Job Title: Principal
Retirees of the Texas Teachers Retirement System (TRS) may apply. Consistent with district policy SD-7.17 “Employment of Retirees,” selected applicants are responsible for reimbursing the district, through payroll deduction, for the current rate of all TRS pension or TRS Care surcharges. As of September 1, 2025, the TRS pension surcharge rate is 16.5% and the TRS Care surcharge is $535/month.
Wage/Hour Status: Exempt
Pay Group: A75-Principal Salary Plan
Primary Purpose:
Serve as the administrative and instructional leader of the school and supervise operations and personnel at campus level. Provide leadership to ensure high standards of instructional service. Oversee compliance with district policies, success of instructional programs, and operation of all campus activities.
Qualifications:
Education/Certification:
Master’s degree from a college or university accredited by an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or by the United States Department of Education (USDE) is required.
Must hold a State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) Mid-Management/Administrator/Principal Certificate, or other appropriate administrative certificate.
Experience:
Three years of successful experience as a classroom teacher is required.
Windham School District teaching experience preferred.
This position requires personal technology that will enable the completion of job duties and responsibilities when working remotely.
Special Knowledge/Skills:
Demonstrate strong organizational, communication, public relations and interpersonal skills.
Ability to evaluate problems and develop and present alternative solutions.
Skill to interpret and apply rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
Working knowledge of curriculum and instruction.
Ability to evaluate instructional program and teaching effectiveness.
Ability to manage budget and personnel.
Ability to coordinate campus functions.
Major Responsibilities and Duties:
- Accept responsibility for the organization and management of the education program on the unit assigned.
- Utilized allocated resources of the Windham School District (WSD), contracted college/university and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) in developing the most effective educational and vocational training programs for incarcerated students.
- Promote guidance and counseling program that will furnish the assistance required by the TDCJ, teachers, students, and college programs.
- Conduct periodic supplies and equipment inventories and submit requisitions for all educational programs.
- Work with staff to implement and evaluate the curriculum materials.
- Maintain and utilize appropriate information systems and records necessary for placement of students in education programs.
- Ensure against any form of student discrimination, establishing and following policies and procedures consistent with sound, fair and legal practices of the TDCJ, WSD, and contracted colleges/universities.
- Communicate and promote high expectation levels for staff and student performance.
- Promote a school climate that provides an incentive to incarcerated students to behave in positive ways during confinement or imprisonment.
- Develop, maintain, and utilize appropriate information systems and records necessary for attainment of campus performance objectives and accountability measures.
- Assist in establishing and clarifying short and long range goals that are educationally sound and administratively feasible.
- Assume responsibility for the planning, operation, supervision, and evaluation of the assigned educational program.
- Facilitate the collaborative development of objectives and strategies to be used for implementing a shared campus vision that focuses on teaching and learning.
- Align financial, human, and material resources to support the implementation of the campus vision.
- Establish processes to assess and modify the plan of implementation to ensure achievement of the campus vision.
- Coordinate and arrange for visiting supervisory and support personnel to ensure successful program outcomes.
- Interview staff applicants and participate in selection of personnel as directed by WSD policies and regulations as directed by the principal.
- Recommend staff assignments according to WSD needs.
- Observe classroom performance for the improvement of instruction.
- Identify those aspects of the teacher’s classroom instructional program in need of improvement and suggest alternate avenues.
- Maintain adequate and accurate documentation upon which recommendations for employee termination or retention are based.
- Evaluate the personnel under his/her supervision, and make recommendations to the Superintendent; or a designee.
- Use management techniques that promote teamwork and collaborative decision making among staff members.
- Promote the expectation that all employees will interact in a positive, supportive, cooperative manner among staff members and other entities.
- Assume the responsibility for implementing the policies and directives of the School Board, TDCJ, Texas Education Agency (TEA), the WSD Regional Principal, and the Superintendent.
- Prepare appropriate facilities, program and/or transportation for student graduation ceremonies throughout the year.
- Supervise the administration of various education achievement tests and the General Education Development Test, consistent with State regulations and procedures policies established by TDCJ and WSD.
- Make thorough daily and/or weekly inspections of the school properties, report any irregularities, or make any recommendations that would enhance school safety.
- Prepare and submit the campus level budget and monitor allocations and expenditures of funds according to administrative policies in a manner designed to reduce the cost of confinement or imprisonment.
- Establish and maintain an accurate accounting system for all unit library materials, as well as, WSD and college textbooks issued to staff and incarcerated students.
- Prepare a master instructional schedule (WSD and college programs) that is consistent with other unit activities and is in compliance with accreditation standards and other applicable guidelines.
- Maintain accurate records and make reports as required by TEA or as requested by the Regional Principal, Superintendent, or School Board.
- Maintain auditable attendance records that meet or exceed State and WSD standards and guidelines.
- Demonstrate effectiveness in helping education programs comply with district requirements for contact hours and class sizes.
- Function as the attendance officer of the school and ensure that student selection and placement in programs comply with district guidelines.
- Implement the District’s shared decision-making plan.
- Establish procedures to ensure that disabled students are properly served through Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) committees, Intervention Assistance Team (IAT), and non-English speaking students are appropriately evaluated and placed through a Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC).
- Establish and maintain a standard of student conduct that is supportive of the instructional program and meet the standards of TDCJ.
- Provide a meaningful student incentive program resulting in active participation and satisfactory achievement.
- Assign or reassign incarcerated students to school based upon factors to include individual goals, previous training, achievement scores, the recommendations of teachers and the Individualized Treatment Plan (ITP).
- Work with staff to increase the success of students in obtaining and maintaining future employment.
- Keep the Regional Principal, Superintendent, and Warden fully informed with respect to conditions and needs of the school through the established chain of command.
- Establish and maintain favorable relationships with TDCJ personnel, Parole Board representatives, college/university instructional personnel, local community groups, and individuals to foster understanding and solicit support for overall school objectives and programs.
- Serve cooperatively with unit TDCJ administration on various committees.
- Promote the professional growth of the staff by in-service and staff development programs that meet the individual and group needs of teachers and auxiliary professional personnel.
- Promote professional improvement through activities approved by the Regional Principal, Superintendent, and School Board.
- Attend and satisfactorily complete all State-mandated administrative/supervisory training within established timelines.
- Work effectively with staff to attain student performance objectives.
- Demonstrate progress in meeting student performance targets and accountability measures of the district.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Policy, Reports, and Law:
- Maintain confidentiality in handling sensitive information received in the performance of the job duties.
- Perform duties in a professional manner through daily, punctual attendance at location of work assignment.
- Follow Windham School District policies and procedures in completing assigned job duties.
- Execute duties in a professional, ethical and responsible manner as defined in 19 TAC Chapter 247, Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervise all academic, vocational, special education, college, grant, paraprofessional, and state employees assigned to or visiting the school.
Working Conditions
Additional Requirements With or Without Reasonable Accommodation
Mental Demands:
Ability to communicate (verbal and written), ability to instruct, ability to speak, ability to reason, ability to compile data, ability to interpret policy, ability to interpret procedures and data, ability to concentrate, ability to memorize, ability to alphabetize, ability to understand verbal and written instructions, ability to organize, ability to analyze, ability to maintain emotional control, ability to maintain confidentiality, ability to work with frequent interruptions.
Physical Demands:
Ability to perform full duties of position, lift and carry less than 31 pounds, walking, sitting, standing, climbing stairs and ramps, kneeling, stooping, reaching, hearing (with aid), visual acuity, speaking, travel by car, van, or airplane, driving of car/van, distinguishing colors, occasional prolonged and irregular work hours.
Environmental Demands:
Work inside and outside, noise, radiant/electrical energy, work alone, work with others, around machines with moving parts and objects, possible exposure to microwaves in use, exposure to hot and cold temperatures, exposure to dust and cleaning chemicals.
*The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.