Position Type: Administration/Principal Date Posted: 8/1/2025 Location: Oakwood Elementary School Closing Date: 08/15/2025 District: Portland Public Schools
POSITION: Oakwood Elementary Principal LOCATION: Oakwood Elementary School (PreK - 2nd Grade) DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLAN Portland Public Schools is seeking a dynamic, compassionate, and visionary educational leader to serve as Principal of Oakwood Elementary. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced educator who leads with heart, builds strong relationships with students and families, and brings a thoughtful, student-centered approach to learning. Our district values innovation, empowers leadership, and actively encourages the pursuit of new ideas and programs that support the whole child. We are looking for a leader who is ready to build upon a strong foundation while exploring new pathways to meet the evolving needs of students. The ideal candidate brings not only a solid understanding of curriculum, instruction, and school operations, but also the creativity, strategic thinking, and courage to design and implement systems that move the school forward. Portland Public Schools offers a supportive, team-oriented environment where forward-thinking leadership is celebrated and sustained.
Eligible candidates must meet the following qualifications: - Master's degree in Educational Administration
- Valid Michigan Teaching Certificate
- Michigan Administrative Certification (or eligible)
- Minimum of five years of successful teaching and/or administrative experience
- Strong understanding of instructional leadership, evaluation systems, and school operations
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills
The desired candidate would possess the following experiences and dispositions: - Proven ability to build strong, trusting relationships with students, families, staff, and community members
- Familiarity with Capturing Kids' Hearts or similar frameworks that promote relational capacity, connected classrooms, and positive school culture
- Comfortable working in a dynamic environment where initiative, problem-solving, and adaptability are essential
- Strong systems thinking: able to design, implement, and refine processes that align with strategic goals and support sustainable change
- Proven ability to lead innovation and bring ideas from concept to implementation
- Demonstrated success in cultivating staff leadership and professional growth
- Familiarity with MTSS, PBIS, CTE pathways, early college/dual enrollment programs, and student-centered scheduling
- Knowledge of State and Federal special education laws and compliance
- A growth mindset, openness to risk-taking, and commitment to continuous learning
Essential duties and responsibilities of the position: Instructional Leadership & Student Experience - Collaboratively develop and implement a clear, student-centered vision for Oakwood Elementary that prioritizes individualized learning, meaningful opportunities, and relevant experiences for all students.
- Champion and integrate the district's Portrait of a Learner into school culture, classroom practices, and daily student experiences.
- Lead the implementation and ongoing support of Capturing Kids' Hearts, fostering strong relationships, connected classrooms, and a culture where every child feels known and valued.
- Provide building-level leadership in the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).
- Partner with the Director of Elementary Education to support the design, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum, instruction, and assessment in both general and special education.
- Partner with the Director of Elementary Education to support best practices in foundational literacy instruction, intervention, and assessment to ensure all students become confident readers.
- Foster inclusive, supportive learning environments for students with disabilities by partnering with special education staff and families to ensure that every student's IEP needs are met with care, fidelity, and high expectations.
- Collaborate with early childhood staff to ensure smooth transitions into kindergarten, developmentally appropriate practices, and a strong foundation for early learning.
- Promote student voice and leadership through age-appropriate opportunities that build confidence, responsibility, and a sense of belonging in the school community.
- Actively support the district's strategic plan by developing and implementing elementary-specific strategies that align with the district's priorities.
- In partnership with district leadership, help identify professional development needs and support the delivery of high-quality learning opportunities for staff.
School Culture & Community Engagement - Promote a positive, inclusive, and caring school culture that emphasizes high-quality instruction, social-emotional growth, and a joyful learning environment for all students.
- Strengthen home-school connections by fostering meaningful family engagement, hosting inclusive events, and encouraging two-way communication that supports student growth and well-being.
- Support the implementation of both district and building-level communication plans, ensuring clear, consistent, and timely communication with students, staff, and families.
- Lead the annual development and revision of the Parent/Student Handbook to reflect current building practices and district policies.
- Maintain strong relationships with students, staff, and families through regular visibility, active listening, and community engagement.
Operations & Management - Ensure a safe, nurturing, and orderly learning environment through the planning, implementation, and revision of safety drills, procedures, and protocols.
- Recruit, hire, assign, and evaluate staff to ensure alignment with certification requirements and state/federal regulations.
- Conduct mid-year, formative, and summative evaluations of all elementary staff, including the development and monitoring of individualized growth plans.
- Provide input on the development of the building-level budget, staffing levels, and resource needs; monitor expenditures to ensure responsible and equitable use of school funds.
- Plan and facilitate regular staff meetings that foster collaboration, communication, and professional growth.
- Collaborate with the Director of Elementary Education and building leadership team to implement, monitor, and report progress on the School Improvement Plan.
- Ensure compliance with Board policies and all state and federal mandates, including required documentation and reporting.
- Support communication and alignment between the school and the Board of Education by attending meetings as needed and providing timely updates to the Superintendent.
- Maintain active participation in county and regional principal meetings, professional organizations, and district events as required.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Superintendent and/or the Board of Education.
Terms of Employment: Contract: 215-day administrative contract (non-tenure, two-year term) Salary: $90,000-$105,000, commensurate with experience, with full benefits as per the employment agreement. Application Process: Applicants for the position should email letter of application, resume, copies of credentials to ...@portlandk12.org or apply online at: by Friday, August 15, 2025
William Heath, Superintendent Portland Public Schools 1100 Ionia Road Portland, MI 48875 Questions about the position or the district can be sent to William Heath, Superintendent, Portland Public Schools at ...@portlandk12.org or 517-###-#### No person applying for employment at Portland Public Schools shall, on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, (including sexual orientation and transgender identity), disability, age, religion, height, weight, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information or any other legally protected category, (collectively, Protected Classes ), in its programs and activities, including employment opportunities. We are an equal opportunity employer.