Urbana School District #116

 

JOB TITLE:  Principal

 

LOCATION: Urbana Middle School

 

SUPERVISOR:  Superintendent or Designee

 

SUPERVISES:  Building Staff 

 

JOB SUMMARY:  The Principal of Urbana Middle School leads UMS faculty, staff, and school administrators to promote educational development for all students and professional development for each staff member. This includes implementing an equity-oriented continuous improvement model which focuses on high student achievement, building a positive school climate that supports the whole student, leveraging research and data to drive initiatives and instruction, and building a high-performing staff and school improvement team to achieve the school’s vision and goals.

 

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

 

• Lead the school’s vision, mission, and strategic goals to support college/career-readiness for academic and socioemotional success for all students, with a focus on ensuring equity gaps across student groups, with a lens of racial equity, are closed over time.
• Collaboratively lead school improvement planning and implementation with the Vice, Associate, and/or Assistant Principals and Building Leadership Team.
• Collaborate with the Urbana School District Administrative Team to provide instructional and management leadership through an equity lens.
• In collaboration with bilingual and special education administrators, provide effective leadership for Student Services which includes Special Education, RtI, Bilingual / Dual Language Education, Support Services, and Academic Acceleration.
• Oversee alternative school and special education placements.
• Oversee and implement effective interventions for reading, math, and behavior through the RtI process.
• Be knowledgeable of district policies, local policies, and state and federal laws relating to students.
• Oversee the master schedule and calendars for the school.
• Analyze student assessment data frequently to monitor each student’s academic progress to identify areas of need and inform school improvement efforts tailoring instruction to meet the needs of all learners.
• Work with students to assess UMS programs and to develop improvements.
• Collaboratively drive rapid instructional improvements by implementing strategies in line with the priority areas identified in the District Goals.
• Understand the underlying philosophy of the middle school concept that matches the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical needs of young adolescents.
• Keep abreast of developments and trends in middle school curriculum and instruction, and provide leadership in determining program direction and improvement to curriculum and instruction.
• Assist in screening, selecting, assigning, supervising and evaluating certified and educational support staff in accordance with the district evaluation plan and PERA.
• Support and supervise the design of rigorous, standards-based instruction with measurable outcomes.
• Implement a continuous improvement plan that ensures improvement in teaching and learning.
• Foster a collegial environment that supports teacher leadership, collaboration, and growth.
• Lead, implement, and assess a professional development plan to address identified areas of need. 
• Articulate a clear vision for the needs of students and the school, with a focus on student outcomes through a lens of racial equity.
• Demonstrate exceptional communication skills that will support school and district goals and fosters positive relationships throughout the school community.
• Demonstrate knowledge and effective use of technology in instruction, management, and communication.
• Create an environment within which teachers, support staff, and students may achieve mutual understanding built from an equity consciousness, high sense of morale and best working conditions.
• Manage data in accordance with all privacy acts and district policy.
• Project future needs of school and involve staff in establishing long-term and short-term goals for the school.
• Provide input into the district building budget process to assure adequate funding for the school program. Prepare the school budget within established limits and apportion that budget to various school programs. Monitor and supervise all expenditures.
• Collaborate with the other principals and district administrators to further the cause of education and to promote district-wide activities.
• Establish good relationships with school stakeholders, parents, and community members to bring together school and community.
• Serve as a representative of the district (LEA) at selected individualized educational program meetings.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of working with immigrant students and families to ensure the school community is responsive to the unique cultural, linguistic, and sociocultural needs and strengths of immigrant communities.
• Work in collaboration with district administrators to promote the continuity of the instructional programs.
• Take all precautions to safeguard safety, health, and well-being of students and staff members, including formation of plans to meet emergencies.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Master's Degree, from an accredited college or university, with training in administration, supervision and curriculum development at the secondary level
• Four years of successful teaching experience, preferably at the secondary level
• Three years of successful administrative or teacher leadership experience at the secondary level preferred
• Demonstrated experience in building an inclusive and equity-oriented school culture
• Illinois Licensure with Administrative Endorsement 
• Must possess, or be able to obtain, the Teacher Evaluator designations from ISBE to allow for evaluation of licensed teachers 
• ESL and/or Bilingual endorsement preferred

 

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:  

• An administrative leadership style based on positive relationships and a continuous improvement model, driven by an unwavering commitment to racial equity.
• Bring strong and collaborative leadership with an honest, transparent, and inclusive style.
• Experience in the supervision and evaluation of staff and proven leadership in the areas of curriculum, student achievement, assessments, and the development of a positive school climate.
• Vision, compassion, and enthusiasm for effective team leadership to motivate high standards and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of best practices in curriculum and instruction at the secondary level.
• Understanding of or experience with leading the development and continuous improvement of dual language programming.
• Understanding of or experience teaching of second language acquisition/learning/dynamic bilingualism.
• Knowledge of English as a Second Language (ESL) strategies and best practices for working with emergent bilinguals.
• Knowledge of special education strategies and best practices for working with students who receive special education services.
• Inspire excellence in others.

 

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:  Salary is determined by the Superintendent.  This position has a twelve-month calendar year.

 

EVALUATION:  Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board’s policy on evaluation of professional personnel and the State Board of Education under PERA.  

 

START DATE: July 1, 2025 (transition date can be sooner depending on schedule of candidate)

 

NOTE: This is not a position within the collective bargaining unit and is an administrative position.

 

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

 

REVISED:  April 2018