Head Principal

Williamsburg Independent Schools; Williamsburg (KY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Williamsburg City School is seeking a Head Principal to lead a PK–12 learning community, shaping instructional leadership, culture, and continuous improvement. The successful candidate will partner with district leaders, families, and staff to implement standards-aligned instruction and an equitable, achievement-driven environment.

Ideal candidates will have Kentucky principal certification, a proven track record in instructional leadership, and strong skills in data analysis, MTSS, and

Qualifications

• Hold a valid Kentucky principal certification appropriate to the assignment.
• Demonstrate successful experience in instructional leadership and school administration.
• Demonstrate knowledge of Kentucky education laws, standards, and district policies.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead and support a diverse PK–12 community.

Responsibilities

• Provide instructional leadership for Preschool–12th grade with developmentally appropriate, standards-aligned instruction.
• Lead district-wide improvement planning and strengthen teacher effectiveness.
• Oversee MTSS, data-review processes, and intervention planning.
• Foster a safe, inclusive, and high-expectation school culture.
• Collaborate with families and community partners to expand opportunities.
• Ensure fiscal accountability and responsible operation of the school.

Skills

Educational leadership

Communication skills

Data-driven decision making

Collaboration with stakeholders

Instructional coaching

Education

Kentucky principal certification

Master's in Educational Leadership

Job description

Head Principal

Williamsburg City School

Position Summary

The Principal of Williamsburg City School serves as the primary school administrator, instructional leader, and culture builder for a unique preschool–12th grade learning community. This position requires an exceptional educational leader who understands the developmental, academic, social, and emotional needs of students from early childhood through high school graduation.

The Principal is responsible for establishing and sustaining a safe, inclusive, innovative, and academically rigorous learning environment where every student is known, valued, supported, and challenged to achieve their fullest potential.

Working in close partnership with the Superintendent, district leadership team, teachers, support staff, students, families, and community partners, the Principal will lead continuous school improvement, strengthen teacher effectiveness, support responsible stewardship of school resources, and cultivate a positive professional culture.

Above all, the Principal must demonstrate an unwavering commitment to student learning, staff and student well‑being, ethical leadership, professional accountability, and the belief that every child deserves an opportunity to succeed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Instructional Leadership and Student Achievement

• Serve as the instructional leader for all grade levels, Preschool–12th, ensuring developmentally appropriate, rigorous, engaging, and standards-aligned instruction.
• Lead implementation of the Kentucky Academic Standards, district-adopted curriculum, high-quality instructional resources, and evidence-based instructional practices.
• Establish clear expectations for high-quality Tier 1 instruction and provide regular instructional feedback, coaching, and support to improve teacher effectiveness.
• Facilitate professional learning communities, vertical alignment, collaborative planning, and instructional leadership across elementary, middle, and high school grade levels.
• Collaborate with district leaders to implement the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP), district improvement priorities, and measurable student achievement goals.
• Ensure all instructional decisions remain focused on improving student learning, reducing achievement gaps, and preparing students for success beyond graduation.

2. Balanced Assessment, Data Analysis, and MTSS

• Lead implementation of a balanced assessment system that includes universal screeners, diagnostic assessments, formative assessments, common assessments, and summative assessments.
• Oversee schoolwide use of i-Ready, Kentucky Summative Assessment results, classroom assessments, and other student learning evidence to monitor achievement and growth.
• Establish consistent data-review processes to identify students who are performing below grade-level expectations, evaluate instructional effectiveness, and address learning needs.
• Oversee implementation of a comprehensive, school-level Multi‑Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for academic, behavioral, attendance, and social‑emotional needs.
• Ensure appropriate intervention plans, progress‑monitoring procedures, documentation, and communication with families.
• Collaborate with special education, English learner, gifted education, counseling, and other student support personnel to ensure equitable access to instruction and services.
• Monitor intervention effectiveness and ensure timely adjustments when students are not demonstrating adequate progress.

3. Human Resource Leadership and Teacher Effectiveness

• Lead school‑level recruitment, interviews, and selection of qualified certified and classified staff in accordance with Kentucky law, certification requirements, SBDM consultation procedures, and district policy.
• Collaborate with the Superintendent and district human resources personnel to identify staffing needs, evaluate allocations, and support effective placement of personnel.
• Ensure employees possess and maintain the certifications, qualifications, and credentials required for their assigned positions.
• Supervise and evaluate assigned personnel in accordance with Kentucky's Framework for Personnel Evaluation and the district's approved evaluation plan.
• Provide meaningful, timely feedback and professional growth opportunities to strengthen instructional effectiveness.
• Lead the school's New Teacher Orientation and induction program, ensuring new employees receive ongoing mentoring, resources, and support.
• Promote employee retention through positive relationships, clear expectations, recognition, collaboration, and meaningful professional support.
• Address personnel concerns promptly, professionally, consistently, and in accordance with district policies and applicable law.

4. Professional Learning and Employee Development

• Lead development and implementation of a school‑level professional learning plan aligned with student achievement data, instructional needs, school improvement priorities, and district goals.
• Maintain accurate school‑level records of required professional development hours, completed training, and employee participation, in collaboration with the district professional development coordinator.
• Monitor the completion of all applicable mandatory employee training and communicate any deficiencies to district leadership.
• Provide ongoing learning opportunities in instructional leadership, assessment literacy, classroom management, student support, school safety, and effective use of technology.
• Personally engage in ongoing professional learning, leadership reflection, mentoring, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate a growth mindset and willingness to receive feedback, consider new perspectives, and refine leadership practices.

5. School Culture, Climate, and Employee Well‑Being

• Foster a school culture grounded in trust, integrity, kindness, collaboration, accountability, and high expectations.
• Create a working environment where employees feel respected, supported, heard, and empowered to contribute to school improvement.
• Prioritize the physical safety, emotional well‑being, dignity, and belonging of all students and staff.
• Establish consistent expectations for professional conduct, communication, attendance, student supervision, and positive relationships.
• Respond to concerns with professionalism, empathy, fairness, confidentiality, and appropriate follow‑through.
• Monitor school climate and culture through staff, student, and family feedback and implement responsive improvement strategies.
• Celebrate student and staff accomplishments and promote a strong sense of pride in the Jacket Family.

6. Family Engagement, Communication, and Community Partnerships

• Establish proactive, transparent, consistent, and accessible communication systems for families of students from preschool through grade 12.
• Ensure families receive timely information regarding student progress, school expectations, learning opportunities, activities, and available supports.
• Provide meaningful opportunities for family voice, feedback, engagement, and participation in the educational process.
• Build trusting relationships with parents and guardians while responding respectfully and promptly to questions and concerns.
• Collaborate with community partners, postsecondary institutions, businesses, and service organizations to expand personalized learning opportunities and remove barriers to student success.
• Work with district leadership to communicate school achievements, needs, initiatives, and improvement efforts to stakeholders.

7. School Operations, Activity Funds, and Fiscal Accountability

• Oversee daily school operations to ensure a safe, orderly, efficient, and student‑centered learning environment.
• Provide school‑level oversight of activity funds, including appropriate collection, receipting, deposits, disbursements, documentation, internal controls, and record‑keeping in coordination with authorized financial personnel.
• Review and approve school fundraisers within the authority established by the district and the 2026 Kentucky Redbook, ensuring that all required approvals, documentation, and financial accountability are in place.
• Review and approve student field trips consistent with Board policy, transportation requirements, student safety procedures, and any required district approvals.
• Monitor school‑level expenditures and resource needs and collaborate with district fiscal leadership to ensure responsible financial stewardship.
• Support internal reviews, audits, corrective actions, and timely resolution of financial compliance concerns.
• Maintain oversight of school schedules, supervision assignments, emergency procedures, and the effective use of instructional time and facilities.

Kentucky alignment: 702 KAR 3:130 incorporates the Accounting Procedures for Kentucky School Activity Funds, commonly called the Redbook. The 2026 edition applies beginning August 1, 2026. The Board retains statutory responsibility for the administration and control of school activity funds; the Principal carries out delegated school‑level oversight.

8. Athletics, Extracurricular Activities, and Student Opportunities

• Provide administrative oversight of school athletics, extracurricular activities, student organizations, and school‑sponsored events across applicable grade levels.
• Collaborate with the Athletic Director and coaching staff to ensure compliance with Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) rules, district policies, student eligibility requirements, and applicable safety procedures.
• Promote sportsmanship, student well‑being, equitable access, and a positive culture within athletics and extracurricular programs.
• Ensure appropriate supervision, financial accountability, facility coordination, and communication for school‑sponsored activities.
• Support a broad range of academic, artistic, athletic, leadership, career and technical, and extracurricular experiences that promote student engagement and development.

9. Student Safety, Equity, and Legal Compliance

• Establish and maintain a safe, respectful, nondiscriminatory learning and working environment.
• Ensure school‑level implementation of applicable federal and state laws, Board policies, and administrative procedures, including requirements relating to Title IX, student civil rights, disability accommodations, student records, and student protection.
• Collaborate with the district's designated Title IX Coordinator to ensure reports and concerns are addressed promptly through required procedures.
• Ensure employees understand and fulfill mandatory reporting responsibilities concerning suspected child abuse, neglect, threats, and other safety concerns.
• Support compliance with special education, Section 504, English learner, attendance, discipline, and student support requirements.
• Coordinate with district leaders and appropriate personnel regarding emergency preparedness, crisis response, student supervision, and school security.
• Ensure school policies and disciplinary practices are implemented fairly, consistently, and with respect for student rights and dignity.

10. District Collaboration, Innovation, and Continuous Improvement

• Serve as an active, solutions‑oriented member of the district leadership team.
• Collaborate directly with the Superintendent and district leaders to identify and remove barriers to student learning and teacher effectiveness.
• Translate district vision, mission, and strategic priorities into meaningful school‑level actions and measurable outcomes.
• Use evidence, stakeholder feedback, and continuous improvement processes to evaluate school effectiveness and adjust practices.
• Demonstrate creativity, innovation, sound judgment, and a willingness to challenge ineffective systems and practices.
• Seek opportunities to expand personalized learning, student leadership, career readiness, family partnerships, and positive school experiences.
• Provide timely and accurate information to district leadership regarding school performance, staffing, safety, operations, and emerging needs.
• Perform other duties consistent with the role of principal as assigned by the Superintendent.

Minimum Qualifications

• Hold a valid Kentucky principal certification appropriate to the assignment, issued by the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB).
• Meet all applicable Kentucky statutory, regulatory, and district requirements for employment as a school principal.
• Demonstrate successful experience in instructional leadership, school administration, or other relevant educational leadership roles.
• Demonstrate knowledge of Kentucky education laws, academic standards, personnel evaluation, student support systems, school improvement, and school‑based decision making.
• Demonstrate strong communication, organizational, interpersonal, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to lead and support a diverse school community serving students across multiple developmental stages.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading or supervising multiple grade spans, ideally including elementary, middle, and high school.
• Demonstrated success in improving student learning outcomes and strengthening Tier 1 instruction.
• Experience leading MTSS, professional learning communities, instructional coaching, and school improvement.
• Knowledge of Kentucky school finance, activity funds, Redbook requirements, and KHSAA compliance.
• Experience strengthening employee culture, family engagement, and community partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change with transparency, emotional intelligence, integrity, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Leadership Commitment

The Principal of Williamsburg City School must understand that leading a preschool–12th–grade school is both an extraordinary responsibility and a unique opportunity. Success in this position requires a leader who sees beyond individual grade levels, departments, and programs and works to create one connected learning community where every student and employee matters.

The Principal is expected to lead with courage, humility, integrity, empathy, and a steadfast belief in every student's potential and every educator's professional capacity.

The ultimate measure of success is not simply how effectively the school operates, but how well its students learn, its employees grow, and its families trust that Williamsburg City School is a place where every child can thrive.

Recommended Kentucky Legal and Policy Review Before Adoption

Click here to review Principal/Administrative Certification Information