Principal - School for the Deaf

Full Job Description

https://csdb.colorado.gov/

Requirements

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Principal of the School for the Deaf serves as a collaborative, culturally responsive instructional leader responsible for fostering a Deaf-centered educational environment.

This includes sustaining a bilingual (ASL/English) learning community where Deaf ways of being, thinking, and creating are foundational.

The Principal leads the development, support, and supervision of staff to ensure high-quality instruction and services. This role aligns instructional practices, school culture, and operational systems to advance academic achievement, identity development, and student agency.

The Principal is responsible for ensuring strong educational outcomes while promoting an affirming understanding of Deaf individuals as integral contributors to human diversity.

This includes coordinating resources and services to support students’ academic, social, and developmental needs in alignment with school priorities, language practices, and community values.

This position operates within a Deaf-centered framework that values both Deaf and hearing professionals and emphasizes shared responsibility, mutual respect, and collective ownership of student success.

The Principal leads through shared decision-making by incorporating input from staff and the community, ensuring meaningful inclusion of Deaf stakeholders, while maintaining decision-making authority and accountability.

The Principal builds staff capacity through coaching, feedback, and professional learning; leads staffing and performance management in collaboration with leadership; ensures effective use of resources; applies current research and best practices in Deaf education; and fosters a positive, inclusive, and respectful school climate that supports student and staff well-being, engagement, and effective communication.

JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provide collaborative leadership that engages staff, leadership, and stakeholders in shared decision-making while maintaining accountability for schoolwide outcomes.
• Align academic, residential, and student life programming to support a consistent, student-centered learning environment.
• Lead instructional improvement through data-informed practices, professional learning, and ongoing coaching and feedback.
• Implement and sustain a bilingual-bicultural (ASL/English) instructional framework aligned with organizational priorities.
• Maintain a visible presence in classrooms through walkthroughs, observations, and direct support to staff.
• Oversee MTSS, assessment systems, and intervention planning to support student achievement and growth.
• Ensure alignment of student programming with IEPs, including scheduling, service delivery, and compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and safe school climate, ensuring consistent and equitable implementation of discipline and safety practices.
• Recruit, hire, supervise, and evaluate staff; support performance through clear expectations, feedback, and accountability.
• Strengthen staff capacity by addressing workload, removing barriers, and ensuring access to necessary resources.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with families, the Deaf community, and external stakeholders.
• Manage school operations and resources, including staffing, curriculum, technology, and facilities, while supporting budget and fiscal accountability.
• Communicate program goals, student outcomes, and school initiatives, and participate in accountability and continuous improvement processes.
• Engage in and lead ongoing professional learning aligned with best practices in Deaf education and leadership.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to and is evaluated by the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (CIA). This position is expected to work in alignment with organizational leadership, maintain open and ongoing communication, and implement school and system-level direction with fidelity.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Full-time position scheduled in accordance with the academic calendar (currently 210 days, August through June).
• Annual base salary is established in accordance with the Principal Salary Schedule and based on relevant experience.
• Continued employment is contingent upon satisfactory performance of assigned duties and adherence to organizational policies, performance expectations, and professional standards.
• Employment is at-will and does not constitute an actual, expressed, or implied contract.

EFFECTIVE DATE

School Year 2026–2027

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is performed in a typical school environment and involves primarily sedentary to light physical activity. This position may require exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and frequent walking or standing.

Duties may include climbing stairs, bending, reaching, handling objects, and using fingers to operate a computer keyboard. The role requires the ability to communicate effectively, exchange information, and receive detailed instructions.

Work also requires the ability to compare, compile, analyze, and coordinate data and information; instruct and train others; and demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and professional behaviors.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (MQs)

• Master’s degree in Education or a related field.
• Must hold or be eligible for Colorado licensure as one of the following:
  • Special Education Specialist: Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing
  • Professional Principal
• Demonstrated at minimum intermediate-plus ASL fluency and the ability to work effectively with Deaf individuals.
• Ability to lead, supervise, and communicate effectively in ASL.
• Minimum five (5) years of professional experience in education.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (PQs)

• Master’s degree in Deaf Education or a closely related field.
• Significant experience working in Deaf-centered environments.
• Advanced ASL proficiency.
• Minimum three (3) years of administrative or supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience working in collaborative, team-based environments.
• Strong communication skills, follow-through, and alignment with organizational leadership expectations.
• Commitment to continued professional growth in Deaf education and leadership practices.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to lead an interdisciplinary educational vision that addresses the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of Deaf students, including students with additional disabilities.
• Ability to build trust, foster collaboration, and sustain a positive and accountable professional culture.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make sound decisions under pressure.
• Knowledge of best practices in Deaf education and bilingual-bicultural (ASL/English) instruction.
• Strong knowledge of curriculum, instruction, assessment systems, and data-informed decision-making, including PLCs and MTSS.
• Ability to lead curriculum development and continuous instructional improvement.
• Demonstrated competence in staff recruitment, supervision, evaluation, and professional development.
• Ability to support staff through clear expectations, ongoing feedback, and accountability.
• Commitment to equitable and collaborative decision-making practices.
• Understanding of Deaf culture, identity, and language development, and the ability to apply this knowledge in leadership practice.
• Knowledge of special education law, IEP development, and service delivery.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and with specialized service providers.
• Knowledge of federal and state education laws and the ability to ensure compliance.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Proficiency in ASL and English, both receptive and expressive.
• Ability to work effectively in collaborative, team-based environments.
• Ability to use and adapt technology to support school operations and communication.

Additional Information

• Medical and Dental plans
• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Wellness programs
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system