High School Assistant Principal

High School Assistant Principal

At South Lake Schools, we believe great schools are built through strong relationships. Together with our community, we create an engaging and nurturing environment where students thrive and staff feel valued, connected, and supported. Our small-school setting fosters meaningful collaboration and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on learners. Located along beautiful Lake St. Clair in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, our district offers a welcoming community with convenient access to the cultural attractions, dining, entertainment, and professional sports of Detroit, as well as the region's scenic orchards, cider mills, and outdoor recreation, making South Lake Schools an exceptional place to live, work, and grow.

The Assistant Principal serves as a member of the high school leadership team and assists the Principal in providing instructional, operational, and student services leadership for South Lake High School. The Assistant Principal advances the school's vision, mission, and continuous improvement efforts by fostering a safe, inclusive, and student-centered learning environment; promoting academic achievement and positive student behavior; supervising and supporting assigned staff; and collaborating with students, families, staff, and community partners. The Assistant Principal helps ensure effective school operations, utilizes student and school performance data to guide decision-making, and contributes to a positive school culture that promotes success for all students.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree or higher in Educational Leadership, Educational Administration, Curriculum & Instruction, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Valid Michigan teaching certificate and valid Michigan School Administrator Certificate.
• Minimum of five (5) years of successful secondary (high school preferred) teaching experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience at the school or district level (e.g., assistant principal, dean, instructional coach, department chair, athletic director, administrative intern, or similar role), with experience in staff supervision and evaluation preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to support curriculum implementation, instructional improvement, and assessment practices, including the use of student achievement data to inform instruction and support school improvement efforts.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively support student services and school operations, including student discipline, attendance, restorative practices, Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), school safety, and intervention programs that promote student success.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a safe, orderly, equitable, and positive learning environment, including knowledge of school improvement planning, applicable laws and regulations, and effective student support practices.
• Demonstrated ability and interest in working effectively and collaboratively with students, parents, staff, community agencies, and the broader school community, with strong communication skills and a commitment to inclusive practices.
• Evidence of active participation and leadership in professional organizations and ongoing professional learning.
• Demonstrated personal qualities of integrity, professionalism, sound judgment, problem-solving ability, and the capacity to build positive relationships and lead effective teams.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent (or designee) may find appropriate and acceptable.

Reports to: Principal

Supervises: Assigned certified and support staff, student programs, and activities as delegated by the Principal

Essential Competencies:

• Collaborative Leadership and School Improvement: Ability to support the implementation of the school's vision, goals, and improvement initiatives while working effectively as a member of the building leadership team.
• Instructional Leadership: Knowledge of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and effective teaching practices with the ability to support instructional improvement and teacher growth.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Ability to analyze and utilize student achievement, attendance, behavior, and perception data to guide decision-making and continuous improvement efforts.
• Organizational and Operational Management: Ability to effectively coordinate school operations, programs, schedules, resources, and compliance requirements.
• Student Services and School Culture Leadership: Ability to foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment while promoting student engagement, attendance, achievement, and positive behavior.
• Staff Development and Supervision: Skill in supervising, evaluating, coaching, and supporting assigned staff while promoting professional growth and accountability.
• School Safety and Crisis Response: Ability to support school safety initiatives, emergency preparedness, crisis response, and threat assessment procedures.
• Communication and Collaboration: Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build trust and maintain productive relationships with students, families, staff, and community members.
• Family and Community Engagement: Ability to develop meaningful partnerships with families and community organizations that support student success.
• Conflict Resolution and Problem Solving: Ability to address concerns, resolve conflicts, and make sound decisions with professionalism, consistency, and fairness.
• Such alternatives to the above competencies as the Superintendent or designee may determine to be appropriate and acceptable.

Performance Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership and School Improvement

• Assists the Principal in providing leadership for the administration and daily operations of the high school.
• Supports the implementation of the school's vision, mission, strategic priorities, and continuous improvement goals.
• Assists in the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of school improvement initiatives.
• Participates in leadership team meetings and contributes to the development of schoolwide goals, programs, and procedures.
• Supports the implementation of district policies, procedures, and initiatives at the building level.
• Assumes the responsibilities of the Principal during the Principal's absence as designated.

Instructional Leadership

• Assists in the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of district-approved curriculum, instruction, and assessment programs.
• Conducts classroom observations, walkthroughs, and other supervisory activities to support instructional improvement.
• Supports professional learning opportunities aligned with district and building goals.
• Assists staff in utilizing student achievement and performance data to improve instructional practices, identify student needs, and implement appropriate interventions.

Student Services and School Culture

• Coordinates and supports student attendance, behavior, and discipline processes in accordance with district policies and the student handbook.
• Monitors student attendance trends and coordinates intervention strategies to improve attendance and student engagement.
• Promotes a safe, orderly, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for all students.
• Coordinates and supports student intervention systems, including academic, behavioral, and attendance supports.
• Collaborates with counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other support personnel to address student needs.
• Assists in implementing programs that support students' academic, social, emotional, and behavioral growth.
• Investigates student concerns, incidents, and complaints and responds appropriately.
• Confers with students and families regarding attendance, behavioral, academic, and social-emotional concerns.
• Supports student leadership opportunities, assemblies, recognition programs, and school activities.
• Supports the implementation and monitoring of Section 504 plans, behavior intervention plans, and other student support plans as assigned.

Operations and Administration

• Assists in the development and management of the master schedule and student scheduling processes.
• Coordinates assigned state assessments, district assessments, and accountability requirements.
• Supervises student arrival, dismissal, lunch periods, passing times, assemblies, and other school activities.
• Assists in coordinating building operations, facilities, transportation, security, and other operational functions as assigned.
• Maintains accurate records and prepares reports as required by district, state, and federal agencies.
• Coordinates and supervises assigned extracurricular programs, activities, and events.
• Assists in monitoring building budgets, expenditures, inventories, and resource utilization.

School Safety

• Assists in coordinating school safety programs, emergency preparedness activities, and crisis response procedures.
• Coordinates and documents required safety drills and emergency exercises.
• Supports student threat assessment processes, crisis intervention efforts, and safety response protocols.
• Maintains productive working relationships with law enforcement, emergency responders, and community agencies.
• Assists in ensuring compliance with applicable health, safety, and security requirements.
• Participates in district and building threat assessment, emergency response, and reunification planning efforts.

Personnel Leadership

• Supervises and evaluates assigned staff in accordance with district procedures and applicable collective bargaining agreements.
• Assists in recruiting, interviewing, selecting, onboarding, mentoring, and retaining highly qualified staff.
• Promotes collaboration, professional growth, and positive employee relations.
• Supports staff accountability through coaching, feedback, and performance improvement processes.