School Principal at a Leading School

OUR SCHOOL GREAT HALLMARK INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL LOCATED IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE IS SEEKING FOR AN EMINENTLY QUALIFIED PERSON TO FILL THE VACANCY OF SCHOOL PRINCIPAL WITH THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:

Qualification: BSc and M.ED or equivalent

About the Position

Strong leadership of the entire sections of our institution has seen the introduction and/ or development of a commendable standard through a consistent focus on Positive Education and an ethical growth programme to develop character strengths, wellbeing and career orientation; the integration of Approaches to Teaching and Learning skills development in planning and reporting, outdoor and authentic learning experiences that give opportunities for skills development and which help to put classroom learning in a real-world context. There is a very positive learning culture at our institution where students have high expectations for themselves and high levels of care and compassion for others.

Our choice of School Principal will therefore have proven leadership experience and personal characteristics, who can build upon current school programme strengths whilst guiding the whole School in addressing school improvement priorities from elementary to secondary school. They will be committed to developing young people who are lifelong learners and global citizens prepared to make a positive change in their local and wider communities.

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure the mission and vision of the school is supported and maintained by the best possible development, implementation and delivery of curricular, extra-curricular, and social and emotional learning

• Create a climate and culture that is learning focused, reflective, values relationships and collaboration, is internationally-minded, models global citizenship, and values professional accountability

• Develop rich collaborative relationships with students, staff, and parents through meetings, assemblies, focus groups, small group meetings, and other forums, building strong, supportive, solutions-focused teams

• Lead learning programmes in the relevant section, overseeing, guiding and supporting Curriculum Coordinators and other pedagogical leaders, instructional coaches and faculty

• Ensure consistency and alignment of curriculum, assessment and reporting through cyclical review and curriculum mapping, while using a detailed knowledge of the latest research in pedagogy, assessment and reporting

• Implement and lead the utilization of systems to collect and analyze student data, and lead processes that ensure that data analysis contributes to school improvement planning and the improvement of student learning outcomes

• Work closely with the Head of Student Support Services to ensure learning support, English as an additional language, counselling, college counselling and careers guidance meets the learning needs of students, and that child safeguarding is a priority

• Responsible for a school schedule that maximizes optimal student learning in all areas

• Responsible for ensuring the organization of internal and external assessments in the relevant section, including the requirement that all guidelines and best practices are rigorously observed, assessment calendars are devised and deadlines met, standardization of internal assessments by teachers, evidence of students’ own work in development monitored by teachers, supervision of students by teaching staff documented and recorded, the organization of examinations, training of invigilators, and strict observance of all academic honesty requirements

• Practice and lead positive student behavior management procedures

• Lead school improvement processes in the relevant section, overseeing, guiding and supporting Curriculum Coordinators and other pedagogical leaders, instructional coaches and faculty

• Contribute to the planning and implementation of school-wide school improvement plans, and provide guidance and support to the Accreditation Coordinator and Curriculum Coordinators in accreditation and programme evaluation

• Ensure that relevant stakeholders are kept informed with up-to-date handbooks and publications, newsletters and briefings, information released by the school, parent and student information sessions, and individual counselling and advice for students and parents

• Collaborate with the Admissions Office regularly to market the school to enhance its visibility while also supporting prospective and incoming families through the admissions process, and make recommendations for student admissions

• Responsible for decisions on student course choices

• Supervise and evaluate staff while providing constructive feedback on teaching and learning

• Propose staffing changes and work with the Leadership Team and Human Resources on staff recruitment and recruitment processes

• Collaboratively plan new staff orientation programmes and professional development programmes with the Leadership Team, identifying needs and opportunities, providing approval to requests for training, and ensuring that accurate records are kept

• Prepare the annual budget proposal for the relevant section and manage the budgets approved

• Effectively communicate with various sections of the school.

• As part of our response to the Covid-19 pandemic, our school is taking steps to increase our resilience. To this end, our new principal must be capable to lead a vision for EdTech integration and ensure the effective use of technology to extend the student learning environment, increase teacher productivity, and provide excellent opportunities for 21st Century learning in and out of the school environment.

• Keep the upper management and board regularly informed of critical and strategic matters

• Prepare annual reports for Directors and the Board

• Perform other duties as assigned by the management.

CORE COMPETENCIES AND ATTITUDES:

•  Strong core values and a sense of moral purpose, a clear vision, a passion for education

• Enjoys working with teaching staff, children and young adults

• Models emotional maturity, emotional intelligence and empathy, and values care and compassion

• Strong intercultural understanding and global mindedness

• Values openness, fairness, trust, approachability and mutual respect

• Inspires trust and confidence in his or her leadership

• Positive, proactive, reliable and collaborative

• Commitment to improving student learning and well-being, listening to students’ views and developing their leadership qualities

• Advocate for inclusion, diversity and equity

• Ability to engage in critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and change management

• Respectful for what has gone before whilst leading towards the future

• Ability to motivate and inspire, build a shared understanding and a common language

• Develops leadership abilities and empowers others

• Ability to reflect and demonstrate a growth mindset, setting goals for personal development

• Strong organizational skills

• Energy and stamina

• Models humility and a sense of humour

• Balanced

• Ability to build and maintain a strong, positive organizational culture

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES:

•  At least five years’ leadership experience at Principal level

• International school and international education experience

• Teaching qualifications and at least ten years’ prior teaching experience with International Baccalaureate programmes and reasonable working experience in a British curriculum school

• Strong academic background and Master’s in Administrative/Education Leadership required

• A Teachers Registration Certificate of Nigeria.

• Prior experience with international school accreditation

• Demonstrated ability to lead excellence in teaching and learning, and an enthusiasm for professional learning on a continual basis

• High level of professional proficiency in written and oral English with strong and concise communications skills

• Training and experience in staff supervision and evaluation (appraisal)

• Demonstrated experience in leading instruction, programme development, faculty development and faculty evaluation, and improving student learning outcomes

• Good understanding of assessing and teaching for understanding within International Baccalaureate programme frameworks

• Ability to work collaboratively with school stakeholders from diverse backgrounds

• Demonstrated consensus building skills

Salary and Benefits will be competitive.