Elementary School Principal

About the Employer

Overview

Job Title: Principal - Elementary ----------------------------------------- - Job Summary: - Demonstrates proficient use of student data management systems to analyze individual student data, teacher data and the effectiveness of the instructional program. - Uses technology for on-going root cause analysis of student performance to drive instructional decision making. - Facilitates professional development for all staff focused on the achievement of the Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards. - Responsibilities: - - Uses technology to gather and analyze school attendance, discipline, and achievement data to identify and eliminate disproportionality. - - Engages with the community through regular attendance at school and community functions to demonstrate a genuine interest in students. - - Organizes and maintains a public relations system for the school that consistently celebrates and informs parents and the community of student accomplishments. - - Communicates regularly with parents, seeking their support and advice, to create a cooperative relationship to support students. - - - Professional Development: - Facilitates professional development for all staff focused on developing cultural proficiency. - Provides opportunities for effective, differentiated staff development that addresses the needs of the instructional program and staff. - Continues to grow professionally through collaboration with colleagues and professional growth experiences. - Communication Skills: - - Uses excellent written and oral English skills when communicating with students, parents, and staff. - - Presents information effectively using clear and legible visuals and articulate and audible speech. - - Maintains positive, cooperative, and mutually supportive relationships with central administration, parents, and representatives of resource agencies. - Qualifications: - Required: - - Master's degree from an accredited college or university - - Maryland Advanced Professional Certificate - - Maryland Administrator II Endorsement - - At least four (4) years excellent experience in teaching and working at the appropriate level - - Minimum of three (3) years successful experience in a leadership role at the school or system level - Demonstrates: - - Excellent leadership and organizational skills and the ability to motivate people. - - Integrity and good moral character. - - Knowledge and understanding of curriculum development, program evaluation, child growth and development, effective instructional strategies, classroom management, learning assessment and diagnosis, and research related to learning. - Term of Employment: - Full-time twelve-month position - Salary Grade Range: The salary for this exempt position will be based on SMASA salary schedule for eleven- and twelve-month employees - Range F. - Bargaining Unit Eligibility: - SMASA - Term of Employment (Updated 03.2025):

Benefits to Current SMPCS Staff

Qualified applicants, including current employees of St. Mary's County Public Schools, must complete a TALENTED online application. In addition to the online application, any supporting documentation (unofficial transcript and/or copy of the certification, where applicable) must be scanned and uploaded to the TALENTED application.

Application Procedures

(301-475-5511, ext. 32187)
• Qualified applicants must submit their applications no later than October 5, 2026.
• Applications that do not include all required documentation will be considered incomplete and will not be forwarded for review.
• Following a screening of credentials, interviews will be scheduled. Please contact the Department of Human Resources with questions.

Nature of Work

Serves as the educational leader and chief administrator of the elementary school, responsible for implementing and managing the policies, regulations, and procedures of the Board of Education to ensure that all students are supervised in a safe, child-centered learning environment that meets and exceeds the Maryland Common Core State Standards.

Essential Functions

• Ability to professionally relate to and collaborate with co-workers, students, and community members.
• Ability to understand and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to use technology effectively to complete tasks.
• Ability to report to work daily and on time.
• Ability to organize, supervise, coordinate, and establish priorities of tasks to be completed.
• Ability to work independently in the absence of detailed instructions and to follow complex oral and/or written instructions.
• Ability to communicate orally or in writing, courteously and tactfully, with staff, students, parents, and the community in a timely manner.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to oversee and provide direction to the designed department (personnel support for certificated and non-certificated employees).
• Ability to plan and implement short and long-range objectives which relate to the departmental and system-wide objectives.
• Ability to lead, support the staff, and communicate professionally and effectively with internal and external stockholders.
• Ability to exhibit a personality that demonstrates enthusiasm, and interpersonal skills to relate well with students, staff, administration, parents, colleagues, and the community.
• Ability to demonstrate excellent leadership and organizational skills and the ability to motivate people and facilitate productive academic/organizational change.
• Possess excellent time management skills and the ability to take initiative and make decisions within assigned responsibility in a challenging, fast-paced professional environment and be flexible in work responsibilities and hours.
• Possess thorough knowledge of applicable Maryland laws, state board of education rules and regulations, board of education policies and regulations, regulations and procedures, and contractual obligations.
• Possess knowledge of the programs, policies, and procedures of St. Mary's County Public Schools.

School Management

• Organizes, manages, evaluates, and supervises effective and clear procedures for the operation and functioning of the entire school consistent with the philosophy, mission, values, and goals of the school and district, including instructional programs in the Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards, extracurricular activities, discipline systems to ensure a safe and orderly climate, financial management, facilities maintenance, program evaluation, personnel management, office operations, emergency procedures, and community relations.
• Ensures compliance with all laws, administrative codes, board policies, and regulations, including affirmative action mandates.

Leadership

• Leads school level planning processes to ensure the development, implementation, and evaluation of all school programs and activities.
• Establishes the master schedule for instructional programs, ensuring sequential learning experiences for students that meet and exceed the Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards.
• Provides and supervises in a fair and consistent manner effective discipline and attendance systems with high standards, consistent with the philosophy, values, and mission of the school and district, in accordance with due process and other laws and regulations. File all required reports regarding violence, vandalism, attendance, health, and discipline matters.
• Immediately notifies appropriate personnel and agencies and follows established procedures when there is evidence of substance abuse, child abuse, child neglect, severe medical or social conditions, potential suicide, or individuals appearing to be under the influence of substances.

Instructional Practices

• Supervises the instructional programs of the school, evaluating lesson plans and observing classes on a regular basis to encourage the use of a variety of instructional strategies and materials consistent with research on learning and child growth and development.
• Ensures that the instructional programs engage the learner in tasks that require analytical and critical thinking, questioning the known, problem solving, and creativity, that they address the range of skills and developmental needs found in the classroom, that they encourage the student to define individual goals and accept responsibility for learning, and that they provide a variety of methods for the student to demonstrate performance and achievement.
• Supervises the implementation of curriculum and instruction supported by and integrated with an appropriate array of research-proven strategies.

Data Driven Instruction

• Works with school-based leadership and the school improvement team to develop a comprehensive plan with annual student achievement targets, supported by parents, staff, and community members.
• Organizes and maintains a pupil services team, which intervenes to solve behavioral, nutritional, attendance, and other problems, receives data-based teacher referrals of students who are not making progress and makes referrals to appropriate health and human service agencies.
• Organizes and supervises data-based procedures for identifying and addressing special needs of students including health-related concerns, and physical, emotional, and learning disabilities, coordinating the resources of the school and community to assist the student and family.
• Collects and analyzes data regarding the needs and achievement of students, including local, state, and national assessments, and other pertinent information affecting the design and implementation of services and programs, using the information to recommend new programs and modifications to existing programs.
• Ensures that appropriate intervention/enrichment for individual students are provided, based on results of assessments.