Upper School Assistant Principal

Description

Summary:

Our Principals are building Christian Community within and beyond the school, are active (or willing to become) members of Orangewood Church, and serve as Christian role models to students, parents, and staff. The primary role of this position will be to focus on the Middle School by implementing the Essential Functions listed below.

The Upper School Assistant Principal is a position requiring a calling to use God-given talents to further the Kingdom of God. The Upper School Assistant Principal is expected to be a minister to the OCS community through actions, speech, attitude, and prayer, as they point students to Christ.

Essential Functions

• Model a vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus Christ and consistently support the mission, vision, values, and Statement of Faith of Orangewood Christian School.
• Partner with the Upper School Principal in cultivating a healthy, Christ-centered culture among students, faculty, and families.
• Support the spiritual formation and discipleship of students and faculty.
• Help establish and reinforce expectations that promote Christian character, responsibility, respect, and healthy relationships.
• Build positive relationships with students and maintain a visible presence throughout the school day and at school activities.
• Help foster positive faculty morale, collaboration, accountability, and community.

Faculty Leadership and Development

• Support the Upper School Principal in the leadership, supervision, development, and evaluation of Upper School faculty.
• Conduct classroom observations and provide meaningful feedback and coaching to teachers.
• Support teachers in classroom management, instructional practices, parent communication, and student concerns.
• Assist with faculty goal-setting, professional growth plans, and evaluation processes.
• Participate in interviewing, screening, and recommending candidates for Upper School faculty and staff positions.
• Assist with the onboarding, orientation, mentoring, and ongoing support of new faculty members.
• Help plan and facilitate faculty meetings, professional development, and other faculty training opportunities.
• Partner with department chairs and other instructional leaders to promote collaboration and professional growth.
• Address faculty concerns and provide support, accountability, and coaching as delegated by the Upper School Principal.

Instructional Leadership

• Promote academic excellence and effective teaching throughout grades 7–12.
• Partner with the Upper School Principal, department chairs, and Student Care team to monitor instructional quality and student achievement.
• Assist with curriculum review, implementation, and vertical alignment.
• Support the effective use of assessment data to improve student learning.
• Monitor student academic progress and assist in identifying students requiring intervention or additional support.
• Collaborate with Student Care, department chairs, and teachers regarding academic interventions and student support plans.
• Encourage effective integration of technology and instructional resources.
• Help ensure consistency in grading practices, assessment expectations, classroom procedures, and academic policies.
• Support the implementation of school wide instructional initiatives and professional development priorities.

Student Leadership and Discipline

• Provide leadership for the day-to-day student experience throughout the Upper School.
• Maintain a visible and relational presence with students during arrival, dismissal, lunch, transitions, chapel, assemblies, and other student activities.
• Implement student behavior expectations and discipline procedures consistent with the Student Handbook and the mission of OCS.
• Investigate student behavioral concerns and administer appropriate consequences in consultation with the Upper School Principal when necessary.
• Communicate effectively with parents regarding behavioral, academic, attendance, and student-life concerns.
• Mediate student conflicts and student-teacher concerns with an emphasis on biblical reconciliation, accountability, and restoration.
• Partner with the Dean of Students, Student Care team, teachers, and families to support students experiencing academic, behavioral, social, or emotional challenges.
• Monitor student attendance and assist with interventions when attendance concerns arise.
• Support and develop student leadership opportunities.
• Assist with the planning and supervision of retreats, assemblies, special events, trips, and other Upper School activities.

Parent and Community Leadership

• Develop positive and collaborative relationships with Upper School families.
• Communicate clearly, professionally, promptly, and pastorally with parents.
• Participate in parent conferences involving academic, behavioral, attendance, or student-life concerns.
• Help resolve parent-teacher concerns by encouraging direct communication, clarity, and healthy partnership.
• Assist with new-family orientation and the transition of new students into the Upper School.
• Participate in school events, programs, and co-curricular activities to strengthen relationships throughout the OCS community.
• Represent the Upper School and OCS professionally within the broader community.

Administrative and Operational Leadership

• Partner with the Upper School Principal to ensure safe, efficient, and effective daily operations for grades 7–12.
• Assist with the development, implementation, and consistent enforcement of Upper School policies and procedures.
• Provide administrative leadership when the Upper School Principal is unavailable or off campus.
• Assist with arrival, dismissal, supervision, emergency procedures, and other daily operational needs.
• Coordinate faculty and staff supervision responsibilities as assigned.
• Help ensure accurate implementation of attendance, discipline, academic, and student records procedures.
• Assist with school safety procedures and implementation of the Crisis Management Plan.
• Collaborate with Athletics, Fine Arts, Student Care, Admissions, Operations, Facilities, and other departments to support the overall student experience.
• Assist with calendars, schedules, events, testing, and other administrative responsibilities as assigned.
• Identify operational concerns and communicate needs to the Upper School Principal and appropriate departments.
• Complete administrative reports and maintain appropriate documentation.

School Leadership

• Serve as a collaborative member of the Upper School leadership team.
• Meet regularly with the Upper School Principal to review students, faculty, academics, operations, and emerging needs.
• Carry out administrative responsibilities and areas of ownership delegated by the Upper School Principal.
• Provide leadership and administrative decision-making in the Principal’s absence within established school policies and procedures.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality regarding students, families, personnel, and school matters.
• Support school wide initiatives and collaborate with Lower School and organizational leadership when appropriate.
• Perform other leadership responsibilities necessary to advance the mission and effective operation of Orangewood Christian School.

Professional Development

• Attend appropriate educational conferences and participate in professional learning opportunities.
• Remain current in educational leadership, instructional practices, student development, Christian education, and relevant legal and professional standards.
• Maintain a teachable and coachable posture.
• Pursue continued growth as a Christian leader and disciple-maker.
• Work constructively and collaboratively with colleagues by contributing ideas, receiving feedback, and supporting shared decisions.

Supplemental Functions

Perform other duties and leadership responsibilities as assigned by the Upper School Principal or Head of School.

Required Personal Qualities

The employee shall:

1. Be a mature believer and disciple-maker of Jesus Christ.
2. Agree with and actively promote the school’s Statement of Faith.
3. Model Christ in attitude, speech, relationships, and actions both in and outside of school.
4. Agree with and adhere to the OCS Lifestyle Statement.
5. Demonstrate the spiritual maturity, professional ability, and leadership qualities necessary to equip students to transform the world for Christ and His Kingdom.

Additional Personal Qualities

The employee shall:

1. Demonstrate strong leadership presence, enthusiasm, courtesy, flexibility, integrity, gratitude, kindness, self-control, and perseverance.
2. Approach challenging situations with emotional stability, wisdom, objectivity, and optimism.
3. Communicate clearly and effectively in both verbal and written communication.
4. Demonstrate discretion and sound judgment when handling confidential or sensitive matters.
5. Build healthy relationships while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and accountability.
6. Demonstrate the ability to have difficult conversations with grace, clarity, courage, and consistency.
7. Work collaboratively within established leadership structures and respectfully support constituted authority.
8. Demonstrate initiative and the ability to identify and address needs without requiring continual direction.

Work Environment:

X Offices  X Classrooms   X Outdoors  X Community

_ All facilities including roof and crawl spaces _ Other:__________________________

Physical Demands:

_ Walking/Standing X Lifting/Moving (number of pounds 25)  _ Stretching

_ Exposure to cold/Heat  X Talking/hearing  X Vision (close and distance)

_ Bending/climbing  _ Other

* The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

All positions hired at Orangewood Christian School require a screening through the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse

Requirements

Preferred Education Requirement: Master’s Degree

Certification(s) Preferred: Holds or is in the process of earning a Florida Educator Certificate.

Years of Experience: 5-10 years of teaching and/or educational leadership experience