Preschool Principal (Brucker)

Michigan Association of School Boards; Saginaw Charter Township (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Saginaw Intermediate School District seeks a Preschool Principal to provide instructional leadership for infants to pre‑K, ensuring program compliance with GSRP, Head Start/EHS, and licensing standards. You will lead curriculum implementation, coach staff, and guide family engagement to support strong school readiness outcomes.

Responsibilities include supervising teachers and support staff, monitoring CLASS and TS GOLD, coordinating professional learning, and collaborating with community

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field, required.
• Valid Michigan Administrator Certificate (or eligibility to obtain within three years).
• Leadership experience in Elementary Education, GSRP, Head Start, EHS, or related programs, preferred.
• Proficiency in TS GOLD and Creative Curriculum.
• Obtain and maintain CLASS certification.
• Strong understanding of the Michigan Kindergarten Readiness Standards.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Experience in data-driven decision-making and program evaluation.
• Experience working with community-based organizations and local school districts in a leadership role.
• Training in trauma-informed practices, equity in early learning, and family engagement strategies.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and maintain confidentiality regarding student and staff information.

Responsibilities

• Lead curriculum implementation for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers (0-5) in alignment with GSRP, Head Start, and Early Head Start standards.
• Provide ongoing instructional coaching, mentoring, and professional development.
• Conduct regular classroom observations using CLASS and TS GOLD.
• Oversee development and implementation of individualized learning plans.
• Support inclusion and intervention strategies for children with disabilities and social-emotional needs.
• Guide the transition from early childhood programs into K-12.
• Oversee scheduling, completion, and quality of CLASS observations.
• Monitor TS GOLD implementation, fidelity, and compliance.
• Plan, facilitate, and coordinate instructional cluster meetings.

Skills

Leadership

Data-driven decision making

Communication skills

Mentoring/Coaching

Education

Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Educational Leadership

Valid Michigan Administrator Certificate

Tools

TS GOLD

Creative Curriculum

CLASS observation tools

Job description

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Preschool Principal provides instructional leadership, administrative oversight, and program compliance for early childhood education programs serving children ages 0-5. This role ensures the implementation of high-quality, developmentally appropriate instruction that aligns with the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), Head Start, Early Head Start (EHS), and state and federal regulations. In addition to overseeing curriculum implementation and compliance, this position leads curricular enhancements that enrich early learning experiences, including the integration of STEM overlays when applicable, literacy initiatives, social-emotional learning, and play-based inquiry approaches. The principal fosters an inclusive, safe, and engaging learning environment, guiding educators, supporting families, and collaborating with community partners to ensure strong school readiness outcomes.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead curriculum implementation for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers (ages 0-5) in alignment with GSRP, Head Start, and Early Head Start standards.
• Provide ongoing instructional coaching, mentoring, and professional development to ensure evidence-based teaching practices.
• Conduct regular classroom observations, using tools such as CLASS and TSG, to enhance teacher effectiveness and child outcomes.
• Oversee the development and implementation of individualized learning plans, ensuring alignment with state early childhood standards and school readiness goals.
• Support inclusion and intervention strategies for children with disabilities and social-emotional needs in collaboration with mental health and special services teams.
• Guide the transition process from early childhood programs into K-12, ensuring continuity of learning for all children.
• Oversee the scheduling, completion, and quality assurance of CLASS observations, ensuring required observation cycles are completed and data is used to strengthen instructional practices.
• Monitor Teaching Strategies GOLD (TS GOLD) implementation, fidelity, and compliance, ensuring timely completion of checkpoints, documentation, and assessment requirements.
• Plan, facilitate, and coordinate instructional cluster meetings to promote consistent implementation of curriculum, assessment, and instructional best practices.

Compliance & Program Administration

• Ensure all early childhood programs (0-5) comply with local, state, and federal guidelines, including:
  • Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP)
  • Head Start/Early Head Start (EHS)
  • Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
  • Office of Head Start (OHS) and MiLEAP Standards
• Maintain accurate records, reports, and data tracking related to enrollment, child outcomes, compliance monitoring, and licensing audits.
• Supervise and support teaching staff, paraprofessionals, and family engagement teams, ensuring adherence to performance standards and best practices.
• Oversee program scheduling, staffing allocations, and professional learning plans for educators.
• Ensure compliance with all Teaching Strategies GOLD documentation, assessment, and reporting requirements.
• Monitor completion of required CLASS observations and maintain documentation to support federal, state, and program monitoring requirements.

Staff Supervision & Professional Development

• Supervise and evaluate teachers, associate teachers, and support staff, fostering professional growth and accountability.
• Assist with pre-service and in-service training on curriculum implementation, child development, and trauma-informed teaching practices.
• Develop and oversee professional growth plans for educators, supporting credentialing pathways, including CDA, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree programs.
• Facilitate monthly coaching meetings, providing structured feedback and instructional modeling to enhance teaching effectiveness.
• Collaborate to integrate inclusive practices for children with disabilities and special needs.
• Oversee any additional staff as assigned
• Coordinate onboarding and orientation for newly hired instructional staff, ensuring successful transition into district expectations, curriculum, assessment systems, and program requirements.
• Coordinate and facilitate training for substitute teachers to ensure continuity of instructional practices, classroom expectations, and health and safety procedures.
• Ensure new staff are mentored and supported through coaching, modeling, and ongoing professional learning.

Family & Community Engagement

• Serve as the primary liaison between families, educators, and the community, ensuring strong parent partnerships and engagement.
• Provide families with guidance on early childhood development, kindergarten readiness, and home-school connections.
• Lead family education initiatives, including workshops on literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional development.
• Strengthen collaboration with local districts, community organizations, and service providers to enhance early learning opportunities.
• Coordinate and support parent-teacher conferences, home visits, and transition meetings for children moving into kindergarten.
• Analyze child assessment data (TS GOLD) to inform instructional practices and ensure program effectiveness.
• Participate in district-wide data review teams, identifying trends and implementing strategies for school readiness improvement.
• Ensure teachers and support staff utilize assessment tools effectively, maintaining inter-rater reliability in observation and evaluation.
• Monitor and evaluate student progress, teacher performance, and program quality, making evidence-based decisions to enhance early childhood learning outcomes.

Facility & Safety Oversight

• Maintain a safe, clean, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children ages 0-5.
• Ensure smooth and efficient day-to-day operations
• Ensure full compliance with health and safety regulations, including:
  • Daily cleaning and sanitation procedures
  • Emergency preparedness drills
  • Playground safety checks
  • Security and access control measures
• Oversee facility maintenance, working with district leadership to manage building improvements, repairs, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide administrative oversight and leadership support to additional early childhood sites, including Birch Run, as needed or if assigned by the Executive Director of Early Childhood.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field, required
• Valid Michigan Administrator Certificate (or eligibility to obtain within three years).
• Leadership experience (Elementary Education, GSRP, Head Start, EHS, or related programs), is preferred.
• Proficiency in TS GOLD and Creative Curriculum.
• Obtain and maintain CLASS certification.
• Strong understanding of the Michigan Kindergarten Readiness Standards
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Experience in data-driven decision-making and program evaluation.
• Experience working with community-based organizations and local school districts in a leadership role.
• Training in trauma-informed practices, equity in early learning, and family engagement strategies.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and maintain confidentiality regarding student and staff information.

WORKING CONDITIONS + PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be required to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Occasional need to lift typical office items, including small furniture, some equipment, boxes, etc.
• Must be able to sit at a desk or in meetings for long periods of time and also walk short distances.
• Some exposure to communicable diseases.
• Noise level in the working environment may be moderate to loud.
• Work is generally performed outside of an office environment, involving face-to-face communication for paperwork and technology.
• Must be available for a variety of evening and weekend meetings as well as social and community events.
• Travel by car, bus, airplane or train may also be required associated with attendance at conferences, meetings and other duties carried out at distant locations in and out of state and in some cases where some overnight travel may be required.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION

Saginaw Intermediate School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, disability, age, or national origin in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of Human Resources

Saginaw Intermediate School District

Telephone: [phone], Fax: [phone]