Elementary Principal

ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL
Various Locations
Starts July 1, 2025

Full Benefits; Year-Round Insurance; Vacation/Sick Leave; TRS Retirement

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Education, Experience, Licenses, and other Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in curriculum and instruction, education, or related field is required.  Master's degree in related field is required.
Completion of courses in leadership, curriculum and instruction, assessment, and educational administration is required.  A minimum of three (3) years of successful school experience as a licensed professional, preferably at the elementary school level.  A minimum of three (3) years experience in a curriculum and instruction leadership role and/or other job related occupation is required with demonstrated results in improving academic performance of students.  Demonstrated experience within the areas of responsibility is required.
Possession of a valid Montana Educators License endorsed as an elementary or secondary teacher is required.
Possession of a valid Montana Educators License endorsed as a principal is required.

Employment eligibility includes fingerprints and/or other employment clearance.
Must have valid Montana driver's license and automobile available for use.  Must be willing to attend evening, night, and weekend meetings.

BASIC FUNCTION:
The principal is the instructional leader of the school, responsible for establishing an instructional vision and a focused plan for improving student achievement; monitoring and supervising instruction; supporting teachers in improving their instructional practice; creating a community of continuous learning for all staff and students; and fostering a culture of high expectations for all staff and students.  In addition, the principal is charged with building strong partnerships with families and community, creating a safe, supportive school climate, and effectively managing operational, technical, and staff issues to promote instructional progress.
 

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES: 
Incumbent may perform any combination of the essential functions shown below. This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, knowledge, or abilities, associated with this classification but is intended to accurately reflect the principle job elements.
Provides leadership for the management of the areas of responsibility.
Develops, implements, and evaluates goals and objectives as they pertain to the to the curriculum and instruction needs of the district as directed.
Establishes a climate within the areas of responsibility that is conducive to appropriate conduct, performance, attitude, job satisfaction, and service orientation.
Works collaboratively with the Central Office Leadership Team and other administrators to ensure the coordination, alignment, and articulation of a comprehensive curriculum and instructional program pre-K-12 that meets the needs of the diverse student population of the District.
Assists Professional Learning Communities to identify specific challenges and strategies to help the school attain its goals.
Leads the development, evaluation, and improvement of instructional programs that provide access and support to the rigorous instruction for all students.
Promotes a positive, caring climate for learning; deals sensitively and fairly with persons from diverse cultural backgrounds; and communicates effectively with students, staff, and parents.
Leads development of school improvement plans with staff, parents, and community members; develops, maintains, and uses information systems and relevant data to track progress on school performance objectives and academic excellence indicators.
Regularly observes classroom instruction and works to improve employee performance as principle evaluator for employee evaluation systems.
Assists in interviewing and selecting staff; orients new staff; manages staffing allocations.
Articulates the school's mission to parents and solicits their support in accomplishing the mission; and uses appropriate and effective techniques to encourage parental involvement.
Supervises or delegates all school operations, including daily school activities, the development of class schedules, teacher assignments, and extracurricular activity schedules; supervises monitoring of student attendance; and complies with federal and state laws, Office of Public Instruction rules, and board policy
Ensures that students are adequately supervised during non-instructional periods; develops and/or helps maintain a student discipline management system that results in positive student behavior; ensures that school rules are uniformly observed and that student discipline is appropriate and equitable, conducting conferences on student and school issues with students, parents, and teachers.
Applies current research to ensure effective teaching and learning experiences for teachers and students.
Follows a planned professional growth program, participates actively in local and state professional associations/organizations as assigned; and studies local, state, and national guidelines for effective services in areas of responsibility.
Prepares and manages the school's annual budget in accord with District parameters and the school's instructional and operational needs.
Supervises and evaluates the performance of assigned staff, and arranges for appropriate training of subordinates and provides for remediation of employees when necessary.
Assures accurate and timely dissemination of information.
Serves on committees as appropriate or assigned by immediate supervisor.
Represents the District as a liaison in meetings and committees that are related to areas of responsibility as assigned.
Represents the District, when so assigned in social, organizational, ceremonial, political, or other functions.
Keeps informed of current trends in improved student learning and positive climate within schools, and other pertinent areas, such as federal, state and local laws and District regulations, policies, and procedures.
Provides leadership and expertise in forming, guiding, and counseling District committees, groups, councils, and advisories for assigned areas of responsibility, providing leadership, support, and guidance to staff and members of the community to ensure thorough communication relative to the educational design and delivery process.
Attends all Board of Trustees meetings.
Performs all other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of:
• Philosophical and educational aspects of a research-based, student-centered, outcome-driven program for school leadership and curriculum and instruction.
• Research methods and report writing techniques.
• Record-keeping techniques.
• District organization, operations, policies, and procedures.
• Technical aspects of field of specialty.
• Principles of organization, operation, and supervision.
• Principles, practices, trends, goals, and objectives of public education and assigned areas of responsibility.
• Modern technology and office procedures and methods, computer equipment, and computer software necessary to perform required duties.
• Budget preparation and control.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures related to assigned activities.
• Oral and written communication skills, including English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, composition, and mathematics.
Ability to:
• Plan, organize, and administer a comprehensive school curriculum and instruction program.
• Administer assigned budgets and allocate funds. 
• Demonstrate leadership qualities and utilize motivation techniques and strategies in the development of an operational mode that is cost effective.
• Operate a computer terminal and audio-visual equipment.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Write in a clear and concise manner for broad public appeal and interpretation.
• Gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion.
• Coordinate and supervise the work of others.
• Analyze situations carefully and adopt an effective course of action.
• Interpret, apply, and explain administrative and board policies, laws, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements that pertain to areas of responsibility.
• Plan, organize, and prioritize work to meet multiple schedules and deadlines, and manage simultaneous tasks with many interruptions.
• Work independently with minimum direction and supervision; work under pressure.
• Understand, analyze, and prepare comprehensive, narrative and statistical reports.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with District personnel, community members, and external companies and agencies in the course of performing assigned duties.
• Supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff.                   
Environment:
• School office environment and school site.
• Demanding timelines.
• Subject to driving to a variety of locations to conduct work during day and evening hours.
• Subject to frequent interruptions and extensive contact with students, staff, parents, and the public.
• Indoor and outdoor environment.
Billings Public Schools values professionalism in its employees.  The following attributes and behaviors are identified as examples of what is expected of an administrator:     
• Display empathy and positive regard for others in written, verbal and non-verbal communications.
• Proactively and independently analyze problems and develop and implement solutions.
• Build trusting relationships by acting with integrity, courtesy, and responsibility, even in the face of stress or demanding workplace conditions.
• Maintain proficiency as needed and approved by attending trainings, reading job-related materials, and meeting with others in area of responsibility.
• Dress appropriately for a workplace with frequent customer service interaction and community outreach.
• Meet all required standards of confidentiality and safety. 
 

Go to www.billingsschools.org and click on "Employment Opportunities" for either the online application for external applicants or the internal application for internal applicants (currently employed by BPS in a regular or temporary position). "AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: This employer does not knowingly discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or national origin."
 

Closes: Open Until Filled
* Please Note: Positions posted as "Open Until Filled" must be posted for a minimum of 10 calendar days and then can close at any time after that.