4K-Early Childhood Principal - Vacancy ID: 197889

Interview Dates:
  First Round - Wed., March 13 (daytime)
  Second Round - Mon., March 18 (daytime)
  Final Interviews with Senior Leaders - Tues., March 19 (morning)

Position Summary:

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District is seeking a visionary school leader dedicated to equity, who promotes the empowerment of every student through the collaborative development of a vision for learning that is shared and supported by the school community.  The primary role of this position is to provide leadership for the district 4 year old kindergarten and early childhood program, at the MCPASD Early Learning Center and in community 4K sites.

District Mission: To educate all students to be contributing members of our community and global society by inspiring them with a lifelong love of learning, challenging them with rigorous and innovative curriculum, and empowering them through inclusion and collaboration.

District Vision:  Inclusive, innovative, and inspiring schools where every student thrives.

District Goals:

• Every educator will use effective literacy practices that are culturally and linguistically responsive, with a specific focus on students whose achievement has been most adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, so that the following are achieved by the end of the 2024-2025 school year:

• 85% of students will reach reading proficiency by the end of third grade, as measured by the Wisconsin Forward Exam;

• 85% of students will reach reading proficiency by the end of eighth grade, as measured by the Wisconsin Forward Exam; and

• 85% of students will demonstrate reading proficiency by the of 11th grade, with an ACT reading composite of 22 or higher.

• Every student will graduate with their respective class by the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
  
  

Qualifications:

• Wisconsin Principal License (51) required.

• Wisconsin Director of Special Ed. & Pupil Services (80) or Special Education Teacher License required.

• 2-4 Years of Leadership experience preferred.
  

• Experience with Early Childhood Education and Special Education preferred.
  
• Bilingual skills - Spanish/English preferred.

Leadership Attributes:

• Visionary leadership, commitment to social justice, and culturally & linguistically responsive practices.

• Commitment to learning leadership, student engagement, and innovative practices.

• Effective management, supervisory, executive, and curricular skills.

• Ability to relate well with staff, students, parents, and community.

• Commitment to excellence in establishing a high quality inclusive educational program.

• Distributive leadership style that encourages collaboration and shared decision-making.

• Dynamic communication (oral, written, and listening) and organizational skills.

• Commitment to sustainable practices and environmental education.

Job Responsibilities:

• 4K/EC principal duties, including early learning center and 4K community sites.

• Evaluate certified staff, paraprofessionals, and administrative assistant at the Early Learning Center.

• Communicate with community partners and other district departments.

• Plan professional development for district EC/4K staff and community partners.

• Learning Leadership 

• Embrace change and innovation; ability to envision and actualize learning beyond the traditional walls of the classroom and the school.

• Monitor, assess, and inspire teaching practices that ensure both rigor and best practice are occurring in all classrooms.

• Analyze and share student data and educational research as the foundational principles of professional collaboration.

• Bring an equity lens to the work in the school and on the leadership team, and create space for conversations about equity.

• Understand the school’s responsibility to prepare students for their futures in this rapidly changing global society.

• Analyze relevant information, make decisions, delegate responsibility, and provide appropriate support and follow-up for staff.

• Special Education Administration Duties for Early Childhood

• Serve as Local Education Agency (LEA) representative at Evaluation and IEP meetings.

• Review special education paperwork for compliance.

• Collaborate with the development and revision of district policies and procedures.

• Ensure IDEA compliance including evaluations and Individual Education Plans (IEP).

• Monitor and supports the implementation of IEP programming and placements including coaching and modeling.

• Complete a review of records of transfer students from other programs, including Birth-3, identified with disabilities to ensure proper placement and appropriate services are provided.

• Lead in creating and monitoring proactive systems of support for students to allow for collaborative problem-solving among staff, students, and parents.

• Develop student and staff schedules including student grouping and caseload determinations.

• Lead mandated DPI reporting processes related to students with disabilities and Medicaid billing.

• Coordinate events for students with disabilities including child find.

• Serve in a leadership capacity for an area of professional development (e.g. paraprofessionals, non-violent crisis intervention, student services departments).

• Monitor inter-agency agreements and collaboration for students with disabilities.

• Promote equity in programming for all students with a focus on students of color, students with disabilities, and students who are bilingual.

• Collaborate with the administration in Special Education compliance and procedures in regards to discipline, FBAs, BIPs, best practices, and continuum of special education services.

• School Culture

• Establish a culture of high expectations for both academics and behavior.

• Maintain positive relations with families, parent groups, school volunteers, business partners, and other community agencies.

• Design opportunities to engage and empower students, staff, and families to be integrally involved in all aspects of the school’s culture and climate.

• Human Resources Leadership

• Provide ongoing supervision for school personnel.

• Recruit and hire qualified staff members who bring diverse experiences and a commitment to equity to the school community.

• Communication

• Commit to high visibility and daily communication with stakeholders using multiple forms of communication.

• Meet regularly with students, staff, and families to assist in meeting the needs of all learners.

• Operations Management

• Administer, manage, and supervise the operation of the school in compliance with the Board of Education policies and under the direction of the Superintendent.

• Keep current on legal, financial, and educational reform initiatives.

• Other duties as assigned