Position: Sanford Middle School Principal
Posting Date: May 15, 2025
Deadline: June 1, 2025
Sanford Middle School is located in York County in southern Maine 45 minutes south of Portland and less than 2 hours north of Boston. We are very proud of our renovated, former high school and technical center that serves over 900 students grades 5-8 with a growingly diverse student population that reflects our community. Sanford Middle School is a recipient of the Stronger Connections Grant through the Maine Department of Education focused on building a positive school climate and strengthening connections among students, staff, and families that foster a school environment of respect, responsibility, and community.
Sanford Middle School Principal Job Description
The Sanford Middle School Principal shall be responsible to the Superintendent of Schools for the overall supervision and administration of the middle school. The Middle School Principal shall be evaluated by the Superintendent in accordance with the State Law and the collective Bargaining Agreement.
Job Goal: To use leadership, supervisory, and administrative skills to develop, achieve and maintain the best possible educational program for the students of Sanford Middle School that support the vision and beliefs of the Sanford School Department.
Specific Responsibilities may include but are not necessarily limited to:
I. Administration/Organizational Management - The ability to practice participatory management; possession of good organizational skills and the knowledge of effective administration of school operations.
- Plan, organize, and oversee implementation of all school activities.
- Oversee the school’s administration and instruction; make recommendations when Central Office or School Committee authorization is needed.
- Work with other members of the leadership team (Central Office and other administrative staff) on matters and issues of more than individual school import, such as curriculum, special services, transportation, and the like.
- Budget school time to provide for the efficient conduct of instruction, co-curricular activities, and operational business.
- Schedule the school day and classes within established guidelines to best meet students’ instructional needs.
- Maintain high standards of student conduct, and use discipline and best practice as necessary, affording appropriate due process to students and parents.
- Establish positive guides for proper student conduct and the maintaining of fair, consistent discipline.
- Supervise the maintenance of accurate records on student progress and attendance.
- Conduct staff meetings as necessary and Early Release Days for the proper functioning of the school.
- Plan and supervise fire drills and emergency preparedness program in accordance with legal requirements and established school system procedures.
II. Budgeting/School Finance/Plant Management/Business Services - The ability to effectively and efficiently utilize and manage the facility and assigned support services through responsible stewardship of school resources and a working knowledge of school finance, such that the needs of his/her school can be effectively represented in the budgeting process, including budget development, acceptance, and implementation. - Prepare and submit the school’s budgetary requests, and monitor expenditures of allotted funds.
- Supervise the maintenance of all required building records and reports.
- Oversee appropriate accounting and control of school funds and student activities accounts.
- Assume responsibility for the safety and administration of the school plant.
- Work with maintenance, custodial and other staff to address facility needs.
III. Communication - The ability to articulate effectively, both orally and in writing, the successes and needs of the school with the School Committee, Central Office, staff, students, parents, and the general public - in large and small groups and with individuals. - Keep the Superintendent informed of the school’s activities and issues.
- Respond to written, oral, and electronic requests for information from appropriate sources.
- Develop and implement a plan for communicating with parents on a regular basis.
IV. Community Relations - The ability to relate positively to the public; a view of the community/school relationship as a partnership; recognition of the need to be visible and active in the community and understanding the importance of considering community needs and wants. - Act as liaison between the school and the community, interpreting activities and policies of the school and encouraging community participation in school life.
- Assume responsibility for all official school correspondence and information.
V. Curriculum/Instruction - The ability to work with staff to identify assessments, concepts and skills related to Maine's Learning Results, and to contribute guidance and assistance to staff in planning and implementing curriculum utilizing appropriate instructional strategies. - Assume the responsibility assigned by school committee/administrative policy in the development, revision, and evaluation of the school curriculum and of the school’s instructional and assessment practices.
- In coordination with appropriate members of the leadership team, supervise the guidance program and other instructional and student support services to enhance individual education and development.
VI. Educational Leadership - The ability to inspire, motivate, guide and direct staff in setting and achieving the highest standards of educational excellence for the school and district. - Establish and maintain a school climate that enhances teaching and learning.
- Lead in the development, determination of appropriateness, and monitoring of the instructional program.
- Assert leadership in accordance with established policy and procedures.
- Assume responsibility for the interpretation and implementation by the school’s staff of all School Committee policies and administrative procedures/regulations.
- Assume an active role as a member of the District Administrative Team providing input to district-wide decision making.
VII. Involvement in School and Community - The ability to perform responsibilities as a visible presence in the school and to be aware of community developments, participating in and attending school events to the extent possible. - Maintain active relationships with students and parents.
- Participate and maintain a visible presence at special events that recognize student achievement, as well as in typical school sponsored activities, functions, and extracurricular events.
- Establish and maintain relationships with local community groups and individuals.
- To foster understanding and solicit support for overall school objectives and programs.
VIII. Personnel Management - The ability to recognize school staffing needs, to perceive in candidates the potential for suitability, and to contribute to an effective recruitment/selection/retention process. - Coordinate personnel needs with appropriate other members of the administrative team.
- Participate in the recruiting, screening, nomination, training, assigning, and evaluating of school building personnel.
- To discuss and resolve individual student issues.
IX. Professional Development - The ability to contribute to the development and implementation of professional growth and staff development programs that raise both aspirations and expertise. - Orient newly assigned school staff members and assist in their development, as appropriate.
- Participate in the in-service orientation and training of school staff.
- Assume responsibility for monitoring own professional growth and development through participation in professional organizations, through attendance at regional, state and national meetings, through enrollment in advanced coursework and the like.
X. Supervision/Evaluation - The ability to supervise and evaluate staff and all activities through knowledge and the commitment to contribute to the improvement of instruction and the effectiveness of programs in general. - Assume responsibility for supervision of all administrative, certified, and support staff attached to the school.
- Supervise the school’s instructional and assessment practices.
- Assume responsibility for evaluating and counseling of all staff members regarding individual and group performance.
- Recommend, according to established procedures, the dismissal or non-renewal of a staff member whose performance is unsatisfactory.
Qualifications: - Maine Department of Education certification as Principal or equivalent/State of Maine Administrator’s Certificate 040
- Minimum of Master’s Degree from accredited College or University
- Evidence of the ability to provide leadership
Special Knowledge/Skills: - Successful experience working in a leadership role in education
- Working knowledge of middle school best practice, curriculum, professional development and assessment
- Excellent skills in communicating and collaborating with staff and parents
- Excellent skills in supervising and evaluating staff
- Belief and knowledge in education that represents quality programming to meet the needs of middle school students.