CB-SP - Superintendent Job Description
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT/PRINCIPAL
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Superintendent Certification (010) Maine Department of Education (or certifiable)
2. Past administrative experience is preferred.
REPORTS TO: School Committee
SUPERVISES: Directly or indirectly, every school department employee.
JOB GOAL: To provide leadership in developing and maintaining the best possible
educational programs and services for the students of our school system. To lead, guide, and direct every member of the administrative, instructional, and support services teams in setting and achieving the highest standards of excellence in educational programs and operating systems. To be responsible for a system of supervision and evaluation for all staff designed to meet the goals of the school system. To oversee and administer the use of all facilities, property and funds in the best interests of students and the school system.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES AND CRITERIA:
The criteria for performing the job responsibilities of the Superintendent/Principal include the ability to function effectively in the following categories:
Communication
Community Relations
Curriculum
School/Community Involvement
Leadership
Organizational Management
Personnel Management
School Facility Management
School Finance/Budgeting
School Improvement
Supervision/Evaluation
Communication--Able to communicate clearly with staff, parents, students, and community, both verbally and in writing.
Keeps the public informed of the status of the school.
Conducts meetings of administrators, teachers and other staff members as necessary for the discussion of matters concerning the improvement and welfare of the school.
Communicates to all staff members, directly or through delegation, actions of the School Committee relating to personnel matters and receives from employees communications to be made to the School Committee.
Confers as appropriate with professional and lay groups concerning the school program and transmits suggestions to the School Committee and others, as appropriate.
Community Relations-Recognizes the importance of both stimulating and
reflecting community needs/wants regarding education. Demonstrates ability to involve the community in developing and implementing goals. Views the community/school relationship as a partnership.
Establishes and maintains a program of public relations to keep the public well informed of the activities and needs of the school system, effecting a wholesome and cooperative working relationship between the school and the community.
Communicates with and understands the needs and perspectives of various community groups.
Attends, or delegates a representative to attend meetings of municipal agencies at which matters pertaining to the school department appear on the agenda or are expected to be raised.
Keeps the public informed about current educational practices, educational trends, and the policies, practices, successes and challenges of the school.
Maintains positive relationships with students, staff and parents and the community.
Curriculum-Strong commitment to leading the effort to define and deliver an effective,
consistent curriculum.
Administers the development and maintenance of educational programs designed, determination of appropriateness and monitoring of the instructional program to meet the needs of the community and to carry out the policies of the
School Committee.
Conducts reviews and supervises all school programs, activities, and advises the School Committee on recommendations for the educational advancement of the school.
Recommends to the School Committee, through the use of appropriate personnel, adoption of courses of study, curriculum, teaching materials, etc.
Oversees timely revisions of curriculum and courses of study.
Supervises the school-counseling program to enhance individual student education and development.
Works to support and evaluate the school’s extracurricular program.
School/Community Involvement--Visible in the school, aware of current issues and
activities in the school, and shows an interest in community affairs.
Visits school and classrooms as appropriate. Attends a reasonable number of student/staff events.
Seeks to stay informed about issues and activities in the school.
Has a reasonable level of knowledge of administrators, staff, and students.
Has a reasonable level of knowledge about community events, concerns, accomplishments, and direction.
Attends school sponsored activities and events within reasonable expectations.
Leadership--Able to motivate, lead, guide and direct people. Committed to
implementing the Mission and Vision Statement of the School Department.
Facilitates the development of and implements a collaborative educational vision and assists the School Committee in setting priorities for the school department.
Serves as the educational leader of the school department. Performs job responsibilities using the Mission and Vision Statement as the guide.
Communicates the educational vision and priorities effectively to staff, students, and community.
Attend conventions and conferences to keep abreast of latest educational trends.
Ensures that policies, procedures and school rules promote a safe, respectful, and healthy school environment.
Organizational Management--Uses a systematic approach to managing and improving the school. Excellent organizational skills, working knowledge of school law, and proven ability to resolve organizational conflicts.
Ensures that a process is in place for continuity of discipline consequence(s) when Superintendent/Principal is absent from the building
Administers, as chief school executive, the development, maintenance, and improvement of the educational program.
Maintains, directly or through delegation, such personnel records, pupil accounting records, business records and other records as required by law and/or the School Committee.
Files, or causes to be filed all reports required by state or federal laws/regulations.
Advises the School Committee of the need for new and revised policies, and ensures that all policies of the School Committee meets compliance.
Makes administrative decisions necessary for the effective and efficient operations of the school. Acts on its own discretion when emergency action is necessary in matters not covered by School Committee policy, reports such emergency action to the School Committee and recommends policy for future guidance.
Develops and implements rules and procedures for staff and students as necessary to comply with School Committee policies, and state and federal laws/regulations.
Delegates to other staff, at their own discretion, the exercise of any powers and duties, with the knowledge that such delegation does not relieve the Superintendent of final responsibility for any actions taken.
Delegates authority to responsible personnel to assume the duties of the in his/her absence.
Implements School Committee policies and state laws/regulations for the promotion, retention and acceleration of students.
Makes recommendations to the School Committee concerning the transportation of students in accordance with School Committee policies, state laws/regulations, and student safety considerations.
Works in conjunction with the Special Education Director to meet the needs of all students.
Personnel Management--Excellent people skills. Ability to recruit and retain high
quality staff. Strong personnel management practices and understanding of
collective bargaining issues.
Develops and implements a hiring process that complies with applicable state and federal laws and attracts the most qualified candidates.
Develops job descriptions for all staff, subject to School Committee review and approval.
Participates in the selection and supervision of all school building personnel.
Nominates to the School Committee for employment the most qualified and competent administrators, teachers, coaches, advisors and most qualified/competent support staff.
Provides orientation for newly assigned staff and assists in their development, as appropriate.
Assigns and transfers employees as the interests of the school system require, and reports such actions to the School Committee for information and record.
Participates, as deemed appropriate by the School Committee, in negotiations with recognized employee bargaining units.
Handles employee grievances or problems in accordance with applicable School Committee policies, collective bargaining agreements, and/or state/federal laws and regulations.
Establishes and implements personnel policies and procedures for non-union staff.
Develops and implements an informational system to keep all staff members informed of school policies, programs and relevant school matters.
Ensures that the School Committee complies with meet and the consult requirements on educational policy issues.
Establishes personnel procedures that provide information that may be used to advance the quality of the school department, such as exit interviews for departing employees, employee focus group discussions on specific aspects of job performance and duties, questionnaires and /or other means of eliciting staff member feedback.
School Facility Management--Good understanding of facilities management including
development of long-term maintenance plans, and budgeting/planning for future
building needs.
Makes recommendations to the School Committee on the location and size of new school sites and additions to existing sites; the location and size of new buildings on sites; plans for new school buildings; appropriates for sites and buildings; and improvements, alterations and changes in buildings and equipment.
Assumes responsibility for the safety and administration of the school plant in conjunction with the Facilities Director
Develops and implements short and long-term maintenance plans for school buildings and grounds, delegating particular duties as the Superintendent deems appropriate.
Includes maintenance and other facilities/equipment needs in budget planning.
Develops and implements guidelines and procedures governing the use and care of school facilities and property. Provides for adequate inventories of property under his/her jurisdiction and for the security and accountability for that property.
Recommends to the School Committee sales of surplus property no longer needed and authorizes the proper execution of such sales.
Plans and supervises fire drills and an emergency preparedness program.
Provides for scheduling of daily use of the school facilities for both academic and nonacademic purposes.
School Finance/Budgeting-—Strong working knowledge of school finance, including
budget development and management. Ability to effectively communicate with the
School Committee, staff, community and local municipal officials. Clear understanding
of federal, state, and local funding issues.
Demonstrates the ability to perform effective financial forecasting and long and short-term financial planning.
Supervises the preparation and presentation of the annual budget and recommends it to the School Committee.
Establishes and maintains efficient procedures and effective controls for all expenditures of school funds in accordance with the adopted budget.
Clearly explains proposed budgets, needs and priorities to the School Committee, community and local municipal officials.
Conducts all financial operations and purchasing within School Committee policies and applicable state/federal laws/regulations.
Maintains appropriate financial accounts and ensures that audits are performed on an annual basis.
Provides prior notice to the School Committee when there is a need to depart from School Committee policy in any financial matter. Completes Federal Grant(s) applications in conjunction with Finance Director
School Improvement--Commitment to supervise and evaluate school programs in the spirit of continuous improvement. Understanding of educational practices, research, and national/state/local initiatives, including Maine’s Learning Results. Ability to frame issues for discussion, reach timely decisions, and implement change.
Develops, implements, and monitors the change process to improve the educational program.
Is familiar with current research and educational issues.
Involves the staff and community in plans to improve the educational program.
Ensures that there is a comprehensive system of student assessment in place.
Informs and advises the School Committee about educational programs and instructional practices in the school.
Communicates effectively with staff, students and the community about educational trends, curriculum needs and instructional programs.
Ensures that the educational program complies with School Committee policies and applicable state and federal laws regulations.
Schedules school time to provide for the efficient conduct of school instruction and business.
Maintains high standards of student conduct and enforces discipline.
Ensures that administrators and teachers communicate student progress and school curricula to parents on a regular basis.
Supervises the maintenance of accurate records on the progress and attendance of students
Prepares or supervises the preparation of reports, records, lists, and all other paperwork required or appropriate to the school’s administration.
Staff Development--Committed to and fosters continuous staff improvement.
Emphasizes both systemwide and individual development.
Fosters an environment that encourages continuous learning and improvement on the part of school staff.
Develops and implements an effective system of staff development focused on improving the educational and operational programs of the school with appropriate input from the School Committee, administrators and staff.
Provides reasonable opportunities for staff to participate in conferences, visitations and course work within the framework of the school system’s budget
Ensures that all the staff are involved in the school department’s staff development opportunities.
Informs the School Committee of staff development priorities, needs, and activities.
Superintendent/Principal-Board Relations--Understands that the Superintendent/Principal is responsible for management of the school under the School Committee's policies and is accountable to the School Committee. Supports and facilitates the work of the School Committee. Maintains open communication with the School Committee.
Supervises and ensures compliance with all laws, regulations and
School Committee policies.
Keeps the school Committee informed about programs, activities, accomplishments, problems, and needs of the school.
Presents information and recommendations necessary to assist the School Committee in performing its duties effectively including the need for policy on particular subjects.
Schedules and attends meetings of the School Committee.
Serves as Secretary to the School Committee as required by law.
Serves as an ex officio member of all meetings of the School Committee and any other school department attending meetings as specified by the School Committee.
Advises and recommends action by the School Committee as appropriate concerning student and staff disciplinary issues.
Assists the School Committee in developing annual and long-range goals for the school department.
Represents the school department with the media and other groups as deemed appropriate by the School Committee.
Performs such other tasks as may be assigned by the School
Committee.
Supervision/Evaluation-—Understands the importance of accountability for staff and self. Uses an evaluation process that establishes clear performance standards and follows through to resolve performance issues.
Develops and implements an effective system of supervision and evaluation for all staff and self based on School Committee input from administration and staff.
Oversees methods of teaching, supervision, evaluation and administration in the school.
Evaluates and counsels all staff members regarding their individual and group performance.
Participates in the planning and development of individual professional growth plans.
Disciplines employees as necessary and reports such actions to the School Committee as appropriate.
Recommends according to established procedures, the removal of a teacher whose work is unsatisfactory.
Recommends salary changes or dismissal/nonrenewal of administrators and teachers to the School Committee. Recommends salary changes to the School Committee for final action of all staff not covered under a collective bargaining contract. Recommends dismissal/nonrenewal of administrators and teachers to the School Committee for final action.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Work year shall be twelve (12) months. Length of contract, salary and benefits shall be determined by the School Committee and Superintendent/Principal under the Superintendent/Principal’s individual contract.
EVALUATION: Performance shall be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of the School Committee's policy on evaluation of the Superintendent/Principal. Cross Reference: CBI - Evaluation of Superintendent
LEGAL AND ETHICAL DUTIES
Maintains confidentiality about all aspects of student and staff performance and written and oral records.
Demonstrates a respect for the legal and human rights of students, staff and parents
Follows health and safety procedures established by the district
Arrives and departs punctually, notifying appropriate personnel about absences and coverage.
Demonstrates loyalty, dependability, integrity, and other ethical standards
The information contained in this job description is the minimum standard for this position and is not an all-inclusive list of the duties performed. Additional duties may be performed by the individual currently holding this position and additional duties may be added in the future.
Reviewed & Adopted: May 10, 2016