High School Principal

Kamehameha Schools•Kurtistown, HI

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Kamehameha Schools (KS) is seeking an innovative and culturally grounded Principal to lead our Ke Kula Kiʻekiʻe ʻo Kamehameha ma Hawaiʻi (Hawaiʻi Campus High School). We are looking for a strategic, student-centered leader who is deeply committed to advancing KS’s mission and developing globally competitive haumāna through Hawaiian culture-based education (HCBE) and E Ola! learner outcomes, empowering students to lead and uplift their ʻohana and lāhui. The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in PK–12 education, curriculum leadership, and school administration, coupled with a growth mindset and openness to new approaches. They demonstrate a strong understanding of ʻŌiwi Edge principles and model continuous learning, helping students cultivate the agency, adaptability, and cultural grounding that give them a unique advantage in fulfilling their purpose and kuleana. This leader advances teaching and learning with curiosity and strategic vision, collaborating closely with campus partners to guide school redesign, foster shared ownership of change, and strengthen relationships. They lead with empathy and clarity to address challenges, navigate differing perspectives, and implement meaningful improvements. Fully engaging with the school’s culture and community, they promote KS’s culture and values while helping learners develop critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and resilience. The High School Principal aligns curriculum, assessment, and instruction, strengthens operational effectiveness, and drives purposeful program innovation, cultivating a positive and progressive school culture that reflects KS’s mission and commitment to Native Hawaiian learners. If you are an adaptive, collaborative, and mission-driven educational leader ready to shape the future of learning at KS, we encourage you to apply.

Requirements

Master's degree from an accredited college or university
Minimum of 5 years of PK–12 teaching experience.
Minimum of 5 years of school administration, director or manager experience.
Hawaiian cultural commitment: Willingness to learn and exhibit a commitment to an improved, high-quality education system for Native Hawaiian learners. Must be able to understand and support the importance of revitalizing and promoting Hawaiian cultural vibrancy in achieving KS' mission and KS' commitment to Hawaiian cultural vibrancy among its leadership, staff and learners system-wide. Appreciation for Native Hawaiian culture and language perpetuation.
Leadership: Skilled in distributed leadership and creating conditions, competency and capacity through which students achieve important education outcomes. Ability to maintain composure, tact, sensitivity and flexibility during peak periods and crisis intervention situations. High level of integrity to handle the highly confidential information regularly seen and discussed. Understands the inextricable relationship between culture and education and how that manifests itself in a school setting.
Management: Ability to manage multiple assignments with demanding and competing deadlines under conditions of urgency and pressure. Ability to work long and flexible hours. Excellent interpersonal skills in order to manage and resolve conflicts. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to set long and short-term goals. Good working knowledge of school law, finance, budgeting, and analysis.
Willing and available to work varied hours, including evening events and travel on a regular basis state-wide and to the continental U.S. as required.

Nice To Haves

School Administration Certification or License.
Previous work with diverse learners and communities.
Understanding and experience in age appropriate school.
Student counseling experience.
Classroom teaching experience.
Experience in school administration, curriculum development and instructional supervision, or equivalent.
Strong computer skills in word processing and spreadsheet applications; familiarity with student information management systems.
Knowledge of KS mission, strategic plan, policies and procedures.
Hawaiian language and cultural competence.
Knowledge of and sensitivity to Hawaiian culture and Christian values.

Responsibilities

Leads students, parents, alumni and staff in achieving the mission and realizing the vision for Kamehameha Schools.
Responsible for providing feedback to and communicates with school professional staff, the design and delivery of all pertinent curriculum, assessments, programs and related educational program functions for the campus system including the piloting, implementation, alignment, and timing and sequence of program innovation and change, the effectiveness of the education program, curricular and co-curricular with varying level of achievement from remedial to advanced.
Creates conditions that promote a purposeful, positive and progressive school ethos in which students and staff feel connected, known and valued.
Creates conditions and builds capacity for institutional learning through powerful student, staff and parent learning communities.
Provides curriculum and instructional leadership, manages faculty and staff matters, maintains effective and smooth school operations, directs budget preparation and execution, and oversees management of various school programs.
Serves as an instructional leader to enhance effective instruction and high student achievement.
Supports the implementation of research-based and culture-based instructional design and strategies.
Leads the development and promotion of an effective educational program that best meets the needs of students.
Creates a strong learning environment through effective use of relevant and appropriate instructional and operational strategies that establishes a culture for learning, engages all student learner abilities and includes an effective discipline system that reinforces positive student behavior.
Clearly articulates, modifies and communicates clear lines of authority and governance ladder.
Under the direction of the Po'o Kula or designee, provides feedback to and communicates to school professional staff, the design and delivery of all pertinent curriculums, assessments, programs and related educational program functions for the campus system including the piloting, implementation, alignment, and timing and sequence of program innovation and change.
Collaborates and communicates with campus leaders to ensure curriculum change follows a timetable of logical and timely development, sequenced so as not to overload teachers with implementation responsibilities.
Ensure the evaluation of assessment plans to include data analyses and utilization in decision-making at all levels.
Direct and oversee the creation of campus budget proposal to include a review of current and past fiscal expenditures, projections for future expenses aligned with campus goals, educational strategies and overarching KS strategic plan.
Ensures that curriculum documents are consistent in format to promote user friendliness for use by classroom teachers.
Develops broad implementation and communication plans for all curricular efforts on the campus with all stakeholders.
With approval from the Assistant/Associate Head of School, responsible for ensuring coherent, focused professional development to improve teacher instructional skills and behaviors as measured by improvement in student learning.
Coordinates all campus professional development, ensuring that it is congruent with campus goals and priorities.
Conducts regular, frequent and focused formal and informal observations to include but are not limited to classroom visits and walk-throughs.
Promotes among students, faculty and staff, the learning of the Hawaiian language, history, culture and values as an integral part of Kamehameha Schools.