Deep Creek Middle School Principal

Island School Overview

The Island School, a not-for-profit organization based in The Bahamas, was founded to create and support transformational educational experiences with the vision of leadership effecting change, on the island of Eleuthera. The diverse educational initiatives, including our High School Semester and Summer Term, Deep Creek Middle School, Elementary Learning Center, and our Community Engagement and Partnerships, deliver unique educational journeys in conjunction with the authentic and meaningful work our organization undertakes in research and sustainable development at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, our research and innovation hub. We are reimagining what education is for, and redesigning how education is delivered.

About the Program

Deep Creek Middle School at The Island School is an independent day school in the settlement of Deep Creek, on the island of Eleuthera, in The Bahamas. It was founded in September 2001, with the goal of increasing access to educational resources for people in South Eleuthera. The school has grown to serve students in grades 7, 8 and 9. DCMS offers an experiential approach to the Bahamian national curriculum.

Within the framework of The Island School’s vision of leadership effecting change, DCMS creates a learning environment where students not only learn the subject matter from the Bahamian national curriculum, but focus on academic growth, leadership and responsible citizenship. In order to achieve these core values, our programs and curriculum teach critical thinking, problem solving, communication and social skills.

Position Overview

The Middle School Principal will:

• Provide educational leadership on all facets of middle school life, especially curriculum and teaching/learning
• In all decisions, ensure alignment with the Island School's vision, mission, and core values
• Embrace diversity and consistently demonstrate intercultural understanding and empathy
• Support the school’s strategic initiatives and day-to-day operations
• Develop and implement a yearly and weekly schedule that adheres to the core values and goals of DCMS, reflects the needs of the students, and takes advantage of staff strengths and skills
• Communicate and engage regularly with staff and families to maintain trust and rapport and build a strong home-school partnership
• Maintain a healthy and respectful school culture that ensures a safe, positive climate for teaching and learning
• Work closely with leaders across the organization, including the Director of Education, the Elementary Learning Center Lead Teacher, Instructional Coach, Community Engagement Manager to coordinate resources in support of all of our educational initiatives

General Responsibilities

Leadership

Serve as a Department Head

• Attend weekly Department Head meetings as the representative of DCMS and communicate pertinent information with DCMS staff
• Demonstrate flexibility, adaptability, and a willingness to work across the organization to promote the success of all programming
• Work collaboratively with other Department Heads to utilize staff strengths and skills effectively across the divisions
• Maintain clear and timely communication
• Fulfill all other Department Head responsibilities as assigned

Serve as the public face of DCMS

• Positively promote the DCMS vision, mission, and core values within The Island School organization and the larger Eleutheran communit
• Coordinate and lead DCMS participation in Semester Family Weekend and other special eve

Meet regularly with the Head of School and Director of Education

• Provide pertinent information about the needs, successes, and operations of DCMS
• Set professional and personal goals
• Be open to feedback and demonstrate a willingness to grow

Complete reports accurately and in a timely manner. These include, but are not limited

To:

• Grant reports
• Board updates
• Newsletters
• Ministry of Education documents

Students and Families

• Actively develop and maintain positive relationships with students and their families
• Take responsibility for general discipline matters beyond the management of classroom teachers, ensuring that students’ advisors are actively involved in all discipline matters relating to their advisee
• Cultivate and expand student leadership opportunities
• Participate in school activities including, but not limited to, swimming class, School Without Walls, Junior Junkanoo, outreach clubs, advisories, and after school activities
• Manage the middle school student admissions process
• Ensure that the middle school student/parent handbook is up to date
• Ensure that family interest and participation in the school is encouraged and that scheduled family/advisor meetings occur
• Attend and support PTA meetings and activities

Staff

• Build trust, engagement and inspire faculty and draw out the best from your faculty and staff
• Work collaboratively with other Department Heads to ensure that DCMS staff strength and skills are utilized strategically across The Island School
• Directly supervise and support all middle school staff
• Ensure that staff has access to professional development that supports school and professional goals
• Provide effective orientation and induction for new teaching staff and ensure that responsibilities are carried out effectively
• Provide ongoing mentoring and coaching for staff through frequent informal observations and bi-weekly check-ins
• Maintain open, two-way communication with staff
• Identify staffing needs, advertise, interview, and make recommendations for hire

Curriculum & Instruction

• Exercise oversight of the middle school instructional program
• Stay up to date on best practices in place-based instruction and mentor teachers in implementing these practices
• In collaboration with teachers, analyze and refine existing curriculum and update curriculum maps and documents
• Ensure the regular reporting of student progress to families
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Education and the Elementary Learning Center teachers to develop cohesive, developmentally appropriate programming

Management

• Maintain accurate records and monitor spending and commitments in conjunction with the middle school budget
• Maintain a welcoming, safe, and functional school environment
• Conduct regular meetings with middle school staff
• Be an active, collaborative, and positive member of the CEIS community
• Ensure that all agreed decisions are communicated and implemented effectively
• Ensure that the Head of School/CEO is kept informed of significant information

Please note that this job description does not contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee for this job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time, with the needs of the organization.

We are a Bahamian equal opportunity employer and preference will be given to suitably qualified Bahamians.