Job Title: Assistant Principal 

Report to: Principal 

Primary Purpose:

Direct and manage overall campus operations. Direct and manage assigned areas of instructional program and campus operations. Oversee assigned student activities and services. Responsible for leadership of the campus instructional program, ensuring high standards of instruction and student achievement, compliance with district policies, application of instructional programs, and effective operation of all campus activities. Supervise students assigned to DAEP for disciplinary reasons. Maintain a highly structured and orderly environment. Work under the general supervision of the principals. Help serve the district in attendance and truancy prevention facilitator.  Provide assistance to campus personnel in interpreting and enforcing compulsory attendance laws and resolving truancy, excessive absences, and tardiness problems. Serve as district liaison to parents, law enforcement agencies, and court personnel. Coordinate with campuses the district program for students in at-risk situations. Collaborate with district staff and outside personnel to provide educational and career opportunities for students at-risk.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification:

Master’s degree in educational administration

Texas principal or other appropriate Texas certificate

Certified Texas Teacher Support and Evaluation System (T-TESS) appraiser

Special Knowledge/Skills:

Working knowledge of curriculum and instruction

Ability to work well with children

Ability to follow verbal and written instructions

Knowledge of campus operations

Ability to evaluate the instructional program and teaching effectiveness

Ability to manage budget and personnel

Ability to implement policy and procedures

Ability to interpret data

Ability to travel districtwide to conduct home visits and visit sites where truant students have been reported to the district

Excellent organizational, communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills

Knowledge of state compulsory attendance laws

Knowledge of the juvenile justice system and ability to present truancy cases to the court

Ability to interpret laws, policies, and procedures

Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills

Ability to operate a personal computer to develop databases and do word processing

Ability to speak effectively before groups of parents, students, and staff

Experience:

Preferred five years experience as a classroom teacher

Preferred two years experience in instructional or campus leadership roles

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Instructional Management

1. Monitor instructional processes to ensure that program activities are related to outcomes and use findings to take corrective actions where necessary.
2. Encourage and support the development of innovative instructional programs, helping teachers pilot such efforts when appropriate. Participate in program evaluation measures and make suggestions for improvement where needed.
3. Reinforce expectations for staff performance with regard to instructional strategies and classroom management.
4. Provide instructional resources and materials needed to accomplish instructional goals.
5. Establish clear expectations for staff performance with regard to instructional strategies, classroom management, and communication with the public.
6. Foster collegiality and team-building among staff members. Encourage their active involvement in the decision-making process.

Program Management

1. Develop and implement procedures to identify and monitor at-risk students at all grade levels while at DAEP and ensure the resources are in place to support student success.
2. Provide resources and materials to aid staff in accomplishing program goals and work with district staff to develop and encourage participation in programs that support at-risk students.
3. Provide information about the school district and community resources available to students and their families and assist them to access those resources when needed. Coordinate education and community services for pregnant students.
4. Work with students, parents, and staff to ensure students’ academic success. Generate alternative coursework available to at-risk students through curriculum modification and acceleration.
5. Provide individual and small group career counseling to at-risk students.
6. Contribute to the development of program goals to reduce school failure and dropout rates.
7. Develop and coordinate a continuing evaluation of the at-risk program and implement changes based on the findings.

School or Organization Improvement

1. Take a leadership role in planning activities and implementing programs to ensure the attainment of the school’s mission.
2. Participate in the development of campus improvement plans with staff, parents, and community members.
3. Help principals develop, maintain, and use information systems to maintain records and track progress on-campus performance objectives and academic excellence indicators.
4. Provide opportunities for interactive communication with the superintendent, staff, students, parents, and community.

Attendance Enforcement

1. Investigate cases of unexcused and excessive absences and tardiness and enforce provisions of compulsory attendance laws.
2. Issue warnings; file complaints against students, parents, or individuals with parental control in accordance with compulsory attendance laws, Texas Education Code, and board policy; and refer to appropriate courts.
3. Implement truancy prevention measures in accordance with state regulations.
4. Impose individual student behavior improvement plans, and school-based community service or refer to counseling, community-based services, or other services aimed at addressing a student’s truancy.
5. Investigate cases of suspected drop out and retrieve unreturned textbooks and other school property when appropriate.
6. Meet at least annually with district administrators, case managers, or other court-appointed individuals to discuss effective truancy prevention measures.
7. Confer regularly with teachers, counselors, administrators, and other staff as well as parents to identify problems of tardiness, attendance, and student truancy. Work with students at risk of dropping out and make a reasonable effort to gain their cooperation to improve attendance.
8. Conduct home visits and parent conferences on student truancy and attendance problems. Make parents aware of compulsory attendance laws and school policy for parents and students.
9. Represent the school district in court hearings resulting from attendance problems. Maintain contact and act as liaison to local law enforcement agencies and courts in the area of student truancy.

Student Management

1. Act as campus behavior coordinator in accordance with state laws and regulations.
2. Work with faculty and students to develop a student discipline management system that results in positive student behavior and enhances the school climate. 
3. Ensure that school rules are uniformly applied and that student discipline is appropriate and equitable in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and the student handbook.
4. Conduct conferences about student and school issues with parents, students, and teachers.
5. Ensure that students are adequately supervised during non-instructional periods.
6. Ensure that program rules, expectations, consequences, and procedures are clearly posted and provided to each student.
7. Lead the development and evaluation of disciplinary alternative education programs with a specific focus on district-wide special programs to enhance student achievement.
8. Employ effective strategies to promote student compliance with rules, expectations, and operating procedures.
9. Suggest behavioral intervention methods to other campus personnel.
10. Implement approved behavioral intervention strategies.
11. Provide individual academic assistance to students as needed.
12. Assist in the supervision of all students and ensure adequate supervision in all classrooms and school facilities
13. Follow the Individualized Educational Plans and Behavioral Intervention Plans of assigned special needs students.
14. Provide pre-and post-placement interventions and assistance for the students.
15. Appropriately redirect and address student violations of the rules, expectations, and operating procedures by using approved methods for the assigned campus.
16. Conduct student orientations and student release meetings as necessary.
17. Obtain adequate resources for teachers and staff members.
18. Share information regarding successful behavioral intervention strategies with the student’s home campus personnel according to the approved procedures for the assigned campus.

Administration and Fiscal/Facilities Management

1. Oversee campus operations in the principal’s absence.
2. Take a leadership role in planning and scheduling of daily school activities including the development of class schedules, teacher assignments, and extracurricular activity schedules.
3. Oversee reporting and monitoring of student attendance and work with staff to identify and address issues.
4. Compile, maintain, and file all reports, records, and other documents required, including records of all cases investigated and reports required by the commissioner of education.
5. Develop and administer campus budgets based on documented program needs and estimated enrollment, ensuring that operations are cost-effective and funds are managed wisely.
6. Work with department heads and faculty to compile annual budget requests based on documented program needs.
7. Requisition supplies, textbooks, and equipment and monitor and maintain inventory in accordance with district procedures.
8. Coordinate operational support services including transportation, custodial, and cafeteria to best meet campus needs.
9. Comply with district policies, state and federal laws, and regulations affecting schools.
10. Manage the use of school facilities. Oversee maintenance of facilities to ensure a clean, orderly, and safe campus.
11. Compile, maintain, and file all reports, records, and other documents required, including accurate and timely reports of maximum attendance to requisition textbooks.
12. Direct and manage extracurricular and intramural programs including management of multiple activity funds as needed.

Personnel Management

1. Select, train, supervise, and evaluate staff and make recommendations relative to assignment, retention, discipline, and dismissal. Approve all personnel assigned to the campus.
2. Observe employee performance, record observations, and conduct evaluation conferences. Serve as an appraiser as needed for the designated teacher appraisal system.
3. Coach staff and help them identify and develop appropriate professional growth opportunities as well as accomplish improvement goals.
4. Assist the principal in interviewing, selecting, and orienting new staff.
5. Work with campus-level planning and decision-making committees to plan professional development activities.

School or Community Relations

1. Articulate the school’s mission to the community and solicit its support in realizing the mission. 
2. Demonstrate awareness of school-community needs and initiate activities to meet those needs using appropriate and effective techniques to encourage community and parent involvement.
3. Maintain a positive and effective relationship with employees, co-workers, supervisors, district personnel, community members, volunteer23. Effectively communicate with supervisors, colleagues, district personnel, students, and parents.s, and district partners.

Policy, Reports, and Law:

1. Assist with the collection, processing, and distribution of at-risk data and interpret this information for guidance, administrative, and instructional purposes.
2. Compile, maintain, and file all reports, records, and other documents required. Ensure that accurate at-risk and dropout data is reported through PEIMS.

Other:

1. Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedures.
2. Take the initiative to develop needed professional skills appropriate to job assignments.
3. Exercise strict professional confidentiality.
4. Suggest and implement changes to the program as needed.
5. Fill in as needed for the needs of the students and school district.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Supervise, evaluate, and recommend the hiring and firing of staff assigned to campus including DAEP staff, teachers, counselor(s), librarian(s), instructional aides, clerical support staff, and custodians.

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment including personal computers and peripherals.

Posture: Frequent sitting and standing; occasional bending/stooping, pushing,/pulling, and twisting.

Motion: Repetitive hand motions; frequent keyboarding and use of a mouse; occasional reaching. 

Lifting: Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 35 pounds); occasional physical restraint of students to control behavior.

Environment: May work prolonged or irregular hours; work inside and outside (exposure to sun, heat, cold, and inclement weather), exposure to noise; occasional districtwide and statewide travel.

Mental Demands: Work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress. Ability to communicate effectively (verbally and written); ability to instruct and model desirable skills and attitudes; ability to remain productive and maintain control under stress; ability to supervise others in a non-coercive manner; maintain a clear focus on customer service.