Assistant Principal, Elementary School Candidate Pool

hcpss; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) seeks an Elementary School Assistant Principal to administer and supervise the total school program and provide educational leadership. Responsibilities include establishing a climate conducive to learning, planning and coordinating programs, and guiding decision-making in line with district goals.

Requirements include a Master’s degree, MSDE licensure in Administrator I or II with endorsements, five years of certificated experience including two

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five years of experience as a certificated or licensed educator, with at least two years in elementary school leadership.
• MSDE professional certificate or license (Administrator I or II) with endorsed options.
• Other pathways to licensure include adjacent certifications and meeting MSDE requirements.

Responsibilities

• Assist with administering and supervising the total school program.
• Provide educational leadership for students, staff, and community.
• Establish a climate conducive to learning and guide decision-making.
• Plan and coordinate programs and support school improvement initiatives.

Skills

Educational leadership

Decision making

Data-informed decisions

Equity focus

Mentoring staff

Education

Master's degree

Job description

ABOUT US

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is one of the leading school systems in Maryland and the nation. To learn more about us and our 2024 -2029 Strategic Plan , please visit our website and our careers page . Join our award-winning workforce and make a difference in the lives of our students!

This position is posted to identify candidates for inclusion in the candidate pool for vacancies that may occur for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years. Application evaluations and interviews for qualified candidates are expected to occur during the time periods below.

October - for applications submitted through September 23, 2026. Candidates should be interested in and available for mid-year opportunities for the current school year.

March - for applications submitted through January 31, 2027.

Applications submitted after January 31, 2027 may be considered depending on the needs of the school system.

DESCRIPTION

Under the direction of the elementary school principal, the elementary school assistant principal assists with administering and supervising the total school program and providing educational leadership for the students, staff members, and the community consistent with the educational goals of the school system. Functions of this position include establishing a climate conducive to learning, planning and coordinating programs, affecting change, and decision-making.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university.

Certification/Licensure:

• Hold a current Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) professional certificate or license in an MSDE licensure area at the time of application with any of the additional endorsements below:
• Administrator I or II
• Supervisors of Instruction, Assistant Principals, and Principals

Applicants who do not already possess the required licensure above may be considered if you are eligible through one of the pathways below:

• Hold a current MSDE professional certificate or license and complete all MSDE requirements for the Supervisors of Instruction, Assistant Principals, and Principals endorsement by the position effective date.
• Hold a current professional certificate or license in administration from another state or country and possess five years of effective performance as an administrator in a PreK-12 school setting.
• Hold a current out-of-state educator certificate or license and have completed both of the following:
  • An out-of-state program leading to administrator licensure
  • Earned a passing score on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (Praxis 6990)

Experience:

• Five (5) years of experience as a certificated or licensed educator, at least two (2) years of which must be at the elementary school level.
• Two (2) years of experience holding leadership roles, leading beyond the classroom, or leading programs or projects.
• Other combinations of applicable education, training, and experience which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position may be considered.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate for this role will also possess a combination of the additional qualifications below. If you don't meet every one of the preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply, as we welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Experience across multiple grade levels, curricular areas, or schools.
• Experience serving students with diverse needs.
• Experience in instructional leadership roles responsible for decision-making at a whole-school or school-system level.
• Utilizes data related to equity to provide learning experiences that promote cultural responsiveness and success for all learners.
• Mentors or coaches school educators on evidence based pedagogical practices to improve instruction and meet the needs of all students.
• Participates in the cycle of continuous school improvement as a leader or member of the School Improvement Team.

ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

The below list is a summary of the functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and