Dilworth STEM Academy Assistant Principal

About the role

The assistant principal serves as a key instructional leader and administrative officer of the school. The assistant principal contributes to the school's mission, vision, and core beliefs by promoting academic excellence, equity, and a safe, inclusive learning environment. This role includes full oversight of the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) program and requires a strong commitment to early learning and special education compliance and quality.

Responsibilities

• Involves staff, students, families, and the community in achieving the school's mission and vision.
• Recognizes and responds to the individual needs of a diverse population of students and staff.
• Applies strong human relations skills and cultivates a positive school climate.
• Encourages and empowers leadership in others across all roles.
• Analyzes relevant information to make informed decisions, delegates responsibilities appropriately, and provides support and follow-up.
• Captures the school community through shared values, trust, and collaboration.
• Manages and supports constructive change initiatives aligned with school improvement.
• Participates in professional groups.
• Articulates and defends school beliefs and decisions clearly and persuasively.
• Demonstrates effective verbal and nonverbal communication, modeling professionalism and integrity.
• Exemplifies the behaviors and values expected of staff and students.
• Maintains consistent, transparent communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Actively involves staff, parents, students, and the community in setting school goals.
• Collaboratively develops and applies decision-making processes.
• Applies consensus-building techniques to support inclusive school leadership.
• Demonstrates expertise in curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices.
• Encourages staff and students to engage in co-curricular and enrichment activities.
• Supports differentiated instruction, curriculum adaptation, and assessment strategies to meet the needs of all learners across various settings.
• Evaluates instructional strategies for effectiveness, alignment, and impact.
• Applies best practices in teaching and learning for both children and adult learners.
• Promotes effective classroom management, lesson planning, and student engagement, including the strategies defined through Teacher Clarity work, and Science of Reading.
• Sets and maintains high expectations for students, staff, families, and self.
• Encourages goal-setting and provides support to help staff and students achieve success.
• Designs and facilitates staff development programs based on school and educator needs.
• Encourages ongoing professional growth and learning through various opportunities.
• Actively engages in personal and professional development to model continuous learning.
• Uses multiple techniques and strategies to evaluate student learning and instructional effectiveness.
• Demonstrates proficiency in student data systems and instructional technology.
• Analyzes achievement data to guide decisions on instruction and interventions.
• Implements Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) to promote student success.
• Understands and supports how assessments and data are used to support students with 504s, IEPs, and EL Learners.
• Welcomes and applies constructive input from students, staff, families, and the community.
• Uses effective observation and conferencing skills to support instructional improvement.
• Motivates and supports staff in acquiring new skills and competencies.
• Ensures that evaluation processes are developmental and non-punitive.
• Collaborates with educators to develop professional growth and improvement plans.
• Participates in collaborative strategic planning aligned with school and district goals.
• Recruits, selects, assigns, and organizes staff to maximize student outcomes.
• Facilitates onboarding, training, and ongoing monitoring of staff performance.
• Attracts and utilizes volunteers effectively through purposeful training and engagement.
• Ensures a safe, orderly, and inclusive environment conducive to learning.
• Oversees the maintenance and operation of school facilities to support instructional programs.
• Understands the implications of the district budget on school programs and operations.
• Involves community stakeholders in prioritizing school budget decisions.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and district regulations, including Nevada Department of Education mandates.
• Assumes leadership responsibilities of the principal when delegated or in the principal's absence.
• Provides leadership and oversight of the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) program in accordance with district, state, and federal requirements.
• Serves as the Local Education Agency (LEA) representative at all Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings to ensure appropriate services and legal compliance.
• Coordinates day-to-day operations of the ECSE program including class schedules, transportation, nutrition, and transitions.
• Develops a continuum of services to meet diverse learning needs, ensuring alignment with IEP goals and Nevada Pre-K standards.
• Leads Child Find evaluations and ensures smooth student transitions from ECSE to zoned kindergarten placements.
• Collaborates with related service providers, general educators, and families to ensure inclusive and supportive learning environments.
• Oversees the recruitment, hiring, placement, and evaluation of ECSE teachers and paraprofessionals.
• Ensures availability of appropriate curriculum and instructional materials tailored to both developmental and individual IEP needs.

Qualifications

• Education: Master's Degree in School Administration or related field;
• Experience: Five (5) years teaching experience with two (2) concurrent years of site/district/educational leadership in the last five years; When assigned to the early childhood special education program, a preference for experience directly implementing IEPs for students is preferred.
• Satisfactory evaluations in the last five (5) years.
• Four current Confidential References returned. One must be from your current supervisor, one must be from your current evaluator, (If your supervisor and evaluator are the same person, you only need one reference from them). One from your most recent previous supervisor, and one or two from people who can speak to your leadership skills.
• Licenses/Certificates: Nevada School Administrator Endorsement must be obtained prior to placement as an administrator.
• When assigned to Early Childhood Special Education program, a license in special education is preferred.

Competencies for Successful Performance of Job Duties

• Knowledge of: Knowledge of modern instructional techniques and curricular concepts, especially as they are related to the middle school.
• Knowledge of the vertical structure of the course of study of the District and understand the importance of articulation in these areas; early adolescent and adolescent youth.
• Knowledge of the District's philosophy of the comprehensive middle school; principles and practices of school administration, including school finances, teaching methods and techniques, evaluations, and program development, applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, ordinances and policies; human resources development; school law; conflict resolution; public relations; principles of effective management, staff supervision and administration.
• Skill at: Skill at planning, organizing, assigning and coordinating the activities of a professional and support staff.
• Skill at presenting ideas effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Skill at dealing constructively with conflict and developing consensus.
• Skill at selecting, supervising and evaluating subordinates.
• Skill at working effectively with people within the community.
• Skill at team building.
• Skill at establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Skill at working with people, staff supervision and administration.