Hiawatha Elementary School Principal

Essex Westford School District seeks a dynamic and visionary leader to join our team as the Hiawatha Elementary School Principal beginning with the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year. Our District is committed to providing all students with a challenging and supportive learning environment. This position helps to create and maintain an educational atmosphere that provides an opportunity for all students to achieve to the optimum of their ability and all staff to function efficiently toward the fulfillment of that end. As the Elementary School Principal, you will play a crucial role in shaping the educational experience for our students. We seek an innovative and forward-thinking leader passionate about fostering a positive school culture, promoting equity and inclusion, and implementing effective educational practices.

EWSD is committed to considering out-of-state candidates eligible to hold a Vermont educator license but do not yet hold a license in this state.

Our district vision is: "Growing hearts and minds, for a better today and tomorrow: every day, every way, every one."

EWSD is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. Successful candidates must be committed to working effectively with diverse community populations and are expected to strengthen such capacity if hired. Candidates with experience living or working in another country, the ability to fluently speak more than one language, and/or peace corp experience are encouraged to apply to help contribute to a diversity of thinking and grow our organizational practices.

Key Responsibilities:

Organizational Leadership:

• Develop organizational goals and objectives consistent with the vision, mission and values of the district.
• Set and enforce rigorous standards for student achievement that are in line with the district goals and the continuous improvement plan.
• Create a culture of excellence, teamwork and collaboration amongst the staff, teachers, students and families.
• Foster a school climate that supports both student and staff success and promotes respect and appreciation for all students, staff and parents.
• Oversee all programs, services, and activities to ensure that program objectives are met.

Instructional Leadership:

• Foster a culture of innovation by encouraging creative teaching methods and staying abreast of educational trends and best practices.
• Understand instructional strategies that engage students and prepare them for success in a rapidly changing world.  
• Cultivate an environment where feedback is welcomed and used to grow one’s practice.
• Sustain a learning culture focused on results, high expectations, and a growth mindset for students and adults.

School Administration:

• Supervise and evaluate teachers and staff in a collaborative, responsive way.
• Oversight of the day-to-day operations of the elementary school, including student safety, and extracurricular activities.
• Collaborate with district administrators, teachers, and support staff to achieve district-wide goals.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Education or related field.
• Vermont Principal License or eligibility for licensure.
• Demonstrated experience in educational leadership
• Strong understanding of equity issues in education and a commitment to fostering an inclusive school environment.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience and committment to Professional Learning Communities
• Proven ability to lead and inspire a team of educators.

 For additional information, CLICK HERE for a copy of the full job description.

EWSD conducts thorough screenings of all applicants being recommended for hire, which may include contacting references not listed on your application. Selected individuals are subject to criminal records background checks and child and adult abuse registry checks. Any offer of employment will be contingent upon acceptable results of these checks at the sole discretion of the Superintendent or his/her designee. Please click HERE for additional background check information.