HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

                                                                                          WESTWOOD COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

                                                                                                                        JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE:                               High School Director /Principal

 REPORTS TO:               Superintendent

 STARTING DATE:             Fall 2012

 SALARY:                       Per Contract

 POSTING DATE:                June 7, 2012 

 CLOSING DATE:               Until Filled 

THE NEW TECH HIGH SCHOOL MODEL

The Westwood New Tech High School Principal must be prepared to continue to innovate and support the implementation of a national model high school. The Principal must demonstrate the willingness and skills to create a professional learning community, one that focuses on curriculum and instruction as the primary vehicle for improving student achievement and school culture.

The Principal must be willing to accept the responsibility for implementing the New Technology Network model.

Westwood New Tech High School incorporates technology as a way of engaging students in rigorous academics. This is not a technology school; rather it is a college preparatory high school that presents high school level content through the use of technology.

The curriculum is project- and problem-based learning, focused on content standards and specific, articulated academic, and 21^st century skills. High expectations exist for all students. Assessment is authentic and based on State, District, and school-wide standards. Staff work to integrate curriculum across traditional subject boundaries.

School Culture -- Students and staff feel respected in an environment that promotes professional relationships based on trust and responsibility. Students and staff take ownership and pride in their school and work together to solve problems. Leadership encourages communication, collaboration, contribution, and staff commitment.

Technology -- The school is fully networked with current business standard technology and maintains a 1:1 student/computer ratio. Technology plays a significant role in supporting and reinforcing the curricular model. Students, staff, and parents use technology on a daily and continuous basis as a tool for learning, communication, and collaboration. Parents use technology to access student work, daily assignments, course agendas, and grades. Technology is also used to share information and curriculum with other New Tech Network schools.

Partnerships -- The school has formed active partnerships with local businesses, educational institutions, and community groups that support the school with their involvement, with financial support, and with input into the school’s learning outcomes.

Parents play an important role in supporting the needs of the school and its students. Westwood New Tech High School provides community service experiences for students. Westwood New Tech High School partners with New Technology Foundation to share curriculum and participate in New Technology High School Network discussions and meetings.

Leadership — The Principal provides leadership in curriculum, instruction, and school culture; shares leadership and builds partnerships; values student voice; uses multiple sources of data to improve student achievement; and links project-based and problem-based learning with school improvement plans.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Demonstrates leadership and an ability to implement the New Technology Network model.
• Demonstrates a philosophical commitment to focused, project-based and problem —based learning.
• Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrates knowledge and competencies in Standard Based Education with a commitment to implementation and continued enhancement.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and skills in the components of effective instructional processes.
• Demonstrates collaborative leadership and team-building, distributes leadership among administrators, teachers, staff, parents, students & community members
• Demonstrates knowledge and competencies in staff supervision and evaluation through a clinical supervision model.
• Demonstrates evidence of positive community relation skills as it relates to communicating with a diverse population.
• Demonstrates ability to build partnerships and community support.
• Demonstrates commitment to, knowledge of, and competencies in inclusion of all students.
• Demonstrates self-motivation and ability to complete tasks as assigned and required of the position.
• Demonstrates ability to institute and maintain a systematic policy and process for student discipline and management of the learning environment.
• Demonstrates ability to work as an integral part of the District Administrative Team.
• Demonstrates knowledge of current research and alternative student discipline practices.
• Demonstrates a philosophical commitment to a student and teacher driven model.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Have a  master’s degree in education or a related area from an accredited college or university. Possess or eligible for the State of Michigan Secondary Administrative Certificate or willing to complete the necessary requirements. A minimum of five (5) years of successful teaching experience; Experience working in a project-based school, preferably within the New Tech Network. Demonstrated supervisory (administrative) experience in a secondary school preferred.  Demonstrated effective verbal and written communication skills.  Previous administrative/supervisory experience.

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to maintain a level of physical fitness to meet the standards.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES

1. Implements the New Technology High School model, as measured by the Principal Evaluation Rubric
2. Provides leadership to the staff in determining objectives and identifying school needs as the basis for developing long and short range plans for Westwood New Tech High School.
3. Provides instructional leadership to all staff and assures integration, cooperation, and collaboration between curricular areas.
4. Commits to developing a culture of trust, respect, and responsibility among student, teachers, staff, and Westwood New Tech High School.
5. Participates with significant higher education and business partnerships to support college courses, internships and community service experience for students.
6. Implements a technology infrastructure that supports the curriculum and the culture of the New Technology Network.
7. Advances the educational reform by contributing to the New Technology High School Network activities and the Project Library.
8. Commits to the school-wide implementation of the New Technology High School Learning System™ tools and curriculum.
9. Supervises and evaluates the performance of all assigned personnel in accordance with the District’s adopted uniform guidelines for evaluation and assessment, recommends appropriate action in cases of substandard performance, and identifies and encourages individual teachers with leadership potential.
10. Develops school plans and organizational procedures for the health, safety, discipline and conduct of students, as established in District procedures.
11. Identifies, provides, assigns, and coordinates professional growth opportunities for teaching personnel within the school. Establishes and nurtures a professional learning community.
12. Carries out a program of community relations as a means of routinely disseminating, garnering community, parent, and other community organizations support.
13. Maintains regular attendance and punctuality.
14. Performs other duties as assigned.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Special Knowledge/Skills:

   Deep understanding of multi-disciplinary project-based learning and experienced in engaging students in hands-on learning while maintaining academic rigor.

1. Skilled in interdisciplinary planning, collaborative, and able to work well with a wide range of constituents (colleagues, parents, students, board members, etc.)
2. Able to lead diverse learners and well-versed in instructional strategies for serving students of different skill levels in the same classroom
3. Deep understanding of data-driven decision making and formative assessment used to plan and modify instructional practices
4. Experienced in integrating technology into their teaching (i.e., is able to maintain a digital portfolio with course syllabi and other relevant materials) and can support student learning using technology.
5. Deep understanding and use of Critical Friends Group protocols and Professional Learning Community interactions in the collaboration and planning process.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Directors are required to attend yearly New Tech Training in July. Meals and travel expenses will be provided. 
• Directors are required to attend the New Tech All Schools Training each subsequent summer and all planning sessions scheduled by the Network.