Principal - NIDES

School District #71 (Comox Valley); Courtenay; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Job summary

School District 71 (Comox Valley) invites applications for the position of Principal at North Island Distance Education School (NIDES). Effective January 2027, this leadership role focuses on Grades 10–12, adult learners, and high-quality distributed learning programming.

Working with staff, families, Indigenous partners, and district leaders, the Principal will drive innovation, student success, and personalized learning, ensuring equitable outcomes and strong transitions beyond Grade 12.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in an appropriate educational field.
• Successful school-based administrative experience, including leadership at the secondary level.
• Hold or be eligible for a B.C. Teachers Regulation Branch (TRB) Certificate.
• Experience leading collaborative teams and building positive school culture.
• Strong knowledge of educational legislation, policy, collective agreements, and administrative procedures.
• Demonstrated success leading within online, blended, or distributed learning environments.
• Strong understanding of innovative instructional delivery models and emerging educational technologies with experience supporting staff in the integration of digital learning tools and effective online instructional practices.
• Understanding of and commitment to the District’s ongoing work in Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous education, and culturally safe learning environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing the District’s vision of compassionate, connected and personalized learning for all learners.
• Ability to develop systems that monitor student progress and support at-risk learners.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership for NIDES, focusing on Grades 10–12 programming and adult learners.
• Lead school improvement initiatives and promote equitable student outcomes.
• Foster student well-being and staff growth, with a distributed learning perspective.
• Collaborate with families, Indigenous partners, and community organizations to support student success.
• Oversee online and blended learning systems and ensure effective digital instruction practices.

Skills

Team leadership

School culture

Online/Distributed learning

Education technology

Indigenous education

Student engagement

Education

Master's degree in education

B.C. TRB certificate eligibility

Tools

Learning Management Systems

BC Graduation Program knowledge/MyEducation BC

Job description

School District 71 is an inclusive learning community that embraces diversity, fosters relationships and empowers all learners to have a positive impact on the world. Our mission is to work with our educational partners to inspire engaged, compassionate, resilient lifelong learners and cultivate a collaborative community together.

We invite applications for the position of:

Principal at NIDES

Effective January 2027

North Island Distance Education School (NIDES) serves students across British Columbia through flexible, learner-centred educational programming. NIDES provides innovative online and blended learning opportunities that support diverse student needs, pathways, and goals. The school is committed to fostering meaningful relationships, personalized learning experiences, and equitable access to education for all students.

The Principal provides visionary leadership for NIDES, with a particular focus on Grades 10-12 programming, adult learners, student success, graduation completion, and post-secondary pathways. Working collaboratively with staff, students, families, district leaders, Indigenous partners, and community organizations, the Principal supports a culture of innovation, engagement, and continuous improvement in a distributed learning environment.

The Principal is responsible for ensuring high-quality educational programming, leading school improvement initiatives, fostering student well-being, supporting staff growth, and implementing systems that promote equitable student outcomes and successful transitions beyond Grade 12.

• Experience leading collaborative teams and building positive school culture.

• Strong knowledge of educational legislation, policy, collective agreements, and administrative procedures.

• Demonstrated success leading within online, blended, or distributed learning environments.

• Strong understanding of innovative instructional delivery models and emerging educational technologies with experience supporting staff in the integration of digital learning tools and effective online instructional practices.

• Understanding of and commitment to the District’s ongoing work in Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous education, and culturally safe learning environments.

• Demonstrated commitment to advancing the District’s vision of compassionate, connected and personalized learning for all learners.

• Ability to develop systems that enhance student engagement, connection, and achievement in flexible learning environments.

• Demonstrated experience managing Learning Management Systems.

• Demonstrated understanding of Provincial Online Learning policies and procedures, including the BC Graduation Program Handbook of Procedures, as well as proficiency in MyEducation BC configuration, filters, reporting functions, and student information management.

• Extensive knowledge of the BC Graduation Program, graduation requirements, reporting practices, and provincial assessment processes.

• Demonstrated experience supporting Grades 10-12 learners, adult learners and leading secondary programming initiatives.

• Proven ability to develop and implement systems to monitor student progress, identify barriers to success, with experience supporting students who may be at risk of disengagement through personalized interventions and collaborative planning.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Career-Life Education, Career-Life Connections, Work Experience, Youth Work in Trades, and dual-credit opportunities.

• Demonstrated experience liaising and building partnerships with other educational institutions to meet the needs of students.

• Ability to build partnerships with post-secondary institutions, employers, Indigenous communities, and community agencies to expand learner opportunities.

• Knowledge of scholarship, bursary, and post-secondary application processes.

• Strong instructional leadership skills with a commitment to continuous improvement and professional learning.

• Proven ability to build high-performing collaborative teams focused on student success.

• Demonstrated experience supporting diverse learners, including students with complex learning, social-emotional, and mental health needs.

• Commitment to creating safe, caring, and inclusive learning environments for students and staff.

• Experience working collaboratively with families and community partners to support student well-being.

Qualifications to include

• A Master's degree in an appropriate educational field.

• Successful school-based administrative experience, including leadership at the secondary level.

• Hold or be eligible for a B.C. Teachers Regulation Branch (TRB) Certificate

The District

Comox Valley School District is an inclusive learning community located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, within the traditional territory of the K'ómoks First Nation. Serving the communities of Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Denman Island and Hornby Island, or district is renowned for its vibrant arts scene, diverse cultural programs, and abundant outdoor recreational opportunities.

We are progressive district dedicated to developing responsible, compassionate citizens and lifelong learners. Our comprehensive educational program supports approximately 10,500 students in kindergarten to Grade 12, with over 1800 employees across 15 elementary schools, two junior secondary/middle schools, three secondary schools, two alternative schools, and a distributed learning school. The Human Resources team is based in the School Board Office located at 2488 Idiens Way in Courtenay, B.C.

This leadership position is a key member of the Operations Team and is exempt from union membership. It includes a competitive annual salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

The job posting will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. Applications received prior to 1:00 pm on November 20, 2026 are assured careful consideration.

The successful applicant will be subject to the terms of the Criminal Review Act. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Thank you for your interest in School District 71 (Comox Valley)

An Equal Opportunity Employer