The successful candidate has the opportunity to lead a high school that will be growing from 500 students to 700 students in the next couple of years. This will be an attractive position for a leader who enjoys the opportunity to lead a staff through change – addressing the challenges of growth while taking advantage of the opportunities.

The mission of Gilbert Christian Schools is to Partner with parents to prepare the next generation to impact the world for Christ. The high school principal is tasked with fulfilling this mission while providing an exceptional college-prep experience for our students. The Principal is identified as the spiritual and academic leader of the school and therefore the success of all programs and departments hinge upon his/her leadership. The Principal should have significant experience with curriculum, a proven track record of successful collaboration, and a commitment to academic excellence.

Spiritual Leadership

• Motivate staff, teachers, and students to accept God’s gift of salvation, and be a Christian witness and role model to them in order to help them grow in their faith.
• Lead staff, teachers, and students to a realization of their value and purpose in Christ.
• Ensure that the high school campus work environment is Christian-based, nurturing, wholesome, and loving.
• Work with the teacher and staff to address the spiritual formation needs of the students.
• Carry out Christ-centered counseling with students, and parents as needed.
• Academic Leadership
• Have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the Christian philosophy of education that will provide leadership and guidance in the school’s development of and commitment to a Christian worldview.
• Have knowledge of the school’s curriculum, standards, and mission.
• Ensure that integration of biblical principles and the Christian worldview occurs throughout the curriculum and activities.
• Set the master schedule and teacher assignments each year, ensuring that teachers are qualified to teacher assigned courses.
• Ensure classrooms reflect a professional and Christian environment.
• Have knowledge of the physical/emotional development of children—particularly at the age level of the high school level—and understand the problems they face.
• Plan broadly through the use of curriculum.
• Ensure that instruction at the high school employs a variety of instructional aides, GCS best practices/methods, and materials that will provide for creative teaching to reach the whole child—spiritual, mental, physical, social, and emotional.
• Respond in a timely manner (within 24 hours) to parent complaints and to parent requests for help or information. Make phone calls rather than email for emotional issues or where confusion is possible.
• Participate in continuous professional development through professional reading, college course work, in-services, workshops, and conferences

Administrative Leadership

• Have the ability to accomplish the goals and objectives assigned by the superintendent and school policy.
• Help the staff, students, and volunteers function efficiently, effectively, and productively.
• Understand supervision and how to lead in a positive manner.
• Provide an excellent learning environment by using proper discipline in the classroom, the gym, and other places on the school premises.
• Conduct regular staff meetings and grade level or department teams to ensure coordination of programs and prompt problem resolution. Serve the team by faithfully contributing and being willing to serve your staff, teachers, students, and families.
• Provide input as needed for the school master calendar.
• Maintain a physical presence with the students by attending and, when possible, participating in school chapels, assemblies, athletics events, and other presentations.
• Arrange for substitute teachers when needed, and assist them in successfully carrying out their responsibilities.
• Conduct beginning-of-year staff orientation, staff devotionals, staff meetings, and parent/teacher fellowship meetings.
• Respect professional ethics that require confidentiality concerning the sharing of information about children,
• parents, or staff. Speak with honor and respect of children, parents and GCS staff.
• Know the procedures for dealing with emergency situations in the classroom and school. Conduct required
• emergency safety drills in coordination with staff and teachers.
• Ensure that any campus safety, health, and maintenance needs are addressed and rectified within an appropriate amount of time.
• Inform the superintendent in a timely manner if unable to fulfill any assigned duty.
• Deal directly and frankly with the superintendent in an earnest effort to resolve differences of opinion when they exist.

Additional Duties/Responsibilities, It is expected that the Principal will …

• Recognize the need for excellent public relations. Represent the school in a favorable and professional manner to the school’s constituency and the general public.
• Ensure that provision is made for the accountability and securing of all funds collected in the classroom.
• Assign others to supervise extracurricular activities, organizations, and outings as assigned and establish/follow policies to govern all off-campus outings.
• Support the broader program of the school by attending extracurricular activities when on campus and as part of a seasonal production.
• Involve parents in prayer and volunteerism as appropriate via lunchroom, field trips, coaching, etc. Support school rules such as parents must wear GCS polo or apron when volunteering by speaking directly to parents.
• Maintain a clean, attractive, and well-ordered office and ensure that campus is maintained according to professional standards. this includes classrooms, offices, storage rooms, and other areas.
• Ensure that teachers and staff take an annual inventory of all school related items, matching them up to what was provided at the beginning of the school year.
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned by the superintendent

Knowledge, Skills, & Experience Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Educational leadership with Principal’s certification through ACSI and preferably through the state
• Excellent communication skills
• Adaptable and able to work with a variety of people
• Strong problem solving skills

Personal Qualities

• Growing in his or her personal relationship with Christ.
• Must align with the vision and values of Gilbert Christian Schools and the Statement of Faith.
• Adhere to and encompass the qualities and characteristics required of Gilbert Christian Schools, students, employees, defined by the Employee Handbook.
• If the administrator has children of school age and they are not homeschooled by their spouse, it is expected they will attend GCS for the duration of their employment at GCS.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, sit, walk; use hands to finger handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to twenty-five pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.