Principal -BES (2026-2027 School Year)

Harrisonburg City Public Schools•Harrisonburg, VA

About The Position

Principals serve as school leaders in collaboration with assistant principals, counselors, teachers, media specialists, and other support staff. The principal is responsible for ensuring the school's leadership, administration, supervision, and programs are aligned with the school district's goals. The principal will effectively analyze various data points to identify student needs, guide changes in instruction, and evaluate programs and decisions. The principal should possess a high level of knowledge about the school improvement process and have experience leading a school community through this process. The principal is a visionary leader that builds and maintains professional relationships with stakeholders to develop the school's vision, mission, core values, and goals and may represent the school at community and civic events.

Requirements

Possess or qualify for a Virginia Postgraduate Professional license with Elementary School Principal or Administration and Supervision PreK-12 endorsement.
A minimum of five years of successful high, middle, or elementary school teaching experience and previous experience as an assistant principal.
Experience working directly with individuals and families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Familiarity with equity and inclusion frameworks.
Models non-discriminatory practices in all activities.
Respects the worth, dignity and individual differences of others.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to present to diverse audiences, specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities to foster professional relationships and express and/or exchange ideas.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to flex communication style to multiple cultural environments to improve instructional practices.
Proficiency in the use of a variety of office equipment and technology with experience using Microsoft Office, email, and information system applications.
Demonstrated leadership qualities and personal characteristics necessary for working effectively with students, teachers, administrators, and the community.
Proficiency in business English: spelling, grammar, and spoken language.
Emotionally mature, objective, and sensitive to people and their concerns.
Able to handle responsibility, work independently, and maintain collaborative working relationships with students, families, administration, co-workers, and the community.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with diverse learning needs and with children that may benefit from alternative learning models is preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain an effective educational program consistent with State and Federal guidelines and the philosophy, policies, regulations, and strategic plan of the School Board; maintain records and files; meet and confer with students, parents, faculty, and staff.
Develop a collaborative culture for improving student achievement.
Participate in the selection of all school building personnel. E
ffectively lead and monitor the instructional programming within the school.
Supervise the daily use of the school facilities for both academic and nonacademic purposes.
Develop leadership skills, particularly instructional leadership, of the assistant principal assigned to the school
Initiate, design, and implement programs to meet specific needs of the school.
Prepare or supervise the preparation of reports, records, lists and all other required information and data.
Supervise the maintenance of accurate records on the academic progress and attendance of students.
Coordinate and work with the central administrative staff on school needs, problems, and/or effectiveness.
Effectively supervise and evaluate the performance of each member of the instructional staff using school board criteria/policies.
Make recommendations concerning the school's administration and instruction to pertinent central office staff.
Establish a professional learning culture through a solid foundation of shared mission, vision, values, and goals.
Establish and maintain an effective learning climate in the school.
Prepare the school’s budget and monitor expenditures including maintaining and overseeing the various local funds generated by student activities.
Support the development, revision, and evaluation of the instructional curriculum of the school and the division.
In collaboration with assistant principal and staff, maintain high standards of student conduct and enforce discipline, as necessary, according to School Board policy and the due process rights of students.
Attend special events held to recognize student achievement; attend school-sponsored activities and functions.
Effectively plans, coordinates and supervises the summer school program.
Effectively assists with coordination of the volunteer program for the school with the assistance of the family and school liaison and the staff.
Effectively supervises the special education services/programs in the school.
Effectively coordinates the professional learning program for the school.
Actively participates as a member of the HCPS leadership team.
Takes all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, staff, equipment, materials, and facilities.
Maintains appropriate state licensure; assumes responsibility for and participates in staff development (professional growth) and training to keep materials, supplies, and skills up-to-date.
Follows appropriate safety procedures and properly maintains equipment.
Serves as a role model by developing and effectively maintaining professional boundaries with students and staff at all times. Ensures respect for the ethical and legal duties in the staff-to-student and administrator-to-staff relationships.
Serves as a role model for others, as an educational leader, by demonstrating good attendance, punctuality, appearance, demeanor, dress and behavior.
Assume responsibility for the implementation and observance of all School Board policies and regulations by the school's staff and students; interpret and enforce school division's policies and regulations.
Actively participates in and attends all required meetings.
Maintains confidentiality in all matters.
Models professional, moral, and ethical standards as well as personal integrity in all interactions, including non-discriminatory and cultural inclusion practices by respecting the worth, dignity and individual beliefs of others.
Plan, organize, and direct implementation of all school activities.
Is familiar with and abides by School Board policies, regulations, and school procedures.
Effectively performs other duties as assigned by the Director of School Administration, Chief Academic Officer and/or Superintendent.