Hartford High School Principal

The Hartford School District (HSD) enjoys a strong reputation for high quality programs and fulfilling employee relationships in the Vermont and New Hampshire region, also known as the Upper Valley. The HSD serves as a single-town district with one school board, three elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and a Career and Technology Center, with 20-25% of our students selecting Hartford High School through the region’s “school choice” process. Additionally, the HSD contains three separate collaborative programs: the Regional Alternative Program, Hartford Autism Regional Program, and the Regional Resource Center. The HSD has an annual school budget of roughly $50 million and serves approximately 1800 students. The HSD is committed to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion for all employees and students.

Hartford High School (HHS) is a grade 9-12 school of approximately 500 students dedicated to the development of the “whole” child. We are a welcoming, energetic, and creative environment that fosters the academic, social, and personal growth of the young people in our community, developing and offering programming that offers a full range of opportunities within the MTSS. The Hartford High School serves as a hub for the larger Hartford community, serving as the town’s polling station for voting and hosting a variety of events. We are committed to, and enthusiastic about, empowering high school learners to play an active role in their education, their school, and in their community.

Hartford High School challenges students to take primary responsibility for achieving personal, academic, and career goals and supports them in that process. We expect students will meet the following 21st century expectations by the time they graduate (also connected to our Vision of a Graduate):

• Communicate effectively across all disciplines and contexts
• Utilize traditional and technological applications to solve problems
• Demonstrate the ability to work toward a common goal

The new Principal will need to thoroughly enjoy and be committed to secondary level learners and be able to prioritize relationships with students, families, and staff. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with all stakeholders to create a supportive and authentic learning environment for our learners. The strong applicant will have a thorough understanding and deep experience with best practices in relation to equity, trauma, and curriculum, instruction, and assessment. This individual will also need to work to cultivate a continuous learning community that uses data to reflect, grow, and allocate resources accordingly. The new Principal will work to hold both students and staff accountable to clear and consistently high expectations. The successful applicant will be innovative, committed to collaborative leadership, accessible, flexible, and excited about the unique opportunities that our high school offers.

The principal will collaborate closely with two other administrators in the building. In an effort to build the strongest possible administrative team on behalf of our high school students, faculty, and staff, the model of leadership will be dependent upon the strengths and skills that the successful candidate will bring to the existing team.

HHS Principal Job Responsibilities and Qualifications

Job responsibilities for this position include:

• Collaborate with teachers, student support staff, and families to identify and address student needs, as well as support classroom and behavior management throughout the building
• Coordinate with outside agencies to support students and families
• Support the ongoing development and implementation of MTSS, including programming that supports flexible pathways for students
• Oversee the development of the school schedule to support equitable learning opportunities for all students
• Facilitate the assessment calendar including the implementation of district and state assessments
• Collaborate with the HSD Director of Finance to develop an annual budget
• Collaborate with the HSD Director of Curriculum to engage in an annual comprehensive needs assessment process to inform grant investments
• Provide oversight, supervision, and evaluation of teachers and support staff in collaboration with the assistant principals
• Able to be flexible, adaptable and dynamic in using the appropriate resources in responding to unforeseen circumstances
• Manage daily operations of the building, facilities, and grounds
• Implement the HSD’s Vision of a Graduate by developing and leading professional development
• Effectively use technology and have an updated understanding of the latest technological tools
• Facilitate and work with teacher, staff, and district level leadership teams
• Promote and share the good work happening in the school and district
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent of Schools

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Educational Leadership or related field (required)
• Valid administrative certification (required)
• Minimum of five years successful teaching experience and three years school administration or equivalent leadership experience
• Demonstrated success in school leadership
• Proven ability to lead diverse teams and manage educational environments
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Flexible, adaptable, and open-minded
• Evidence of personal professional development, a commitment to lifelong learning, and knowledge of current best practices in education
• Commitment to the District’s mission, Equity, and the Continuous Improvement and Strategic Plans