Middle School Principal

Position Type:
Administration Level 3/Principal

Date Posted:
4/2/2026

Location:
TBD

Closing Date:
Until Filled
Who We Are:
Waukegan Community Unit School District No. 60 serves nearly 13,000 students in preschool through grade 12 and is located halfway between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan. The District has one early learning center, 15 elementary schools, five middle schools and a high school program divided between two 9 - 12th grade campuses. The District encompasses portions of Waukegan, Beach Park and Park City.


Why We Do This Work:
The Waukegan Community Unit School District No. 60 has set an ambitious agenda for change, guided by the belief that all children, regardless of circumstances, can achieve at high levels and academic gaps can and will be eliminated with the support of teachers who deliver engaging, relevant, and academically rigorous instruction that excites students and instills a love of learning in them.


What We Need:
The Middle School Principal will lead the charge to ensure all students have access to high quality instructional. The Middle School Principal must have strong knowledge of standards-aligned pedagogy, paired with an ability to strategically and systematically implement improvement efforts to close the achievement gap.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Serve as the instructional leader of the building;
2. Implement Board of Education policies, District instructional, academic, educational and support programs, and procedures with fidelity;
3. Maintain a safe and orderly learning environment in cooperation with central office leadership, teachers, parents, students and community;
4. Work with various audiences to plan, implement and communicate school improvement initiatives.

Related to Administration:

1. Responsible for keeping records and reports as required by the Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Education and the State Board of Education;
2. Creates a school climate characterized by mutual respect, professionalism, and a high level of staff and student morale;
3. Keeps the Superintendent informed on matters that may affect the operation of the school system;
4. Generates a sense of school community by communicating and involving varied audiences in shared values, beliefs and commitment to goals;
5. Develops and implements administrative procedures consistent with local policies, state and federal rules and regulations, and contractual agreements.

Related to Staff:

1. Works with the Associate Superintendent of Human Resources in implementation of administrative rules and regulations related to certified personnel;
2. Responsible for consistent supervision of staff in their performance of assigned duties;
3. Assists, as directed, in recruiting and interviewing prospective teachers;
4. Responsible for assigning teachers and support staff within the school.

Related to Instructional Leadership and Program Implementation:

1. Implements all District programs, (i.e. RtI, academic, behavior, special education, bilingual), essential expectations, and procedures with fidelity;
2. Assists the Division of Instructional Services and Programs in planning, developing, coordinating and evaluating the instructional program and the school curricular theme;
3. Monitors the use of time and implements teaching schedules in order to maximize time for learning;
4. Initiates the placement of students in intervention programs to address individual student learning needs;
5. Assign staff, based on data, to ensure that student achievement is maximized;
6. Administers, coordinates, supervises and evaluates the implementation of the Board approved instructional program;
7. Serves as a model of professional growth by keeping abreast of current educational trends and research and participating with staff in District-wide and building-level professional development opportunities;
8. Schedules time so that a minimum of 51 percent of work year is devoted to instructional leadership;
9. Conducts on-going assessments of the educational programs in the school, including the strengths and areas in need of improvement; the analysis of test results, attendance records, discipline reports, feedback from staff, students, and parents, and other forms of formal and informal data to guide school improvement initiatives;
10. Manages the special education IEP process including scheduling, ensuring IEP compliance and implementation and monitoring services provided within the building;
11. Completes fidelity checks in collaboration with school psychologists and provides information related to special education eligibility for all initial evaluations and reevaluations;
12. Attends, monitors and supervises IEP meetings;
13. Works collaboratively with the Coordinators for Related Service staff regarding the scheduling, evaluation and best practices as relates to Related Services Personnel;
14. Serves as part of the IEP team to insure that all students with special needs will be appropriately placed in the Least Restrictive Environment;
15. Demonstrates a high level of knowledge and skill in the area of RTI and Special Education eligibility;
16. Provides leadership in developing annual goals for continuous improvement in the lead of student learning and for the school's educational program;
17. Assists staff in gathering, analyzing and communicating assessment data to improve school and student performance;
18. Actively leads and participates on the school Building Leadership Team.

Related to Pupil Personnel:

1. Works with the Associate Superintendent in the implementation of rules and regulations related to pupil personnel services;
2. Manages the behavior of students in the building and on school grounds in accordance with district policy and procedures;
3. Informs the appropriate staff of problems related to pupil attendance and discipline;
4. Supervises and maintains the integrity of the data keeping of pupil records using the district management system;
5. Responsible for the implementation of district policies regarding pupil behavior and pupil regulations.

Related to Building and Grounds:

1. Reports the maintenance needs of the school plant;
2. Follows district procedure to safeguard the school plant and facilities;
3. Creates a safe and orderly school environment;
4. Suggests changes to the school plant which would make for a more efficient, healthful, and effective learning environment;
5. Oversees the use of and maintains an inventory of equipment housed in the school building;
6. Formulates plans to meet emergencies;
7. Works in conjunction with the Deputy Superintendent in the administration of the school lunch program;
8. Cooperates with the Deputy Superintendent and/or a designee in administration of the bus program.

Related to Public Relations:

1. Maintains cooperative relations with parents and the school community;
2. Distributes to parents printed informational material on a regular basis;
3. Resolves difficult situations by using conflict resolution strategies.

Related to Finance/Resources/Specially Funded Programs:

1. Organizes a plan for the submission of requisitions and work orders from the school;
2. Maintains adequate inventories of instructional materials, textbooks and equipment in the school;
3. Responsible for receipting monies received and for submitting deposit and recapitulation forms to the business office;
4. Maximizes available resources to realize school goals.

Related to Professional Activities:

1. Participates in professional growth activities;
2. Maintains membership in and participates in activities of at least one Board of Education funded professional organization.

Related to Additional Responsibilities: Completes other duties, as assigned.

Note: The above statements are intended to describe the essential functions and related requirements of persons assigned to this job. They are not intended as an exhaustive list of job duties, responsibilities, and requirements.


Qualifications:

1. Professional Educator License with a General Administrative or Principal Endorsement
2. Commitment to the belief that all children, regardless of circumstances, can achieve at high levels.
3. Demonstrated ability to multitask effectively and prioritize strategically.
4. Openness to feedback and willingness to take personal responsibility.
5. Passion to embrace the goals of raising achievement for all students and closing the achievement gaps.
6. Capacity to coach, monitor and evaluate strategies put in place to raise student achievement.
7. Hold a Master's Degree with an administrative endorsement.
8. Be able to successfully work in a collaborative environment.
9. Ability to interact with teachers, parents, outside agencies, and central services staff.

Work Environment: Middle School Site(s)


Terms of Employment: Twelve Months


Compensation: Per Non-Contractual Administrators Salary Structure


Application Deadline : Candidates must submit an online application by closing date.

Only online applications will be considered for interviews.
Apply:

Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 offers employment opportunities without regard to age, gender, race, color, national origin,
religion, marital or military/veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, parental status, genetics or disability.