Position Title:  Middle School Principal

Start Date: 8/1/2026

Overview:  

The Principal is the instructional leader who brings together and focuses all educational resources and support services to deliver the best possible educational program and services to students. The building’s educational program and services will be consistent with the State of Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Standards and congruent with the policies of the Jefferson Local Schools Board of Education.

Key Responsibilities:

I. Visionary Leadership & Strategic Growth

• Strategic Alignment: Lead the school in establishing educational goals that bring the District Strategic Plan to life at the middle school level.
• Future-Ready Pathways: Synthesize academic data and student interest surveys with stakeholder input to design diverse career and college exploration pathways, ensuring students are prepared for the transition to high school.
• School Improvement: Orchestrate a continuous improvement cycle using data-driven decision-making and evidence-based interventions to ensure growth for every learner.
• Academic Excellence & Readiness: Establish and oversee rigorous systems to monitor student progress, ensuring all students meet grade-level standards and are prepared for high school credit opportunities.
• District Partnership: Serve as a collaborative member of the district leadership team to develop and implement system-wide policies and vertical alignment.

II. Instructional & Professional Excellence

• Curricular Leadership: Collaborate with the Director of Academics & Pathways on the planning, implementation, and rigorous evaluation of curriculum to ensure equitable access to high-quality instruction.
• Performance Reporting: Analyze student achievement data (MAP, state testing, etc.) and support teachers' data literacy to differentiate instruction.
• Coaching & Evaluation: Cultivate educator growth through the OTES, OSCES, and OPES models, providing timely, actionable feedback to drive student achievement.
• Professional Learning: Collaborate with the Director of Academics & Pathways on a school-wide professional development plan that fosters a culture of mutual accountability and collaborative growth.
• Assessment Oversight: Serve as the Building Test Coordinator, ensuring the integrity and efficient facilitation of all state and local testing.

III. School Culture, Ethics, & Well-being

• Ethical Leadership: Serve as a primary role model, embodying the highest standards of professional ethics, legal conduct, and district policy. Maintain strict confidentiality regarding student, staff, and institutional matters.
• Holistic Wellness: Lead programs that prioritize the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of students and staff, fostering a climate of high expectations and belonging.
• Restorative Environment: Directly supervise and evaluate the Dean of Students, providing guidance in managing student discipline, implementing PBIS, and improving attendance through fair and consistent enforcement of regulations.
• Student Life: Supervise a robust array of extra- and co-curricular activities and clubs that promote student engagement and leadership development during the middle school years.

IV. Community & Family Engagement

• Transparent Communication: Implement a comprehensive communication plan to keep students, staff, and families informed and engaged regarding school milestones and student progress.
• Active Presence: Represent the school by attending special events, school performances, and community functions; serve as the face of the middle school to parent-teacher organizations and support groups.
• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with community agencies and local stakeholders to support student welfare and strengthen the school-community bond.

V. Operations, Safety, & Personnel Management

• Student-Centered Scheduling: Develop and maintain a master schedule that supports teaming models, intervention blocks, and is responsive to the individual needs of the student body.
• Resource Optimization: Strategically manage building budgets, fiscal accounting, and inventory to ensure resources are aligned with student needs.
• Facility & Safety Stewardship: Coordinate with the Director of Operations and the Dean of Students to maintain building safety, lead emergency drills, and utilize data to address security concerns proactively.
• Talent Management: Lead the recruitment, selection, and retention of a diverse staff; optimize personnel assignments to maximize student learning.
• Daily Operations: Ensure the smooth execution of day-to-day building needs, including the implementation of the building technology plan.
• Adaptive Support: Execute additional tasks and leadership duties as assigned by the Superintendent or their designee.
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Key Qualifications:

• A Master's degree in educational leadership or a related field

Holds a valid principal’s license

• Three years of school administration experience preferred 
• OPES, OTES, & OCES credentialed
• Must be open to actively participating in leadership development opportunities to promote professional growth.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with students, staff, and parents.
• Must have the full support of the Superintendent.
• Such alternatives to the above as deemed appropriate by the Superintendent.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA):

• Ability to set a clear vision, create strategic plans, motivate and inspire others, and hold themselves and others accountable.
• Building strong relationships and working effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Skilled in written and verbal communication, able to convey information clearly and persuasively. 
• Ability to make sound decisions based on data, evidence, and diverse perspectives. 
• Ability to organize multiple tasks and conflicting time constraints.
• Identifying and analyzing complex issues, developing and implementing solutions. 
• Ability to mediate and resolve conflicts constructively. 
• Effectively managing their own time and the time of others. 
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation about leadership, performance, and professional growth.
• Assigning tasks appropriately and providing clear expectations. 
• Ability to lead and motivate staff and students
• Knowledge of Ohio school law
• Fostering positive and collaborative relationships within the school community. 

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The position is mostly indoors (climate-controlled office or school setting) and outdoors.
• The employee is frequently required to walk and stand while performing the duties of this job. Occasionally, the employee will sit and/or run.
• The employee will frequently bend or twist at the trunk while performing the duties of this job.
• The employee will frequently squat, stoop, kneel, reach above the head, reach forward and repeat the same hand motion many times while performing the duties of the job. 
• The employee may lift and move objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• The employee must also have the ability to work in an office environment and operate varied technologies.
• The specific vision requirements of the job include good depth perception and, occasionally, being able to see objects/persons at a distance.
• While performing the duties of the job the employee frequently is required to hear conversation in quiet, as well as a noisy environment and be able to tell where a sound is coming from.
• The employee must be able to communicate in order to give directions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Occasionally the employee must be able to meet deadlines with severe time constraints and interact with public and other workers. The noise level in the environment is usually moderate.

Conduct:

Each staff member shall remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substance and abuse of any prescribed controlled substance in the workplace throughout his/her employment in the District. Each staff member shall serve as a role model for students in how to conduct themselves as citizens and

as responsible, intelligent human beings. Each staff member has a legal responsibility to help instill in

students the belief in and practice of ethical principles and democratic values.