Principal's Secretary

Howard County Public School System; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Howard County Public School System is seeking a Principal's Secretary Elementary to ensure the efficient operation of the school's main office and to serve as a confidential assistant to the Principal, Assistant Principal and management staff.

This role oversees calendars, communications, and daily office operations, handling sensitive information, payroll, and student data with a focus on efficiency and security.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent; must upload to the online application at submission.
• Foreign credentials must be evaluated as U.S. High School diploma or above by an MSDE approved organization.
• Three years of general administrative support; one year with accounting or bookkeeping records.
• Associate Degree or the successful completion of 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university may be substituted for up to two (2) years of the required administrative support or clerical experience.
• Six semester hours of accounting or bookkeeping may be substituted for one year of experience with accounting or bookkeeping records.

Responsibilities

• Maintains Principals calendars, schedules appointments and meetings.
• Plans, organizes and coordinates school activities and communications.
• Functions as the primary contact for students, parents, and staff.
• Resolves administrative inquiries to maintain a positive school environment.
• Oversees the daily operations of the office staff by providing training and technical guidance.
• Ensures total compliance with district procedures, establishes work priorities, and assists school leadership in staff evaluations.
• Performs general secretarial tasks including producing letters, data reports, photocopies, and filing.
• Coordinates registration, enrollment, transfer, and withdrawal of middle school students.

Skills

Administrative support

Customer service

Calendar management

Training staff

Communication

Education

High school diploma

Associate Degree / 60 credit hours

Foreign credentials evaluation (MSDE)

Tools

Word processing

Database

Spreadsheet programs

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!

ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Before you begin, please read the job posting below carefully including the Application Requirements specific to this position. Be sure your application reflects experience and education required to meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications listed. Our application guide includes detailed instructions to assist you. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes.

Please note that application submission will be available only through 11:59 PM on the date p rior to the indicated end date. If no end date is indicated, the posting will remain open indefinitely .

Job Posting End Date:

11-04-2026

Reminder: Current permanent and temporary employees must apply through the Jobs Hub in Workday, not the external career site.

DESCRIPTION

Under the supervision of the Principal, the Principal's Secretary Elementary school primary focus is to ensure the operational efficiency of the school's main office and function as a confidential assistant to the Principal, Assistant Principal and other members of the management staff. Serves as the first point of contact for the school, fostering a welcoming and professional environment. Ensure the integrity and security of sensitive student information. Maintains oversight of financial activities including bookkeeping and payroll.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must meet all qualifications below to be considered for the vacancy.

• Education:
• High school diploma or equivalent (must scan and upload to the online application at the time of submission).
• Foreign credentials must be evaluated as U.S. High School diploma or above by an MSDE approved organization.
• For a list of approved vendors,
• Experience:
• Three years of general administrative support or clerical experience, one year of which must be working with accounting or bookkeeping records.
• An Associate Degree or the successful completion of 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university may be substituted for up to two (2) years of the required administrative support or clerical experience.
• Six semester hours of accounting or bookkeeping may be substituted for one year of experience with accounting or bookkeeping records.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience overseeing daily office operations, including the training of administrative staff.
• Administrative support/clerical experience in a PreK-12 setting
• Experience with word processing, database, and spreadsheet programs.

ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrative Support & Customer Service

• Maintains Principals calendars, schedules appointments and meetings.
• Plans, organizes and coordinates school activities and communications.
• Functions as the primary contact for students, parents, and staff.
• Resolves administrative inquiries to maintain a positive school environment.
• Answers telephone communications and voicemail messages.
• Leads the daily operations of the office staff by providing training and technical guidance.
• Ensures total compliance with district procedures, establishes work priorities, and assists school leadership in the preparation of staff performance evaluations.
• Performs general secretarial tasks including, but not limited to: producing letters, data reports, etc. via the computer; making photocopies, files, distributing mail, etc.
• Independently drafts, formats, and distributes official school correspondence and messaging.
• Executes and coordinates all procedures for the registration, enrollment, transfer, and withdrawal of middle school students according to established local and state procedures.

Financial Oversight & Bookkeeping

• Maintains financial activities of school-based bookkeeping and financial records, including but not limited to payroll and banking transactions.
• Oversees the secure collection and accounts for monies in conjunction with school activities.
• Ensures all monies are secured, documented, and processed in strict accordance with established district procedures and auditing standards.

Student Records Management & Compliance

• Prepares and maintains a wide range of reports, records, and files regarding student data, personnel, and school operations.
• Ensures the highest level of integrity and security for all sensitive and confidential information.

Substitute Coverage

• Coordinate substitute teacher and staff coverage by managing requests, assigning substitutes, communicating schedules, and ensuring adequate coverage to support daily school operations.