Alliance Charter Elementary School Principal (1004693) - Vacancy ID: 230974

The Neenah Joint School District (NJSD) is seeking an experienced, visionary, and collaborative leader to serve as full time (1.0 FTE) Principal at Alliance Charter Elementary School. Alliance Charter Elementary is a 4k through 6th grade Montessori Charter School within the Neenah Joint School District.

The Alliance Charter Elementary School Principal, under the guidance of the Assistant District Administrator of Leadership and Engagement, is responsible for providing strong, visionary leadership for the school’s staff, students, parents, and the community. The Principal will be responsible for leading the school in all aspects of academic programming, student support, staff development, and community engagement. This position requires an individual who is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and high-performing Montessori learning environment while working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, parents, and the broader community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership and Management: Providing visionary leadership to staff and students, managing school operations, and implementing district policies.
• Curriculum and Instruction: Collaborating with teachers to develop and evaluate curriculum, ensuring alignment with state standards, and promoting effective instructional practices.
• Curriculum and Instruction: Oversees district advanced learning ("gifted and talented"). 
• Staff Development: Supporting professional development opportunities for staff, conducting performance evaluations, and fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Student Support: Addressing student needs, promoting positive behavior, and ensuring a safe and inclusive school culture.
• Community Engagement: Building relationships with parents, community members, and local organizations to support student success.
• Charter Implementation and Compliance: Ensure adherence to the charter agreement, including its educational program, mission, and vision, by meticulously monitoring progress, maintaining accurate records, and overseeing unique programming to achieve outlined goals and ensure accountability.
• Charter Governance and Collaboration: Providing regular updates to the governing board or charter committee, facilitating communication between the school, district, and community, and actively participating in charter renewal processes to demonstrate the school's success and commitment.
• Innovation and Autonomy: Leverage charter autonomy to implement innovative educational practices, cultivate a culture of continuous improvement through data-driven refinement, and preserve the school's unique culture and educational focus.

 Key Areas of Accountability:

 Wisconsin Educator Standards – Administrators

• Demonstrate proficiency in the Ten Teacher Standards and apply them effectively.
• Leads by guiding the development, communication, implementation, and management of a shared vision for learning within the school community.
• Manages by promoting, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program that supports student learning and staff professional development.
• Ensures efficient management of the school’s organization, operations, finances, and resources, creating a safe, effective, and productive learning environment.
• Models’ collaboration with families and the community, addressing diverse community needs and mobilizing resources to support student success.
• Acts with integrity, fairness, and ethical principles.
• Understands and navigates the broader political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context that influences the educational environment.

Leadership and Staff Management

• Regularly communicates with staff, students, and parents/guardians to exchange information, provide support, solve problems, and address concerns within the school community.
• Meets with staff regularly to develop strategies for improving educational delivery and ensure communication through memos or newsletters.
• Acts as a mediator in resolving conflicts among staff, students, and parents, ensuring all parties are treated respectfully and their differing opinions are addressed appropriately.
• Serves as the liaison between the school staff and district administration, advocating for necessary resources and support to meet the school’s educational objectives.
• Contributes to the recruitment and development of a strong staff, participating in hiring and professional development efforts to ensure that qualified and capable individuals are brought into the school community.
• Orients new staff members to the district’s philosophy, policies, and procedures, helping them integrate successfully into the school system. Establish clear guidelines for staff performance, coordinating with district administration to ensure consistent implementation of policies and practices.
• Observes and evaluates staff performance, providing feedback, coaching, and professional development opportunities to help staff grow.

Curriculum Leadership

• Collaborates with teachers and administrators in coordinating curriculum development, ensuring alignment with both district objectives and educational standards.
• Works closely with other elementary schools and middle schools to ensure smooth transitions for students.
• Serves on district curriculum committees, participating in designing and revising curriculum elements to better meet the needs of students.
• Facilitates regular evaluations of instructional programs to enhance curriculum effectiveness and student outcomes.

School Facility Management

• Oversee the maintenance of school facilities to ensure they are clean, safe, and properly maintained. Coordinates fire and disaster drills as required.
• Manages the scheduling and allocation of school spaces for events, striving to minimize conflicts and optimize facility usage.
• Coordinates the student lunch program, including fee collection, scheduling, and monitoring student behavior during lunch periods.

Charter Performance and Accountability

• Demonstrate the school's success in meeting the performance targets outlined in the charter agreement, including student achievement, attendance, and other relevant metrics.
• Provide regular reports to the district and the community on the school's progress and performance.
• Participate in charter evaluations and reviews, demonstrating the school's accountability and commitment to its mission.
• Ensure that all reporting requirements of the charter are met in a timely and accurate manner.

Charter Compliance and Legal Requirements:

• Maintain a thorough understanding of Wisconsin charter school law and regulations, ensuring the school's compliance with all applicable requirements.
• Stay informed about changes in charter school policy and best practices.
• Work with the district to ensure that the charter school is in compliance with all district policies that apply.

Charter School Governance and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Effectively collaborate with the school's governing board, ensuring alignment with the charter's mission and goals.
• Serve as ex officio member of the governing board.
• Collaborate with the governing board chair and executive committee on board development, board member recruitment, reporting structures, program evaluation, governing board meetings.
• Engage with parents, students, and community members to build support for the charter school and its unique educational model.
• Facilitate open communication regarding the charter and the school’s performance.

Budgetary and Financial Oversight:

• Manage the school's budget with an understanding of charter school funding models, ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency.
• Seek and manage supplemental funding opportunities, including grants and donations, to support the school's charter goals.

Additional Duties

•  Performs other tasks assigned by the district.

Common Performance Standards

• Communicate with students, parents, staff, and community members in a respectful, positive, and courteous manner.
• Completes duties safely and efficiently.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Adheres to district philosophy, policies, and procedures, serving as a role model for appropriate behavior.
• Represents the district positively at all school-related events.
• Keeps staff, parents, and district administration informed as needed.
• Continuously updates knowledge of educational trends and best practices through professional development activities.

Qualifications:

• Education: A master’s degree in educational leadership, educational administration, or a closely related field.
• License: Must hold or be eligible for Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) certification in A001-Administrator in the subject of 5051-Principal in the appropriate grade level.  
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years of teaching experience in a K-12 setting, with at least 1 year in an administrative or leadership role.
• Skills and Abilities:
  • Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and inspire a diverse group of staff and students.
  • In-depth knowledge of curriculum design, instructional strategies, and educational assessment.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Ability to analyze data and make data-driven decisions to improve student outcomes.
  • Proven ability to manage budgets, resources, and facilities.