The Principal of the Deaf Department plays a vital role in providing effective educational leadership, ensuring the highly effective, successful implementation of programs, supporting student well-being, and fostering a collaborative and inclusive school environment aligned to FSDB Vision, Mission, Values and Strategic Priority Goals.
• Assumes the crucial role of educational leader for the academic programs in the Deaf Department. Responsible for ensuring the proper implementation of both the general education curriculum and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to support students’ diverse needs across all schools. Collaborates with the Parent Services Executive Director in handling state complaints. Establishes and oversees procedures that integrate academic, career and technical education, transition, and student support services, fostering effective communication within the decision-making process. Working under the guidance of the President, sets goals, objectives, and activities to provide quality, comprehensive services and educational programs aligned with the mission of the school, laws, regulations, statutes, policies, current research, and best practices related to curriculum, instruction, leadership, and professional learning.
• Sets performance expectations, supervises, evaluates, approves payroll, monitors the effectiveness of Educational Diagnosticians, School Counselors, Off Campus Coordinator for the DHS, ASL specialist, Coordinator of Deafblind Services, Associate Teachers, Coordinator of Student Conduct, Behavior Specialist and Assistant Principals through observations, conferencing, feedback, performance improvement plans, and evaluation. Coordinates and conducts staff meetings to develop goals and priorities that lead to quality instructional programs and delivery of services to students as well as foster communication and transparency.
• Actively participates in various teams and committees, such as the Continuous Quality Improvement Team, Academic Leadership Team, Behavior Occurrence Reporting Team, School Advisory Committees, President’s Advisory Team, Incident Command Team, and Care Team to monitor student threat assessments and bully/harassment reports. The Principal works closely with Instructional Services, Mental Health, Parent Services, Boarding Program, Admissions, and Related Services to support program effectiveness. Provide information, interpretation, and utilization of data to approve dual enrollment and off-campus programming. Collaborate with local colleges for practicum and internship placements. Works closely with the Assistant Principals of each school to ensure the integrity of their Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process. May serve as the President’s designee at admissions meetings.
• Maintains effective communication and professional relationships working closely with school administration team members, staff, students, parents and stakeholders. Addresses issues, facilitates conflict resolution, and engages with stakeholders, including parents, to provide support and solutions. In collaboration with Assistant Principals, oversees disciplinary actions in accordance with the parent student handbook.
• Plans, develops, writes, budgets, and approves spending of general revenue and private/endowment funding. Oversee the purchasing of materials and expenditures. Provides support to Assistant Principal for their department’s budget and spending.
• Regularly monitor teacher-student ratios and school data, making necessary adjustments and introducing new programs based on data analysis, school initiatives, state expectations, and student needs. Provide information, interpretation, and utilization of data to approve dual enrollment and off-campus programming. Collaborate with local colleges for practicum and internship placements.
• Participate in staff development activities training and perform other duties, as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Knowledge and application of teaching and learning principles for deaf and hard of students;
• Knowledge of State and Federal laws and regulations regarding special education and student records;
• Ability to plan, organize, coordinate, monitor and supervise the academic programs to achieve cohesive services for enrolled students;
• Ability to clearly communicate educational philosophy, goals, priorities and expectations;
• Ability to monitor student progress;
• Ability to develop and adhere to the budget of the Department;
• Ability to establish attainable and rigorous student achievement standards; Ability to evaluate work performance of staff members under the Principal’s direct supervision;
• Ability to prepare reports;
• Ability to serve as advocate for students in a variety of situations on their behalf;
• Ability to work closely with and provide input on school teams.
• Ability to communicate effectively with deaf and hard of hearing people; Skillful in resolving and managing conflict;
• Ability to work with other members of the School to achieve stated goals; Knowledge of general education, special education and the provision of student support services;
• Knowledge of management procedures utilized to achieve desired organization goals;
• Knowledge of the educational and social impact of deafness;
• Knowledge of the role of a special school within a statewide system of education;
• Skill in applying the principles of quality assurance and risk management; Skill in evaluating effectiveness of academic services;
• Skill in written language and American Sign Language (ASL);
• Skill in conflict resolution;
• Ability to contribute and support organizational goals;
• Ability to obtain and maintain harmonious relations with diverse constituents; Ability to develop and maintain unity of effort to maximize student growth; Ability to pass training and administer skills acquired during CPI and CPR.
• Ability to attain sign language proficiency level in accordance with FSDB O.P.P.1.24.
