Principal - Elementary 2026-2027

Topeka Public Schools USD 501•Topeka, KS

About The Position

To use leadership, management, supervisory, and monitoring skills to promote the educational development of each student.

Requirements

The incumbent must possess a Kansas building administrator license, or be able to obtain that license by the date of appointment.
Position requires administrative experience necessary for planning, organizational, supervisory, and evaluation skills which the position entails.
The incumbent should also demonstrate skills in curriculum and instructional leadership, personnel guidance, scheduling processes, policy, law, budget,school/community relations, and professional renewal.

Nice To Haves

Doctorate and 3 years administrative experience.

Responsibilities

Curriculum Development, Supervision and Evaluation Leads in the development, determination of appropriateness, and monitoring of the instructional program.
Supervises of the school’s co-curricular and educational program.
Approves of the master teaching schedule and any special personnel assignments.
Facilitates and monitors the school accreditation process.
Understands school curriculum, ensures teaching of the written curriculum, helps staff use curriculum resources.
Participates in and/or leads curriculum development activities commensurate with school and district goals.
Provides opportunities and encouragement for staff to increase professional expertise.
Assists in identifying curricular and extracurricular needs by analyzing current programs and student achievement.
Regularly uses the results of student assessment data to identify problems and implement program improvements and/or pacing.
Emphasizes student achievement as the primary outcome of schooling.
Systematically assesses and monitors student progress using objective and verifiable information whenever possible.
Works with staff to systematically identify and respond to at-risk students; makes referrals to appropriate community agencies when needed.
Assures the proper educational placement of students.
Models and facilitates good human relations skills; effectively interacts with others.
Solicits information from school personnel and community in gauging the school climate.
Recognizes efforts of students and teachers.
Promotes the improvement of student and staff self-images.
Communicates high expectations for both staff and students and provides appropriate motivation to reach expectations.
Fosters collegial relationships with and among teachers and staff.
Develops and maintains positive staff morale.
Works with the assistant principal to effectively implement a discipline code that is fair and promotes orderliness and student learning.
Protects instructional time by minimizing interruptions to the instructional process.
Coordinates teacher and student schedules to promote maximum learning and minimize conflict.
Maintains high visibility in the school.
Provides for adequate supervision and acceptable student behavior at all school functions planned and operated by school personnel.
Leads and directs the school leadership team.
Establishes and maintains an effective learning climate in the school and ensures that the staff follows effective school policies.
Plans, organizes, and directs the implementation of school activities.
Maintains appropriate and consistent standards of student conduct and enforces discipline, as necessary, according to due process for the rights of students.
Delegates authority to responsible personnel to assume responsibility for the school in the absence of the Principal.
Supervises (directly or through others) all professional, paraprofessional, administrative, and nonprofessional personnel assigned to the school.
Assists in the recruiting, screening, hiring, training, assigning, and evaluating of the school’s professional staff.
Assures the orientation of newly assigned staff members and assists in their development, as appropriate.
Recommends, according to established procedures, the removal of a staff member whose work is unsatisfactory.
Keeps the Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent informed of the school’s activities and problems.
Maintains ongoing communications with staff, students and parents.
Attends events held to recognize student achievement and school-sponsored activities and functions.
Conducts meetings of the staff as necessary for the proper functioning of the school.
Assures arrangements are made for special conferences between parents, teachers, community members, and other agencies.
Establishes and maintains favorable relationships with local community groups and individuals to foster understanding and solicit support for overall school objectives and programs, to interpret Board policies and administrative directives, and to discuss and resolve individual student problems.
Serves, or causes a member of the leadership team to serve, as an ex-officio member of all committees and councils within the school.
Speaks and writes effectively.
Communicates and works with Central Office and other principals to share ideas, problems, expertise, and personnel.
Encourages parent visits and involvement in decision making.
Effectively utilizes community resources and volunteers to promote student learning.
Utilizes the TPS Strategic Plan and TPS Learning Principles to guide decisions.
Considers research when making decisions.
Considers alternatives and consequences in the decision-making process.
Makes decisions in a timely fashion and maximizes decisions' effectiveness by follow-up actions.
Clearly communicates decisions and rationale to all affected.
Interprets and insures compliance with District policies and state and federal regulations.
Asserts leadership in times of civil disobedience in school, in accordance with established Board policy.
Participates in principals meetings, negotiations meetings, and other meetings as required or as appropriate.
Identifies problem areas and seeks solutions before crisis situations develop.
Effectively delegates decision making and problem solving to appropriate personnel.
Keeps abreast of changes and developments in the profession by attending professional meetings, reading professional journals and other publications, and discussing problems of mutual interest with others in the field.
Effectively utilizes the expertise of school personnel, including self, in staff development.
Provides opportunities for teachers to share and demonstrate successful practices.
Views self as a role model for expected staff behavior.
Helps teachers implement objectives for themselves and students.
Assumes responsibility for his/her own professional growth and development through membership and participation in the affairs of professional organizations and through attendance at regional, state, and national meetings.
Assists in identifying, cultivating, and promoting teacher leaders.
Prepares and administers the school budget and supervises school finances.
Prepares, or supervises the preparation of, the maintenance and distribution of reports, records, lists, and other paperwork required or appropriate to the school’s administration. such as transportation, special services, etc.
Monitors and controls the various local funds generated by student activities.
Assumes responsibility for the safety and administration of the school facilities, including security personnel.
Provides for adequate inventories of property under his/her jurisdiction and for the security and accountability for that property.
Ensures the building(s) and grounds are safe and that drills, evacuations, and other emergency activities conform to state directives.
Assures the allocation of instructional resources for optimum teaching and learning. (supplies, equipment, space, etc.)
When appropriate, ensures a quality food service program.
Effectively copes with crises and emergencies.
Maintains accurate personnel, student, and fiscal records.
Anticipates future building and equipment needs; plans appropriately to remedy.
May act as a hearing officer for discipline.
Performs other Duties as Assigned by the Superintendent and His/Her Designee.