Position Summary:

The role of Principal is vital to the ongoing success of the Strawbridge School. The role of Principal works to ensure exemplary execution of running the school. The Principal is also accountable for academic instruction and progress in accordance with federal and state guidelines for general and special education. This includes leading, managing and developing teaching and learning throughout the school by developing of the knowledge and practice of all classroom staff. This role requires strong supervisory and planning abilities in order to maximize effectiveness and growth.

What is the Strawbridge School?

The Strawbridge School is a non-public school approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The program provides small, caring classroom settings guided by certified special education teachers. The school serves youth with emotional, behavioral, and/or intellectual challenges in a supportive and nurturing environment. Our team addresses the unique educational needs of students who have been unable to thrive in a public-school setting. The Strawbridge School is one of several programs provided by the Board of Child Care, a national children and family-focused charity headquartered in Baltimore.

Essential Functions:

Serve as acting Director of Education in their absence, assuming all associated duties and responsibilities to ensure continuity of leadership, oversight of instructional programs, and compliance with educational policies and procedures.
Recognizes external market’s expectations and works with the administrative team to meet and exceed these expectations.
Audits incoming student transcripts and requests additional information from previous placements as needed.
Prepares and maintains transcripts for all students and updates quarterly.
Schedules all courses to be offered, along with creating individual student schedules, to meet graduation requirements.
Reviews report cards quarterly for accuracy and completion.
Completes and submits staff injury reports to Human Resources.
Completes walk throughs on a regular basis to ensure effective teaching and behavioral management throughout the school setting.
Updates the Policy and Procedure Handbook quarterly with administrative team.
Works effectively with other personnel in the interdisciplinary setting to address students’ needs.
Actively participates in faculty and committee meetings.
Assists in the Admission, Review, and Dismissal process.
Coordinates programs within the school to ensure there is a cohesive flow.
Establishes relationships with students on a group and individual basis, gaining their confidence and trust and imparting a sense of security.
Knowledge of and experience in educational assessment.
Responsible for the curriculum inventory.
Takes responsibility for the development and implementation of the whole school policy for Curriculum and Instruction.
Works with and engages staff in shared vision for effective teaching and learning by implementing a standards-based curriculum, relevant to student needs and interests, research-based effective practice, academic rigor, and high expectations for student learning in every classroom.
Provides direct supervision through performance feedback and consultation to teachers, including observations and conferences on performance.
Collaborates with staff on short-, medium- and long-term planning to develop teaching and learning in relation to: resources, continuous professional development, and creating challenging targets for improvement.
Establishes and enforces clear policies and practices for assessing, recording and reporting on pupil achievement in line with school policy.
Assists in identifying, evaluating, and recommending basic and supplemental materials, books, and teaching/learning materials to be utilized by teaching staff.
Researches and assists with planning professional development opportunities to support current local and state expectations and standards specific to the CORE curriculum and PARCC assessments.
Demonstrates knowledge of elementary, middle, and high school academics, behavior management, and crisis intervention techniques.
Demonstrates familiarity with cultural patterns that exist within a community which may affect the behavior of a student.
Maintains working relationships with students, their families, staff, and Local School System representatives.
Demonstrates appropriate workplace and professional behaviors within a workplace environment.

Non-Essential Functions:

Attends IEP meetings as administrative representative as needed.
Aids individual student and group learning by providing modeling and/or co-teaching opportunities for staff.

Competencies:

Accountability for Others
Attention to Detail
Attitude towards Honesty
Consistency and Reliability
Monitoring Others
Gaining Commitment
Handling Stress
Human Awareness
Internal Self Control
Persistence
Problem Management
Results Orientation

Supervisory Responsibility:

Provide direct supervision to designated teachers and classroom staff.
Supports the supervision of the IEP Coordinator, specifically in the area of compliance with special education regulations and procedures.
Work Environment:
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
In the nature of being a residential and school living environment there may be times you experience conditions in which challenging behavior can be exhibited from our youth to include but not limited to, physical agitation, physical violence and/or emotion outburst.

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.
Physically intervene and restrain students, male and female, as necessary.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This position regularly requires working flexible hours including some evenings as needed.

Travel

Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-area and overnight travel may be expected.

Required Education and Experience

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university
Certified by Maryland State Department of Education in Special Education
Maintain a current MSDE certification in special education by fulfilling necessary course/credit requirements
At least three years of successful teaching experience

Preferred Education and Experience

At least three years of successful administration experience
Experience working with students with emotional and behavioral difficulties
Certificated by Maryland State Department of Education as a School Administrator

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Write clear, concise, comprehensive reports.
Exhibit computer literacy.
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
TCI Training
CPR/First Aid
Valid Driver’s License
CPS
TB Medical
Physical
Federal and State Fingerprinting Background Checks
Drug Screening (Pre-employment and Random)

What does the benefits package look like?

Generous Paid Time Off: Accrue three (3) weeks of vacation annually, plus two floating holidays and 10 paid company holidays each year—providing 30+ days of paid time off.
Paid Leave: Paid sick leave and bereavement leave.
Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance with eligibility beginning on your first day of employment.
FREE Employee Health Insurance: Everstand provides employee-only medical coverage at no cost through Allied Health.
Retirement Savings: Retirement plan with an employer match of up to 3%.
Tuition Reimbursement: Eligible after three months of employment, with reimbursement of up to $5,000 annually for approved educational expenses.
Additional Benefits: Access to a variety of voluntary and employer-sponsored benefit programs designed to support your financial, personal, and professional well-being.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Employee signature below constitutes employee's understanding of the requirements, essential functions and duties of the position.

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Principal - Strawbridge School