Senior School Principal

Southridge is a K – 12 independent day school located in South Surrey, BC. The school is home to 680 students and 130 faculty and staff. We have a tradition of developing well rounded students with a balance of knowledge and goodness, inspiring students to go out into the world and make a difference.

Southridge is affectionately described as ‘a lighthearted place of serious purpose’ and we want you to know…it’s true! If you’re passionate about working in an energizing environment with colleagues that value building strong relationships, fostering strong minds and good hearts through student-centered teaching and learning, and community all while having fun, we want to hear from you!

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

SENIOR SCHOOL PRINCIPAL – FULL-TIME

We are currently inviting applications for the position Senior School Principal. This position will commence August 2024.

POSITION OVERVIEW :

The Senior School Principal provides leadership to the Senior School faculty, administrative staff, and students by overseeing all aspects of the operation of this division of the school. Reporting to the Head of School, the Senior School Principal is a member of the Leadership Team for Learning and Students and works as a team to guide the overall programmatic direction of Southridge. In addition, the Senior School Principal works with the Senior Management Team to guide overall school operations and implement the annual strategic action plan.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

VISION AND STRATEGY

Set the vision for the Senior School
Meet the School’s strategic goals, objectives, initiatives, and actions that impact the Senior School
Lead and collaborate with the Senior School Leadership Team to set the strategic direction for student life and academic programs
Lead, guide, and work collaboratively with the Senior School Leadership Team to manage day to day operations and align the Senior School’s goals with the School’s strategic plan
Provide input into the creation of the School’s annual strategic action plan
Provide opportunities and create a safe environment for Senior School students to challenge themselves and develop their character
Continuously develop and improve the conditions for Senior School students to reach their full potential academically and in character
Support the continuous evolution of the School’s implementation of the Harkness philosophy across all subject areas and learning spaces

CHARACTER AND SPIRIT

Maintain a visual presence and rapport with students
Work with the student counsellors to help shape and support the Advisory System
Lead the School’s efforts to ensure that character development remains a central focus of the overall educational program
Instill a common understanding among faculty and staff of what wellness and character mean, and help them understand how they can contribute to wellness and character development in our students
Provide opportunities and create a safe environment for Senior School students to challenge themselves and develop their character
Stay current with student life issues and the support measures that are in place to address them
Provide opportunities for all Senior School students to feel connected to and engaged within the school community beyond the classroom
Ensure that all students are known by adults in the Senior School
Role model and monitor appropriate and effective student-teacher relationship
Address student discipline concerns and issues while upholding the values and Procedural Fairness Guidelines of Southridge
Play a key role in enrollment management by actively facilitating and monitoring the connection of our students to Southridge
Evaluate and develop the Senior School academic and personal growth/character development curricula
Implement the Transitions, SEL, Wellness and Character Scope and Sequence
Maintain an encouraging and constructive Senior School climate and promote and foster school spirit

EDUCATION PROGRAM

Implement, evaluate, review, and refine the Senior School Educational Program (SSEP) to ensure that it remains of the highest quality
Keep accurate and organized records for the SSEP, and use data to inform and guide programming decisions C
Communicate the essential elements of the SSEP to the school community, and ensure that the continuity of our Kindergarten to Grade 12 educational program is clearly articulated and well understood
Lead the development of the academic timetable in collaboration with the Vice-Principal, Learning
Stay current with curriculum leadership issues and the support measures that are in place to address them

CO-CURRICULAR

Oversee the Senior School co-curricular program, including the requirement of faculty participation
Oversee all aspects of the Senior School Service Learning Program (school-based, local, national, and international)
Ensure that the Service Learning Program fits within the greater context of the School’s approach to character development
Review and update the Service Learning Program’s philosophy and guiding principles on an annual basis
Champion the school’s membership in the Round Square Organization and support the implementation of its programs and ideals

RISK MANAGEMENT

Encourage and perpetuate an integrated risk awareness perspective among Senior School faculty and staff, while taking into consideration the entire school community
Stay current with Safer Schools Together training and act as an additional Safe Schools Coordinator, along with the Assistant Head of School and the Junior School Principal
Actively monitor Senior School student safety at all times and especially during times when emergency procedures are enacted Coordinate, monitor, and oversee the supervision duties of Senior School teachers
Work with the Vice Principal, Student Life to mentor extended travel and tour leaders regarding risk management and risk mitigation processes
Ensure that reporting to the external community, such as the Ministry of Education and Child Care and the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS), is managed accurately and within the reporting timelines defined by the agencies
Review and update policies and guidelines as identified by the School’s cyclical policy review schedule and/or as necessary throughout the year
Disseminate information from external bodies (Ministry of Education and Child Care, FISA BC, ISABC, and CAIS) to the appropriate employees

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Advise and support teachers on an ongoing basis (through classroom visits and other purposeful professional interactions) to further the aims of their professional goals, the Harkness philosophy, and the Senior School Educational Program
Ensure high-quality teaching and learning in our Senior School classrooms by leading innovative initiatives that are in keeping with well-researched and forward-thinking approaches to teaching and learning
Promote ongoing professional growth of teachers through coaching and creating an atmosphere of purposeful professional dialogue
Oversee faculty development through Teacher Professional Growth Plans (TPGP), regular classroom visits, Senior School specific professional development opportunities, and the strategic priorities of the school
Communicate and promote professional development opportunities to ensure that teachers and educational leaders continue to meet the needs of our school’s learning community
Work with the Assistant Head of School to monitor the Senior School’s professional development budget
Approve Senior School faculty professional development requests based on TPGP goals, the strategic priorities of the School, the goals and initiatives of the SSEP, and the Senior School’s professional development budget

EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT

Monitor and support the general well-being of faculty, and administrative staff in the Senior School
Play a lead-role in hiring, orienting, and mentoring new faculty `
Advise new teachers regarding the School’s light hearted place of serious purpose culture and provide clarity about student behaviour expectations
Provide annual performance reviews for the Vice-Principal, Student Life; the Vice-Principal, Learning; the Senior School Administrative Assistant/Registrar; and the Senior School Receptionist
Participate in professional growth plan discussions with teachers and their monitor progress toward goal attainment
Provide performance assessments of Senior School faculty in keeping with the Teacher Evaluation Policy
Design performance management plans as required
Ensure teachers earning a stipend, FTE release, or both are held accountable for fulfilling their responsibilities
Ensure that direct report administrators and educational leaders (Education Technology Leader, Teacher Librarian, Director of Post Secondary Guidance, Outdoor Education Coordinator) are provided with regular and appropriate feedback, coaching, and guidance to support the effectiveness of their respective programs and their continued professional development

COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND EVENTS

Nurture relationships with the key constituent groups of the School
Plan, organize, coordinate, and lead Senior School parent information and education sessions as needed throughout the academic year
Maintain an excellent reputation of the Senior School while taking into consideration the broader reputation of the entire school community
Support the planning for weekly Senior School assemblies and deliver the Principal’s message
Plan, coordinate, and oversee the Senior School Year End Celebration
Collaborate with Head of School to plan and coordinate the Grade 12 Graduation and Commencement Ceremony
Write a regular article for The Southridge Wednesday and support the Director of Communications and Marketing by contributing content to the website and social media platforms

OTHER

Periodically review job descriptions for Senior School employees in keeping with Human Resources expectations
Collaborate with the Director of Enrollment Management for student entries into Grades 8 through 12, including interviewing potential students and their families
Ensure Senior School report cards and transcripts reflect the expectations of the School and the Independent School Act Coordinate the Senior School calendar to ensure a balanced flow to the year
Other duties as assigned by the Head of School

QUALIFICATIONS:

Master’s degree in educational administration or a related discipline
Proven track record of achievement and professionalism
Superior oral and written communication skills
Exceptional organizational skills
The ability to think, plan, and execute strategically
Highest level of initiative, energy, and motivation
Proactive and innovative approach to solving problems
Collaborative, yet decisive, management and leadership style
Teaching experience at the high school level (Grades 8 through 12)
At least five years of proven administrative ability and experience, preferably in an independent school setting
Excellent understanding of independent school culture
Knowledge of the B.C. Secondary School Curriculum and BC Ministry of Education and Child Care regulations

VALUES:

he ideal candidate will be aligned with values and mission of Southridge, will want to be an active member of a vibrant school community, and will demonstrate a desire to make a difference in the world. They will be someone who:

Is a lifelong learner
Has excellent study, critical thinking, and communication skills
Is a creative and independent thinker
Has a positive attitude§ Seeks their passion
Believes in the value of trust, tolerance, compassion, and respect
Understands the sacrifice and reward of community service
Has an appreciation of, and a desire for, lifelong physical activity and fitness§ Commits to personal wellness
Appreciates the arts and their contribution to a richer life
Can work effectively as part of a team

Southridge offers a competitive salary. In addition, we have a comprehensive benefits package, a generous RRSP matching program, access to health and wellness activities including generous support for professional learning and development.

To learn more about our school, explore our website: southridge.bc.ca. To apply for this position, please visit our ‘How to Apply‘ page for step-by-step instructions on submitting an application through our online system. The closing date for this posting is November 3, 2023.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those under consideration will be contacted.

Southridge School Profile