Job Description

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The principal is the educational leader who brings together and focuses all of the educational resources and support services available in the delivery of the best possible educational program and services to Deaf* students, in alignment with the educational goals of the community.

*We use the word “Deaf” in an inclusive manner to encompass various identities including D/deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, hard of hearing, and late-deafened.

• Provide leadership to and management of the education programs within the school, consistent with school policies and procedures;
• Responsibility for making determinations related to all positions within the school, including responsibility for hiring and performance evaluation (including accountability);
• Fiscal responsibility for the funds allocated to all programs under their direction; and,
• Responsibility for staying abreast of current educational trends and developments in instruction, curriculum, assessment, technology and discipline as it relates to the education of Deaf students (including those who have additional disabilities and needs).
• Establish and foster a strong positive climate and culture which is conducive to learning.

JOB FUNCTIONS

• Positively serve as a leader / team member in the School for the Deaf and of the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB) as a whole; facilitate regular scheduled department / team meetings, Professional Learning Community meetings, and participate in school and instructional meetings as required.
• Contribute and encourage the development of instructional leaders and embed collaborative professional learning model which focuses on improving instructional practice and results in increased student achievement.
• Develop and interpret objectives of the program for students, staff, parents and the community.
• Work directly with other program administrators to promote the achievement of schoolwide goals.
• Collaborate with service providers to ensure appropriate services are being provided.
• Lead effectively by providing educational programs of excellence to include guiding school reform efforts and implementation and achievement of identified outcomes in the school Unified Improvement Plan (UIP) and Strategic Plan.
• Ensure appropriate assessments are administered,   analyzed, and applied within the program, monitor and ensure student progress and performance within the program, and participate in student intervention team meetings as needed.
• Develop student schedules in accordance with the Individualized Educational Program (IEP), in an effort to fully utilize the special skills and abilities of staff for the benefit of the students’ education.
• Develop and provide opportunities for families to engage in activities which support their understanding of and growth of their children.
• Provide direction, guidance and support to students to maintain a positive, safe and orderly school climate, consistent with school policies and procedures related to student discipline and incident reporting.
• Recruit, select, assign, supervise, evaluate, coordinate, and recommend termination as necessary the work of assigned staff, including teachers, paraprofessionals, volunteers and other support staff consistent with school policies and procedures.
• Support staff related to the achievement of individual performance goals and objectives, to include documentation of observations and data performance meetings.
• Ensure appropriate daily learning environment coverage to include scheduling and supervision of substitute teachers / paraprofessionals.
• Determine needs and make recommendations concerning the acquisition of curriculum, resources, technology, supplies, equipment, and specially designed aids necessary to support the needs of Deaf student.
• Encourage and facilitate working relationships among instructional, related service and other support staff.
• Coordinate with Facilities staff to ensure the care and safekeeping of school buildings, grounds and all equipment therein.
• Assist as requested to coordinate and maintain student records; supervise and review the preparation of student reports.
• Coordinate and maintain necessary records related to all federal and special projects assigned.
• Maintain professional competence and growth through participation in educational / professional development activities and through organizational memberships, publications, conferences, courses, etc., and design and implement professional development activities for staff.
• Actively support teachers across the school with bilingual instruction to ensure they adhere to CSDB’s philosophy.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in education or related field from a regionally accredited college or university; master’s degree in Deaf Education preferred.
• Must hold or be eligible for appropriate educator licensure in the State of Colorado endorsed as a Special Education Specialist: Deaf / hard-of-hearing, or comparable endorsement.
• Must hold or be eligible for appropriate educator licensure in the State of Colorado as an Initial Principal or Professional Principal.
• Five (5) years successful experience as a teacher, administrator, or similar position (preferred in the field of Deaf Education and/or Special Education); three (3) years of administrative and/or supervisory experience preferred.
• Proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL) at the Advanced (3+) skill level, as demonstrated through an appropriate assessment tool and according to school policy / procedure.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Knowledge and ability to create a vision and lead an educational program that is interdisciplinary in nature and addresses the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of Deaf students and students with additional disabilities.
• Ability to develop a strong working relationship and a shared vision of the future with staff members, school personnel, parents, students and alumni by fostering a climate of trust/harmony and effectively involving others in planning and decision-making.
• Demonstrate competence in staff recruitment, selection, training, supervision, and evaluation.
• Demonstrate problem-solving skills and demonstrated ability to act effectively under stress.
• Ability to motivate, encourage, and work with staff to ensure outstanding performance as well as good morale.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply current trends in education and promising practices in the education of Deaf students and students with additional disabilities.
• Unwavering commitment to ensure Deaf students receive quality bilingual instruction, make accelerated educational progress in both languages (ASL and English), and reach or exceed their academic goals.
• Thorough knowledge of curriculum and high-quality evidence-based instructional strategies and practices necessary to promote high levels of achievement.
• Knowledge of appropriate and formative assessments and the ability to analyze the data gathered to inform decision-making. Including knowledge of systemic approaches to collaborative data-based problem solving (i.e. Professional Learning Communities or Multi-Tiered Systems of Support problem solving teams).
• Knowledge of and ability to use technology to perform the requirements of the position (i.e. Microsoft Office, Zoom, etc); willingness to stay current and develop skills as needed with or without direct support from CSDB.
• Knowledge and sensitivity to Deaf culture and knowledge of language development and acquisition of Deaf students, including bi-lingual language acquisition.
• Knowledge of federal and state statutes and laws concerning educational programming.
• Knowledge of special education (including best practices, laws, IEP development, IEP implementation, etc). Ability to recognize when to collaborate with appropriate staff (Director of Special Education, School Psychologist, or other service providers) when needed.
• Ability and willingness to communicate effectively with all students.
• Strong ability to sign, read, and write in English.
• Strong receptive and expressive fluency in American Sign Language (ASL).
• Ability to respond effectively and positively to feedback.
• Ability to participate collaboratively and effectively in team setting.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

How to Apply

Bureaus: -Other-. Job Categories: Full-Time. Job Types: Principal or Vice Principal. Salaries: 80,000 - 100,000.