Job Description
Job DescriptionDescription:
Nexus-Woodbourne is seeking a compassionate and visionary School Principal to lead our on-site middle to high school educational program within a residential treatment center serving adolescents (ages 12- 18) with complex trauma histories. The ideal candidate will champion trauma-informed practices, foster a safe and inclusive learning environment, and collaborate closely with clinical and residential teams. This leadership role is pivotal in empowering students to achieve academic success while supporting their emotional and behavioral growth.
At Nexus Family Healing, we embrace diversity, promote equity, and foster inclusion. As a national mental health organization, we serve a diverse group of youth and families, and we strive for our workforce to support and represent that diversity.
Position Summary: The Principal is responsible for leading, supervising and overseeing the education program and staff to achieve and maintain a high quality, therapeutic learning, and treatment environment.
Salary Range - $100,000 - $110,000
Primary responsibilities
Academic Programming
- Ensures a curriculum that is current, outcomes based and is of high quality, with a process for continuous improvement and is aligned with the overarching strategic goals of Nexus Family Healing.
- Ensures all state and accreditation requirements are met and remain current.
- Reviews and conducts Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) with students; communicates with residents’ home school district regarding the youth’s placement and related educational opportunities.
- Networks with peers, home schools and other agencies to maintain current knowledge of applicable regulatory and educational changes and seeks opportunities for best practices sharing and use.
- Manages the department’s budget and participates in the annual budgeting process; approves the purchase of books and materials for staff and classroom use.
- Serves as the education liaison with internal departments and external agencies and contacts; demonstrates extensive knowledge in the education program administration by remaining current on all economic, political, regulatory, social issues and trends involving and impacting the educational work Nexus performs.
- Identifies and develops proposals for grants having the potential for enhanced programming.
Staff Development, Engagement & Performance
- Actively participates in the interview and selection process for educational staff and faculty; conducts thorough reference checks, as requested, to satisfy Nexus’ requirements.
- Supervises and participates in the process to orient, mentor, train and develop faculty and education staff and ensures the process is consistently and effectively administered.
- Demonstrates the ability develop a cohesive and effective teams through leadership, team building components and communicating the Nexus mission and setting clearly defined performance expectations goals and objectives.
- Provides performance management for staff on an ongoing basis and conducts formal performance evaluations that are timely, constructive, and effective; consults with Human Resources on performance related issues.
- Performs classroom administrative reviews; documents classroom opportunities and strengths and continually provides feedback to educational staff resulting in a compliant and outcomes based educational system
- Conducts staff and faculty meetings on a regular basis and participates in teacher clinical/therapeutic meetings; communicates effectively and is comfortable in presenting information and speaking in front of groups.
Development of Treatment & Learning Environment
- Attends academy and clinical staff meetings to address educational/programming issues with leadership team.
- Monitors and maintains compliance with safety and health codes and procedures for faculty and students; documents and communicates compliance opportunities an follows up to ensure ongoing compliance.
- Ensures appropriate staffing of all classrooms provides backup support when required, to ensure adequate coverage; demonstrates ability to plan, organize and effectively manage multiple priorities.
Policy, Procedure, Training & Compliance
- Ensures appropriate boundaries are maintained in all staff/student interactions and that physical interventions are conducted appropriately and within training parameters.
- Ensure confidentiality regarding residents’ medical background and treatment issues and comply with Nexus policies involving resident privacy and confidentiality rules for residents and their families.
- Demonstrates an acceptance and respectfulness toward diversity concerning commonalities and differences such as: gender, race, age, culture, ethnicity, class, religion, sexual preference, disability, and gender identity.
- Provide crisis intervention and applies de-escalation techniques when appropriate while maintaining appropriate boundaries and relationships with students.
- Understands and support the Nexus philosophy and treatment modalities; attends and participates in staff meetings and training sessions as required by Nexus.
ICARE Values & Behavioral Competencies:
- Innovation: Leading the way and implementing creative, cutting-edge ideas and approaches.
- Compassion: Listening, honoring differences, and showing respect, kindness, empathy care, and concern.
- Agility: Exhibiting flexibility and adapting quickly.
- Responsiveness: Being quick, positive, and accurate.
- Excellence: Demonstrating quality results that surpass ordinary standards.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion:
At Nexus Family Healing, our voices and actions will be focused on recognizing, affirming and respecting people of every race, ethnic background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender expression and faith.
Key Words: "Principal", "Education Director", "Director of Education", "Middle School Principal", "High School Principal", "#LI-Onsite"
Requirements:
Required Education and Licensure:
- Master’s Degree from an accredited institution with a focus on Educational Administration, Curriculum, or closely related field.
- In accordance with MSDE requirements, must be in possession of or eligible for a Maryland Administrator I or Principal certificate; OR
- A valid Maryland Professional Teaching License in Elementary or Secondary Education.
- Valid driver’s license required. Must meet state regulating agency and Home Office driving requirements.
Preferred Education and Experience:
- A valid Maryland Professional Teaching Certificate in Special Education.
- Certification in Emotional Behavior Disorders, Learning Disabilities and/or other related special needs areas.
- Minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience in a community-based school or psychiatric setting a plus/preferred.