Elementary School Principal

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JOB TITLE:  Elementary School Principal

LOCATION:  Thomas Paine Elementary School

SUPERVISOR:  Superintendent or Designee

SUPERVISES:  Building Staff

JOB SUMMARY: The Elementary School Principal provides transformational educational leadership focusing on equity to promote educational development for all students and the professional development of each staff member. This includes implementing a continuous improvement model which focuses on high student achievement; building a positive school climate that supports the whole student; leveraging research and data to drive initiatives and instruction, and building a high-performing staff and school improvement team to achieve the school’s vision and goals. He/she will have outstanding skills in student and family engagement, leadership for equity, professional development, and community partnerships. The Elementary School Principal will fully understand equity-oriented leadership, restorative practices, PBIS, Common Core, student assessment, balanced literacy, the Danielson Framework, and PERA.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

• Lead the school’s vision, mission, and strategic goals to support college and career readiness for academic and socioemotional success for all students.
• Drive rapid and dramatic instructional improvements by implementing strategies in line with the priority areas identified in the District Goals.
• Support and supervise the design of rigorous, standards-based instruction with measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills in supporting high student outcomes and educational excellence.
• Implement a continuous improvement plan that ensures improvement in teaching and learning.
• Analyze student assessment data frequently to monitor each student’s academic progress, identify areas of need, and inform school improvement efforts to tailor instruction to meet all learners' needs.
• Foster a collegial environment that supports teacher leadership, collaboration, and growth.
• Demonstrate a strong knowledge of special education programming and support and ensure services are implemented with fidelity.
• Serve as Local Education Agency representative for Individualized Education Program meetings.
• Develop and implement a professional development plan to address identified areas of need.
• Articulate a clear vision for the needs of students and the school, focusing on student outcomes through a lens of racial equity.
• Demonstrate effective, educationally sound discipline in dealing with disruptive students.
• Demonstrate exceptional communication skills that will support school and district goals and foster positive relationships throughout the school community.
• Demonstrate knowledge of, and effective use of, technology in instruction, management, and communication.
• Create an environment where teachers, support staff, and students may achieve mutual understanding, high morale, and the best working conditions.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to diverse values and cultures within the school community.
• Evaluate the performance of all staff members assigned to the school in accordance with the district evaluation plan and PERA.
• Manage data in accordance with all privacy acts and district policy.
• Project future needs of school and involves staff in establishing long-term and short-term goals for the school.
• Provide input into the district building budget process to ensure adequate funding for the school program. Prepares the school budget within established limits and apportions that budget to various school programs. Monitors and supervises all expenditures.
• Collaborate with the other elementary principals and district administrators to further the cause of elementary education and to promote district-wide activities.
• Establish good relationships with school stakeholders, parents, and community members to unite the school and community.
• Understanding of or experience teaching of second language acquisition and learning. 
• Knowledge of English as a Second Language (ESL) strategies.
• Work in collaboration with district administrators to promote the continuity of the instructional programs.
• Take all precautions to safeguard safety, health, well-being of students and staff members, including formation of plans to meet emergencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's Degree from an accredited college or university, with training in administration, supervision, and curriculum development at the elementary or middle school level
• Five years of successful teaching experience, preferably at the elementary or middle school level
• Three years of successful administrative or teacher leadership experience at the elementary or middle school level
• Demonstrated experience in building an inclusive and equity-oriented school culture
• Illinois Licensure with Administrative Endorsement
• Must possess, or be able to obtain, the Teacher Evaluator designations from ISBE to allow for evaluation of licensed teachers
• ESL and/or Bilingual endorsement preferred

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:  

• An administrative leadership style based on positive relationships and a continuous improvement model
• Brings strong and collaborative leadership with an honest, transparent, and inclusive style
• Experience in the supervision and evaluation of staff and proven leadership in the areas of curriculum, student achievement, assessments, and the development of a positive school climate
• Inspires excellence in others
• Vision, compassion, and enthusiasm for effective team leadership to motivate high standards and continuous improvement
• Knowledge of best practices in curriculum and instruction at the elementary level

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  Generally, the job requires sitting, walking, standing, and light physical assertion.  Occasionally, the job requires the ability to intervene physically with students.  

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:  

• Benefit information can be found on the Human Resources webpage.  
• This is not a position within the collective bargaining unit but an administrative position.  
• This is an exempt position.
• Salary is determined by the Superintendent. This position has an eleven-month calendar year.  Salary range $97,000- $120,000 depending on experience.

EVALUATION:  Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board’s policy on evaluation of professional personnel and the State Board of Education under PERA.  

START DATE: July 23, 2025

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

REVISED:  May 2025

Contact Information

• Angi Franklin , Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
• Central Office
• Email: afranklin@usd116.org