SANTA CRUZ CITY SCHOOLS PRINCIPAL, ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS DEFINITION: Serve as the educational leader, facilitator and chief executive of the Alternative Schools; direct the instructional program, operation of the school plant, participation in staff and student activities; interpret and implement the educational and administrative programs of the Alternative Schools according to the policies and directions from the Board of Education; assign duties and responsibilities to staff members to ensure that the necessary educational services and activities meet the needs of the students; ensure proper relationships with community, parents, students and other educational levels. EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: •Experience: Equivalent to five years of successful teaching experience; minimum of one year experience in a position requiring an administration or supervision credential. •Education: Equivalent to a Master's degree in education. LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE: A valid California Administrative Services Credential. OCTOBER 29, 2010, SITE NEEDS ASSESSMENT Input from Staff, Parents and Students QUALITIES/CHARACTERISTICS: •Alliance builder •Straight forward and truthful •Hard working and willing to “make it all happen” •Open minded, flexible, collaborative and adaptable •Promotes and is part of the school family •Creative thinker - can think outside the box – is comfortable moving away from traditional models •Advocate for alternative students and teachers, both within and outside of district •Can balance between being both firm and kind •Passion for education and compassion for all •Promotes a culture of calm, trust, forgiveness, respect, balance, integrity •Friendliness and sense of humor •Visible on campus and in classrooms •Wants to be involved •Model being a lifelong learner •Find positives for feedback •Stay on message with what is best for site •Promotes adult/student relationships – works with students – not just gives directives •Really cares about knows students KNOWLEDGE OF/EXPERIENCE WITH: •Continuation and alternative schools •Home school programs – individual beliefs, course of studies and educational philosophies •Knowledge of and willingness to learn budget and manage funds •Bilingual Spanish preferred •Experience with and true interest in K-12 curriculum •Effective teaching strategies •Student and parent needs – can work with diversity and have empathy for all children •Experience in K-12 education, preferably in both elementary and secondary schools •Successful experience as a classroom teacher •Broad understanding of developmental ranges of student learning •Understanding and sustaining a safe and positive school culture •Movement of students between alternative and comprehensive high schools SKILLS: •Good communicator and listener – cares about correct messaging, values input •Responsible delegator •Able to foster shared leadership •Able to identify and build upon effective practices •Organized: able to prioritize and follow through with tasks •Skilled in dealing with conflict / resolution •Can access resources to make informed decisions •Able to be an advocate for school programs in district and community networking and collaboration •Able to establish and maintain positive relationships with students, and to build student connectedness within the school programs •Able to develop common, shared vision with stakeholders •Relationship builder •Can handle challenges with positive problem solving