Elementary Principal Pool (2026-27 School Year)

Young World Physical Education; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 109,835 - 132,787; Full time

Job summary

Cincinnati Public Schools seeks an experienced Elementary Principal to lead a school, set priorities, and collaborate with district teams to improve teaching and student learning.

This role requires a Master’s in Educational Leadership, an Ohio Principal License, and a strong commitment to equity, community engagement, and professional growth.

Salary levels for elementary principals in CPS range from $109,835 to $132,787 annually, with CAAS-based salary placement.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Educational Leadership is required.
• Valid Ohio Principal License is required.
• 3–5 years classroom teaching and/or school administration experience is required.
• At least 1 year in a school-based administrative role is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate leadership by developing and enacting a shared mission, vision and core values.
• Develop building-level priorities aligned with district goals and student/staff needs.
• Implement collaborative structures and shared leadership to analyze data for School Improvement.
• Collaborate with district administrators and external partners on school programming.
• Lead improvement of student learning with data-driven strategies and equity in outcomes.
• Maintain high standards of professionalism, ethics and cultural responsiveness.

Education

Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership

Valid Ohio Principals License

3-5 years classroom teaching and/or administrative experience

1 year of school-based administrative experience (preferred)

Job description

Elementary Principal Pool (2026-27 School Year)

Starting Date: Aug 3, 2026

Job Description

ABOUT CPS

Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) serves over 35,000 students preschool to 12th grade in over 65 schools across a 90-square-mile district in Southwest Ohio. As the second largest district in the state, CPS is proud to continually be one of the highest-performing large urban districts in the state and offers families high-quality school choices, diverse academic programs, and community learning centers.

The district's innovative approach to education, its investment in effective and caring educators and employees, and a vast array of community partnerships have accelerated school performance - ensuring that students in preschool to 12th grade thrive and graduate prepared for successful lives in the 21st century.

Cincinnati Public is looking for creative, innovative, passionate, problem-solvers to join our team. We seek to have a positive impact on our children and families every day and are looking for staff members who want to not only do an excellent job with their career field but also serve as a role model for the children in CPS. We invite you to become a member of our CPS work family.

PRINCIPAL JOB DESCRIPTION

General Responsibilities

Principals at CPS create the structures that support teacher development and working conditions to help them successfully shape students' experiences in the classroom. They are community-centered leaders that foster partnerships aligned with a school’s vision and needs. CPS principals are responsible for leadership, coordination, supervision and management of the school program, curriculum, community partnerships and operation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Applicants should possess a thorough knowledge of the four domains of the Ohio Standards for Principals with knowledge, skills and abilities focused on:

• Student Learning and Achievement
• Shared Leadership
• Data-based decision-making
• Communication and collaboration
• Ongoing professional learning
• Well-being
• Technology
• Equity and cultural responsiveness
• ESL teaching and programming
• Knowledge of teaching methods, curriculum, and education programs designed for students with disabilities

Essential Tasks

Demonstrate leadership through:

• Effectively developing, advocating and enacting a shared mission, vision and core values.
• Developing building-level priorities in the context of community and District priorities and student/staff needs.
• Implementing collaborative structures and shared leadership that analyzes data to develop School Improvement which contain strategies to improve teaching and student learning outcomes.
• Collaborating with district administrators, academic managers and external support regarding the school programming.
• Displaying success in leading the improvement of student learning, as evidenced by the improvement of school-based and/or District-based data points.
• Exercising good judgment, insight, self-awareness, integrity, and cultural responsiveness when interacting with diverse employees, students, and stakeholders.
• Facilitating the change process and its relationship to current trends in education.
• Maintaining and modeling high standards of professionalism and ethics.

Leads learning through:

• Supervising and evaluating the implementation of instructional programming.
• Training of staff with regard to the most effective practices which lead to higher student achievement regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or prior academic achievement.
• Assisting in the development, ongoing improvement, and implementation of the District and school curricular program.
• Demonstrating expertise in curriculum and instruction at the position’s grade level.
• Fostering an environment of effective and rigorous personalized instruction by ensuring each student has equitable access to effective teachers, leaders and learning supports.
• Working effectively with teachers to promote and organize an environment focused on continuous improvement and personal growth to achieve positive outcomes for each student.
• Demonstrating commitment and the ability to continue one’s own lifelong learning, to develop talent and leadership skills in others, to provide critical feedback, and to receive critical feedback in order to maintain high standards for one’s self and one’s school.

Demonstrates cultural leadership through:

• Leading and collaborating with staff in the implementation of District and building-level goals relating to equity and inclusive student learning opportunities.
• Developing and sustaining positive, collaborative and productive partnerships with families and the surrounding community.
• Using the school as a resource to identify and address community needs and understanding the context of the school within the larger community.
• Establishing a school climate which promotes equity and inclusiveness for all students, where the school has a positive, safe and orderly learning environment.
• Establishing a set of culturally responsive standard operating procedures, practices, and routines.
• Providing effective communication; collaborating and resolving conflicts with others, and sustaining positive partnerships with and among students, staff and stakeholders.
• Demonstrating the ability and desire to establish positive relationships with persons regardless of race, gender, physical limitations, sexual orientation, or religious belief, with an active commitment to equal opportunity for all students and staff.

Effectively manages by:

• Interpreting and implementing Board policies and administrative regulations.
• Facilitating and collaborating with staff in the hiring, orientation, training, assignment, and reassignment of culturally competent and diverse school staff.
• Supervising and evaluating the performance of all assigned personnel.
• Engaging staff in the development of professional growth activities designed to support individual school/District goals, cultural competence and opportunities for leadership.
• Collaborating to ensure effective implementation of the school's extracurricular program.
• Supervising the maintenance and operation of the building, grounds, and property assigned to the building.
• Collaborating in the planning and the development of the school's budget with input from staff regarding the allocation and adjustments of fiscal and material resources, and assuring timely completion of reports.
• Demonstrating effectiveness in reaching logical conclusions and making high quality decisions using appropriate decision-making processes, and accepting responsibility for actions and consequences.
• Demonstrating effectiveness representing the school in the community through business partnerships and activities.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree from an accredited University (Educational Leadership or similar preferred)
• Valid Ohio Principals License
• Minimum of three (3-5) years classroom teaching experience and/or administrative experience
• Minimum of one (1) year of school-based administrative experience (principal or assistant principal) highly preferred

Contract Provisions

• Type of Contract: Principal
• Salary: Principals will be placed in the level equal to their years of leadership as Principal and other salary differentials, if applicable, per CAAS contract. See ranges below.
• Elementary: $109,835.49 - $132,786.82
• Secondary: $121,893.30 - $144,833.79

CPS Commitment to Equity and Excellence in Education

At CPS, we believe our students, staff, and stakeholders bring their personal backgrounds into our schools and the District is richer for it. Each of them has a legitimate expectation to have a barrier-free learning environment counteracting the contemporary and historical impact of bias, prejudice, and discrimination which, for generations, has produced a predictability of learning outcomes based on race, class, socioeconomics, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, cognitive/physical ability, diverse language fluency, and religion.

Cincinnati Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and is subject to federal regulations pertaining to employment. The district has a continuing non-discrimination policy which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status. We hire only United States citizens and

Job Requirements

• Citizenship, residency or work visa required