Lead Principal-Kennedy Early Childhood Center And Early Learning Programs

Lawrence Public Schools USD 497 www.usd497.org/

TITLE: Lead Principal -Kennedy Early Childhood Center and Early Learning Programs

Kennedy Early Childhood Center is a welcoming and student-centered early learning community located in eastern Lawrence within Lawrence Public Schools, serving young learners and families through the districts Early Childhood programs. The school is dedicated to creating a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment where children build a strong foundation for future learning. The principal will play an important role in supporting staff, partnering with families, and leading high-quality early childhood programming that honors the unique strengths, needs, and potential of every child.

Reports to : Director of Special Education and Director of Elementary Education

Job Goal :

Provides direct supervision to districts early learning programs including: Preschool Classrooms, Special Education, Parents As Teachers, Infant Toddler Services of Douglas County. Provide leadership and coordination in ongoing early childhood development, implementation and support of early childhood curriculum, instruction, and programming; Ensure professional adherence to the legal requirements of state and federal regulations as well as grants; Protect the procedural safeguards of students and their parents; Build effective partnerships with parents, teachers, community members, and administrators regarding early childhood programming birth to school age and the provisions of early childhood services.

Qualifications :

1. Kansas Licensure in Building Administration (PreK-12) or Building Leadership
2. Successful relevant experience as an early childhood classroom teacher
3. Experience in supervision and evaluation of employees
4. Experience writing grants, securing funds, and following grant guidelines
5. Broad working knowledge and leadership experience
6. Experience in early childhood/early childhood special education programming
7. Drivers license

Performance and Responsibilities :

The Early Learning Lead Principal will

1. Facilitate the districts curriculum review process in assigned content area(s) of focus.
2. Facilitate and coordinate meetings with content specific staff.
3. Coordinate resources as a member of the Teaching & Learning team.
4. Collaborate with district and community leadership to provide vision and representation with various community agencies focused on Early Childhood.
5. Keep informed of all legal requirements governing the provisions of services for various early childhood programs.
6. Recommend policies and programs essential to early childhood programming.
7. Present opportunities to support Early Childhood programming and initiatives.
8. Collaborate with administrators including special education administration to help facilitate appropriate staffing decisions in specific content area(s).
9. Provide timely information about instructional programs, curricula, and philosophy to the Board of Education, administration, staff and general public.
10. Integrate instructional programs and articulate curricula across various early childhood programs.
11. Communicate and facilitate the implementation of the approved curriculum to the teaching staff.
12. Ensure that all programs and content areas under the direction of this position have access to evidence-based instructional practices and resources.
13. Provide leadership in determining program effectiveness in specific focus areas across various early childhood programs.
14. Identify and implement procedures for conflict resolution and team building to enhance morale and productivity.
15. Assume a role in the supervision and evaluation of early childhood classified and certified staff.
16. Identify and secure funding to enhance/sustain early childhood programing.
17. Other duties as assigned by the Student Service Administrator and/or Building Principal.

Critical Skills and Abilities:

1. Manage job responsibilities while meeting established deadlines.
2. Perform job responsibilities using appropriate software on district computer system and communication equipment
3. Ensure compliance with early childhood programs including service previsions and state reporting.
4. Analyze a situation in a timely manner and provide prompt advice to teams and staff.
5. Respond to information request in a courteous, timely and helpful manner.
6. Speak clearly to various groups expressing ideas in a logical and forthright manner.
7. Travel as needed.
8. Work constructively and cooperatively with others.
9. Possess composition skills suitable for producing a variety of written communication.
10. Demonstrate positive attitudes toward the education profession and maintains positive relationships with district employees.
11. Work collaboratively with all administrators to successfully address daily issues and challenges.
12. Work to implement the mission and vision of the district and meet identified Board goals
13. Observe and follow all school district policies at all times.
14. Respond to information requests in a cooperative, courteous, and timely manner.
15. Keep student and personnel information and records confidential.
16. Perform other tasks and assume other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent or designee.
17. Effective interpersonal and leadership skills; experience with conflict resolution, facilitating communication between divergent groups and in group decision-making.
18. Effective administrative, critical thinking, problem solving, and management skills.

The tasks listed in this position are subject to change at the discretion of the Superintendent or designee. The incumbent is expected to take on other duties as requested or assigned by his/her supervisor.

Evaluation: Evaluated annually based upon the job description and principles of effective administration leadership.

Length of Contract : Twelve month administrative contract

Salary : TBD + fringe benefits

Benefits Information

Salary Information

Employer Information

Our Mission:

Lawrence Public Schools, USD 497, is a learning community committed to ensuring educational equity and excellence so that students of all races backgrounds achieve at high levels and graduate prepared for success in college, careers and life in a diverse and rapidly changing world.

About us:

Lawrence Public Schools serve approximately 11,000 students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 in Lawrence, Kansas. Located on Interstate 70, about half-way between Topeka and Kansas City, Lawrence is an academic community, home to the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University. Our district is the seventh-largest in Kansas and with nearly 1,700 employees, one of the city`s largest employers.

Twenty-one school campuses include a pre-K program,14 elementary schools (grades K-5), four middle schools (grades 6-8), two comprehensive high schools(grades 9-12), a K-8 virtual school and a virtual high school (grades 9-11). Lawrence Public Schools offer a Parents as Teachers program for families of children from birth to age three; adult basic education, English as a Second Language courses and G.E.D. study and testing through an Adult Learning Center; and the opportunity for adults to earn a diploma through the Lawrence Diploma-Completion Program.