Job Description

Reporting to the Associate Head of School, the Upper School Principal is a member of the senior leadership team and is responsible for the successful implementation of the Upper School academic program, overseeing the social and emotional support of students, and the hiring and retention of qualified instructional and support staff. Working closely with the two other Upper School leaders—Assistant Principal for Grades 9-10 and Assistant Principal for the IB Diploma Program—the Principal is accountable for fostering and managing the implementation of the mission, core values, and core beliefs in all aspects of the Upper School program. 

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Maintain alignment between all Upper School activities and the School’s mission, core values, and core beliefs.
2. Act as the Upper School educational leader by ensuring faculty, staff, and students thrive in a safe environment that provides meaningful learning opportunities.
3. Develop plans and programs to meet the educational, physical, social, and psychological needs of the school community.
4. Manage the Upper School’s day-to-day operation and be a visible presence in all areas. This includes ensuring faculty/staff adhere to school policies; maintaining the Upper School budget; and ensuring student academic and attendance records are complete and accurate.
5. Oversee and maintain, in conjunction with the Middle School Principal, the Grades 6-12 master schedule and shared human resources and facilities.
6. Oversee assessment and reporting methods to document student achievement.
7. Direct department chairs and faculty committees and conduct regular meetings to deal with routine school matters and to stimulate the exchange of ideas regarding issues of educational/philosophical interest and concern.
8. Manage the execution of distance education to include alternative teaching and learning delivery methods: oversee in coordination with Directors of Technology and Teaching and Learning the development of effective online courses reflecting best practices, the roll-out of appropriate student support, and the practice of consistent, on-line faculty collaboration.
9. Oversee the appraisal system and promote faculty/staff professional development. In cooperation with the Upper School Assistant Principals,and the Director of Teaching and LEarning  evaluate faculty performance through regular observation in classrooms.
10. Establish guidelines for proper student conduct and dress.
11. Engage with Upper School parents—through regular division meetings and one-on-one meetings/communication—in support of student achievement and mental/physical wellness.
12. Ensure all Upper School constituencies are well informed about expectations, opportunities, programs, and events. 
13. Oversee the Assistant Principal for IB DP in meeting the requirements and standards for delivering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.
14. Oversee the Assistant Principal for Grades 9-10 in developing/managing the Upper School schedule and co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, including school assemblies and programs.
15. Ensure the clear vertical and horizontal articulation of the curriculum within the division and also in cooperation with the Middle and Primary School divisions.
16. Support the Assistant Principals, when necessary, with student discipline issues.
17. Directly supervise and mentor the Upper School Assistant Principals, the University Counselors, the Upper School Counselor and the Upper School Learning Specialist.
18. Supervise and mentor, in cooperation with the Middle School Principal, the Athletics Director and the Tregaron Director of Teaching and Learning.
19. Ensure, in cooperation with the Associate Head of School, compliance with government/agency legal requirements and regulations, and maintain educational standards established by state and accrediting organizations.
20. Assist in testing, interviewing, and evaluating applicants for enrollment.
21. Cooperate with the Associate Head and the Director of Human Resources, and other colleagues as needed, to oversee the recruitment, hiring, retention, and assignment of the Upper School faculty and staff.

• Previous administrative/supervisory experience (at least five years) at an IB or international school
• Visionary, action-oriented leadership and the ability to inspire and empower others
• Ability to evaluate efficacy of professional development
• Ability to lead staff toward instructional improvement and conduct relevant training
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with school stakeholders
• Cultural fluency derived from international experience
• Significant understanding/hands-on knowledge of the IB Diploma Program
• Teaching experience, preferably in Grades 9-12
• Knowledge of Harvard’s Project Zero
• Familiarity with current educational pedagogy and research 
• Experience working effectively with a diverse parent body who have high expectations for their children and the School
• Passion for WIS’s mission
• Strong communication skills, a sense of humor, humility, and empathy
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion
• Fluency in a language in addition to English would be an asset, but is not required
• Master’s degree in education and educational administration is preferred.

About Washington International School

Founded in 1966, Washington International School is a private, non-profit, Preschool-12 school profoundly committed to its mission: to be an exemplary learning community—enriched by differences, informed through inquiry, global in reach. Serving its full community of 900 plus students on two campuses, the school is multinational, multicultural, and multilingual. The school’s challenging international program draws on classroom-based research on pedagogical practices and curriculum design from renowned organizations such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Project Zero, based in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. From Preschool through Grade 5 students follow the inquiry-based IB Primary Years Program; in Grades 6-10 they continue with a multidisciplinary and inquiry-based approach designed to enhance understanding and develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the prestigious IB Diploma Program (DP). All students in Grades 11 and 12 are enrolled in the DP, which prepares them to take exams to receive the International Baccalaureate Diploma in addition to a WIS diploma. IB Diploma results are well above the worldwide pass rate, and WIS gra ... duates attend highly selective colleges and universities in both the United States (about two-thirds in a typical year) and abroad. Commitment to the intensive study of a second language is a core principle, with Pre-School, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes taught entirely in French or Spanish. All instruction in Grades 1-5 is “dual language” in English and either French or Spanish. Chinese is an option beginning in Grade 6. Typically, one half to three-quarters of WIS graduates earn the Bilingual IB Diploma, demonstrating fluency in two languages. The entire school community – alumni, parents, students, teachers, administrators and staff – are ardent advocates for international education. WIS has played a prominent role in setting a standard for a global perspective that many schools now emulate. The school culture is highly egalitarian, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and understanding differing points of view. There is no typical WIS family: some households consist only of U.S. passport holders, others are all non-U.S. passport holders and many are a mix of nationalities. In addition to this global diversity, WIS also strives to achieve economic diversity: 14% of the students receive financial assistance.

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