyond State and local tax revenues.
• Accounting: Ensure funds are spent prudently by providing adequate control and accounting of the school’s financial and physical resources and the development and implementation of sound business practices consistent with Board policy and law.
• Purchasing and Contracting: Implement procedures for the efficient and fiscally prudent purchase of goods and services within the limits of the adopted budget. Purchase equipment, materials and supplies within the annual budget or as directed by the Board or the Superintendent in accordance with Board policy, using bidding procedures where required.

Property Management:

• Maintain a current inventory of textbooks, library books, equipment, supplies, and all other school property.
• Direct and coordinate school maintenance services, the use of school facilities, and the general condition, maintenance, and operation of all areas and associated spaces and equipment.
• Develop programs to ensure adherence to codes and facility safety, security, and maintenance, including implementing fire, tornado and other drills as required by law, Board policy and directives of the Superintendent.
• Provide suitable instructions and regulations for staff to govern the use and care of school properties.
• Recommend to the Superintendent the sale or disposal of property no longer required by the school and delegate the proper execution of such sale or disposal through staff and legal advisors.
• Recommend to the Superintendent short and long-range facility needs.

School and Community Relations:

• Represent the school before the public and establish and maintain a program of public relations to keep the public well informed of the programs and activities, policies and practices, and needs and successes of the school, so as to promote a positive relationship between the school and the community.
• Confer periodically with professional and lay groups and transmit to the Superintendent suggestions gained from such conferences.
• Develop school partnerships with businesses, communities, and other organizations to help meet identified educational needs and to provide school-to-work programs.
• Maintain open lines of communication and cooperative working relationships with other government agencies. When appropriate, attend meetings of other government agencies to advance the interests of the school district.
• Maintain positive relations between the school and local media.

General Responsibilities:

• Administer the school in conformity with the adopted policies of the Board, state and federal laws and regulations, and all other laws and regulations.
• Establish procedures to ensure all administrative decisions necessary to the proper functioning of the school are made.
• Attend SAT, IEP, MDT, and other meetings as required by district practice, state statue, and legal requirements.
• Keep current with educational trends and school management developments through membership and participation in the affairs of professional organizations and by attending conferences and other professional development activities at the local, regional, and state levels.
• Develop and distribute staff and parent-student handbooks. Insofar as the provisions of such handbooks, manuals or booklets are not in violation of the policies and regulations or the officially adopted practices and procedures of the Board or law, these contents of the handbook shall be binding.
• Take necessary steps to assure the safety and welfare of students and employees in the school and at school sponsored activities.
• Complete, or oversee the completion of, all reports and forms required by the Nebraska Department of Education and other governmental agencies and ensure that such reports and forms are submitted on or before the due date.
• Maintain directly or through delegation such personnel, student, business, and other records that are required by law or by Board policy. Serve as the custodian for school records.
• Maintain confidentiality of information concerning staff, students, and parents in accordance with law and District rules.
• Adhere to the code of ethics of the District, the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE Rule 27) and the American Association of School Administrators. The Principal must serve as a positive role model for staff and students.
• Perform other tasks or duties as assigned by the Board or the Superintendent.