Principal, Dripping Springs Middle School

Location: Dripping Springs

Job Title:

Principal, Middle School

Wage/Hour Status:
Exempt

Reports to:

Superintendent

Pay Grade:
Admin/Prof 8

Dept./School:
Assigned Campus

Work Calendar: 226 Days

Date Revised: 2.10.2026

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The principal serves as the educational leader and chief administrator for the secondary school, responsible for implementing and managing the policies, regulations, and procedures of the Board of Trustees to ensure all students experience an exceptional child-centered learning environment and achieve academic excellence. The Secondary School Principal must work collaboratively with District administrators and others to lead and nurture all members of the school staff and to communicate effectively with parents, members of the community, and colleagues in the District and in other districts and schools.

Inherent in the position are the responsibilities for planning, curriculum development, program evaluation, extracurricular and co-curricular activities, personnel management, financial management, emergency procedures, resource scheduling, and facilities operations.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Certification:

* Master's Degree in education-related field from accredited university

* Texas Principal or other appropriate Texas certificate

Special Knowledge/

Skills:

The ideal candidate will be:

* a creative visionary who is passionately focused on effecting change and has the ability to merge data and fact with intuition, imagination, and innovation in an effort to realize the possibilities rather than be content with the probabilities;

* a dedicated professional who creates a supportive environment by modeling and expecting accountability and responsibility; who exemplifies ethics; who accepts and values the differences of others, and who has a sense of human wisdom, courage and compassion;

* an effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills and an exceptional ability to build relationships, who is open-minded and perceptive to the needs and expectations of students, campus and district staff, parents, and members of the community, and who, through the art of collaboration and creative problem solving, cultivates cohesiveness;

* an inspiring catalyst who motivates and empowers others to become leaders and risk takers, and who acknowledges the expertise, celebrates the successes, and honors the lives of others; and

* a life-long learner who perpetuates self-motivated learning, and effectively drives transformation with continuous monitoring, evaluating, and adjusting.

In addition, the candidate should have:

* A strong understanding of curriculum development and management

* Strong organizational, communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills

* Exceptional personal technology skills

* The ability to successfully:

* Evaluate instructional programs

* Hire life-changers, manage personnel, and evaluate teaching effectiveness,

* Coordinate campus functions and support operations

* Manage a budget

* Interpret policy, procedures, and data

Experience:

* Three years successful experience as a classroom teacher

* Five years successful experience as a campus administrator

* Five years experience in a 4A, 5A, or 6A school district

MAJOR

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Instructional Management

* Participate in the development and evaluation of educational programs.

* Encourage and support development of innovative instructional programs, helping staff pilot such efforts when appropriate.

* Promote the use of technology in the teaching and learning process.

* Regularly consult the campus leadership team, and the campus advisory committees about planning, operation, supervision, and evaluation of campus educational programs. Include student representatives when appropriate.

Organizational Climate

* Promote a positive and caring climate for learning.

* Foster collegiality and a sense of team among staff members. Encourage their active involvement in the decision-making process.

* Communicate and promote expectations of high performance to staff and students. Recognize excellence and achievement.

* Communicate effectively with students and staff.

* Deal sensitively and fairly with persons from diverse backgrounds.

* Ensure the effective and quick resolution of conflicts.

* Ensure effective two-way communication with the superintendent, district and campus administrators, staff, students, parents, and the community.

* Serve as a bridge between the district and the campus in such a way that furthers the district-wide strategic plan and ensures "one vision, one voice, one plan."

Organizational Improvement

* Lead the campus in building a common vision for school improvement with all stakeholders.

* Identify, analyze and apply research findings to promote school improvement.

* Lead the development of the campus improvement plan while including staff, parents, and community members in the process.

* Develop and use information systems to maintain records to track progress on campus performance objectives.

Personnel Management

* Lead the hiring process (interviewing,…