School Principle

Title: Principal, A First Children School in Hudson County New Jersey

Reports to: CEO

Summary:

The Principal at the First Children School in Hudson County New Jersey will be responsible for all aspects of the operation of the school, including education and related therapeutic services provided to students in accordance with their IEPs. This school is a New Jersey Department of Education approved private school for students with disabilities serving students in grades PreK through high school.

Qualifications:

Master’s Degree in Education with an active Principal’s certificate in the state of New Jersey; five or more years’ experience in the role of principal or instructional supervisor in a school that works with students with behavioral challenges;  background and certification in special education.  The Principal will have a proven track record of working effectively with all members of a school community.  Familiarity with the regulations affecting the operation of schools, particularly Chapter 6A of the NJ Administrative Code.  Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities:

1. Ensure that the school operates in strict accordance with the regulations of the NJ Department of Education as dictated in Chapter 6A of the NJ Administrative Code. Work with the organization’s compliance director to ensure that compliance is regularly audited in the school.  Establish training for staff to ensure that they are aware of and compliance with the standards of the DOE and the organization concerning the school.  Maintain at all times the readiness of the school to be monitored or inspected by any state authority.  Ensure that all required reports are submitted to the DOE and others in a timely and accurate manner.
2. Manage all staff of the school in accordance with the policies of FCS including, but not limited to those associated with staff hiring, credentialing and compensation. Make sure that all staff are trained regularly on pertinent policies and procedures and work with the CEO and executive team to present consistency in applying policies, particularly as they pertain to the management of staff performance and compensation.
3. Work in close cooperation with members of the FCS management team, particularly those that provide support services to the school. Shared services are provided to the school by the larger FCS organization, and it is the responsibility of the Principal to assure close cooperation with those who manage these services.  Similarly, the Principal should feel free to consult with those managers to improve the impact of these services within the school.
4. With the CEO and Controller, establish and implement an annual budget for the school and assure that all expenditures are made in line with the budget and/or as approved by the CEO or Controller. The Principal is expected to provide input into the budgeting process but it is the responsibility of the Controller with the CEO to approve the budget prior to submission to the DOE.  Once in place, the Principal must follow that budget and, as necessary, work with the Controller to make changes that are necessary in light of situations that occur during the school year. 
5. Maintain an excellent team of staff for the school by assuring that staff openings are filled quickly and with his quality staff, anticipating vacancies and working cooperatively with the HR department to get and keep the most qualified staff possible. The school is only as good as its staff, and it is critical that the Principal stay on top of all issues affecting staff hiring and retention.  Day to day issues that arise are the responsibility of the Principal to handle in consultation with the CEO or other members of the executive team as necessary.  The Principal is expected to anticipate staff needs and take action to assure that sufficient high quality staff are available to students at all times.
6. Establish and nurture excellent working relationships with referring districts, parents and other members of the community, assuring that the school is well-represented as a vital partner to them. The Principal is expected to cultivate relationships with key district staff, particularly those who refer students to the school.  This requires the Principal to reach out personally to these key players, visit them at their locations and invite them to visit the school.  Similarly, the Principal is the key school representative with parents and members of the community, and he/she is expected to be present at all key meetings and represent the values and standards of the school at all times.
7. Establish, train and monitor staff performance to assure that their work is resulting in students achieving their goals and moving on successfully to the next phase of their lives. The principal is expected to set clear performance standards and goals for each member of the school staff and to assure that they have the tools to carry out their responsibilities in the school effectively.  The Principal is expected to visit all classrooms regularly and involve him/herself in all aspects of the school, particularly in support of teachers and other school staff.  The Principal will conduct all annual performance evaluations for staff and assure that all of their credentials are maintained as required for their positions.
8. Work with the CEO and executive staff of the organization to establish goals for the school that are reflective of the organization’s strategy to be the “go to” partners of school districts. It is expected that the Principal will implement strategies within the school to ensure that goals related to census, attendance, quality of instruction and school morale are attained.