Belgrade High School Principal - Belgrade, Montana

Belgrade School District provides instructional, athletic, and activities opportunities for more than 3,200 students from the community of nearly 14,000 residents. Through the commitment of more than 600 full- and part-time staff members, students engage in learning and participa ...

Job description

Belgrade School District provides instructional, athletic, and activities opportunities for more than 3,200 students from the community of nearly 14,000 residents. Through the commitment of more than 600 full- and part-time staff members, students engage in learning and participate in extracurricular events throughout the calendar year. As Belgrade's largest employer, we're proud of the partnership we have with local families, businesses and civic organizations. Working with Belgrade School District is a rewarding opportunity to be part of our mission "to educate students to become responsible members of society."

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits including  a district contribution toward health insurance premiums, and available dental, vision, and life insurance as well as other supplemental insurance plans. District employees also participate in PERS or TRS retirement plans which is vested after 5 years. Employees can also choose to contribute to a 403B plan with an additional district contribution. 

Position Overview:

The High School Principal serves as the chief instructional and administrative leader of the school and is responsible for providing vision, leadership, and management to ensure a safe, orderly, and academically rigorous learning environment. The Principal leads curriculum and instruction, school climate, organizational operations, staff supervision and evaluation, budgeting, and community relations in alignment with District mission, Board policy, Montana law, and Office of Public Instruction requirements. 220 contract days.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops and communicates a clear vision for teaching and learning aligned with District goals and Montana Content Standards. 
• Leads implementation of research-based instructional practices and professional learning communities. 
• Uses multiple sources of student data to guide instructional decisions and school improvement. 
• Establishes schedules and systems that maximize instructional time and student achievement. 
• Establishes and maintains a safe, respectful, and positive school culture. 
• Implements effective behavior systems, restorative practices, and crisis response procedures. 
• Maintains a visible presence in the building and events to support supervision, safety, and security. 
• Promotes high expectations for academic success, conduct, and student well-being. 
• Leads development, implementation, and monitoring of the School Improvement Plan. 
• Uses formative, summative, and diagnostic assessment data to guide instructional planning and goal setting. 
• Ensures alignment of assessment practices with instructional priorities and accountability requirements. 
• Serves as Chief Administrator of the assigned building and oversees daily operations. 
• Develops, manages, and monitors the school budget in collaboration with District leadership. 
• Supervises allocation of facilities, equipment, materials, and District resources. 
• Ensures compliance with Board policy, collective bargaining agreements, and state and federal law. 
• Supervises and evaluates assistant principals, teachers, and classified staff in accordance with District protocols. 
• Leads recruitment, hiring, induction, mentoring, and retention of highly qualified staff at the building level. 
• Addresses performance concerns through coaching, professional development, and improvement plans. 
• Maintains confidentiality and professionalism in all personnel matters. 
• Implements District evaluation systems with consistency, fairness, and fidelity. 
• Provides timely, constructive feedback based on multiple measures of performance. 
• Ensures documentation and compliance with evaluation timelines and improvement processes. 
• Serves as liaison between the school, families, community organizations, and the media. 
• Builds strong partnerships with parents, PTO, agencies, and community leaders. 
• Communicates clearly, effectively, and transparently using multiple platforms. 
• Facilitates conferences and meetings to address academic, behavioral, and student support needs. 
• Models integrity, fairness and ethical decision-making. 
• Engages in continuous professional growth and leadership development. 
• Fulfills contractual obligations, maintains required licensure and endorsements, and complies with the Montana Code of Ethics for Educators. 

Qualifications and Skills

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's Degree in Educational Administration. 
• Minimum five (5) years of certified K–12 teaching experience. 
• Experience in supervision, evaluation, and management of staff. 
• Valid Montana Class 3 Administrator License with Principal Endorsement (or ability to obtain). 
• Valid Montana driver's license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong instructional leadership and data-informed decision-making skills. 
• Ability to develop and manage budgets and resources. 
• Knowledge of education law, Board policy, and collective bargaining agreements. 
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to lead in high-stress, high-accountability environments while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.