Principal (219-Days): Assignment at Horton Elementary School

Horton Elementary School; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 162,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Horton Elementary School in San Diego is seeking a Principal for a 219-day assignment. The role reports within the San Diego Unified School District and requires leadership to drive instructional excellence across the campus.

The district emphasizes educational equity and strong relationships with partners, with a salary that follows the AASD Site Administrators' Salary Schedule. Application materials are reviewed per district guidelines.

Qualifications

• Experience as vice-principal or comparable administrative leadership position.
• Valid California Administrative Services Credential.
• Demonstrated instructional leadership and knowledge of school operations.
• Ability to build relationships with staff, families and community partners.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the instructional leader on the campus and oversee the instructional program integrity.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to support staff development and student outcomes.
• Lead development of school plans and procedures to ensure health and safety on campus.
• Manage certificated and classified staff in accordance with district policies.

Education

California Administrative Services Credential

Job description

Principal (219-Days): Assignment at Horton Elementary School

San Diego Unified School District Horton Elementary School - San Diego, California Open in Google Maps

This job is also posted in San Diego Unified School District Job Opportunities

Job Details

Job ID: 5910070

Application Deadline: Sep 10, 2026 11:59 PM (Pacific Standard Time)

Re-Posted: Sep 01, 2026 7:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: To Be Determined

Job Description

This opportunity is open to all interested candidates.

OVERVIEW:

San Diego Unified School District, the second largest district in California and one of the top largest urban school districts in the United States, is looking for leaders who care deeply for students, inspire passion in their coworkers through collaborative leadership, and are committed to the communities in which they serve. The District seeks leaders who are committed to educational equity and work to create access and opportunity for our students furthest from education justice. Successful candidates must demonstrate their skill as an instructional leader, a firm understanding of school operations, as well as the capacity to build strong relationships with all partners within a school community.

BASIC FUNCTION:

The Principal will serve under the Governing Board and the Superintendent as the executive officer of the school with total responsibility to serve as the site instructional leader and to manage all affairs of the school consistent with District policy and procedures, including general control and supervision of certificated and classified employees assigned to serve in the school.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

Because each person is born with inherent worth and dignity, and because equitable access and opportunity are essential to a just, educated society, San Diego Unified employee commitments include being respectful of differences and diverse perspectives, and being accountable for one’s actions and the resulting impact.

POSITION SPECIFICS:

• Working Location is Horton ElementarySchool . 5050 Guymon St, San Diego, CA 92102
• Work schedule: 219 days per year
• The position is on the AASD Site Administrators' Salary Schedule , Salary Plan 0705
• Qualifies for District Paid health and wellness benefits for employee and dependents

Examples of Duties:

• Serve as the instructional leader on one or more school campuses.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure the integrity of the instructional program.
• Build relationships in order to support the skill development of certificated and classified staff.
• Develop school plans and organizational procedures to protect the health and safety of students and staff on campus.

To view the detailed position description for Principal, click here .

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

Experience as a vice-principal or comparable administrative experience and a demonstrated record of effective administrative and related instructional leadership experience as evidenced by most recent job performance evaluation.

Licenses and Other Requirements:

Valid California Administrative Services Credential.

INTERVIEW PROCESS

Candidates selected to move forward in the recruitment process may be invited to one or both of the following interviews.

• First Interview
  • Level 1 interviews for San Diego Unified AASD members* and other candidates to be held Tuesday, September 22, 2026, and Wednesday, September 23, 2026, via Zoom. Interview invitations will be sent via email.
  • *Special Note: San Diego Unified School District Administrators Association of San Diego (AASD) members will be given priority consideration for this position based on Article 7 of the current collective bargaining unit and by applying online, meeting the position minimum qualifications, and submitting the required attachments.
• Second Interview
  • Candidates who are successful in the Level 1 interviews may be invited to the next level of interviews anticipated to be scheduled on Monday, September 28, 2026, in person. Interview invitations will be sent via email.

For questions regarding this job announcement, including priority consideration, please contact Human Resources Analyst Tina Cano [e-mail] .

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

If you have questions about your application, please email [e-mail] .

The San Diego Unified School District communicates information regarding the hiring process via email. Please be aware that the District is not responsible for messages blocked by your email service. In an effort to allow our emails through your personal spam filter, you can try to add [e-mail] [e-mail] to your safe senders list.

San Diego Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs and activities shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying by reason of the following actual or perceived characteristics: age, ancestry, color, mental or physical disability, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, immigration status, marital or parental status, medical condition, nationality, national origin, actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, or on the basis of a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

For more information about equity in employment, contact:

• Title II Coordinator & Uniform Complaint Compliance Officer Eric Rico: [phone], [e-mail] /Title IX Coordinator Anna Ward: [phone], [e-mail] /504 Coordinator Eri Nall: [phone], [e-mail]

Position Type: Full-Time
Salary: $161,685.51 to $179,976.39 Per Year

Job Categories: Administration > Principal/Dean/Head of School

Job Requirements

• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

• San Diego Unified School District Human Resources
• 4100 Normal Street
• San Diego, California 92103
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]