Position: Elementary Building Principal
Location: West Godwin Elementary, Godwin Heights Public Schools, Wyoming, Michigan
Reports To: Superintendent
Application: Godwin Heights Job Site

Godwin Heights Public Schools (GHPS) is an urban K-12 public school district in Wyoming, Michigan. The district serves a vibrant and diverse student body, offering an environment that values inclusion, equity, and excellence. With a deep commitment to providing a high-quality education to all students, GHPS is driven by the belief that all students possess the ability to learn, to experience personal success, and to be productive citizens.

West Godwin Elementary seeks a transformational leader who is a visible presence in the school and community, modeling optimism, resilience, and unwavering commitment to student success. The Principal will champion high expectations for academic achievement and student behavior while cultivating a culture rooted in equity, inclusion, and continuous improvement. A special emphasis will be placed on ensuring strong early literacy and mathematics foundations to set every child on a path to long-term academic success.

Key Responsibilities

Instructional Leadership
- Serve as the instructional leader with a strategic focus on foundational literacy and numeracy in early childhood and primary grades.
- Support staff in implementing effective, evidence-based practices in reading and math instruction aligned with state standards and district goals.
- Lead efforts to improve early reading proficiency and mathematical fluency through targeted interventions, curriculum alignment, and instructional coaching.
- Use data to monitor student growth in literacy and numeracy, and adjust instructional strategies accordingly.
- Coordinate the development and implementation of school improvement plans with an emphasis on early academic foundations.
- Provide regular, actionable feedback to educators, promoting high-quality instruction and student-centered learning environments.
- Utilize 5D+ training (preferred) to evaluate and support high-quality teaching practices.
Equity and Student Advocacy
- Lead staff in conversations on equity, unconscious bias, and achievement gap data.
- Ensure all students, especially early learners, have equitable access to high-quality literacy and math instruction and interventions.
- Lead staff in analyzing achievement data, disaggregated by subgroup, to identify and close early learning gaps.
- Promote culturally responsive teaching practices to support students from diverse backgrounds.
- Advocate for students’ academic and social-emotional needs, with particular attention to early learners who may need additional support.
- Ensure compliance with Title IX and other educational equity laws.
Staff Support and Professional Development
- Facilitate professional development aligned with district goals, focused on effective early literacy and math instruction (e.g., phonemic awareness, number sense, structured reading approaches).
- Foster a culture of collaboration through instructional rounds, coaching cycles, and data meetings focused on early academic achievement.
- Develop leadership capacity among teachers and support staff to champion foundational learning initiatives.
- Promote the integration of high-leverage teaching strategies and early intervention programs.
- Evaluate instructional and support staff to improve effectiveness.
School Culture and Climate
- Build a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment that supports the social-emotional and academic needs of all learners, particularly early learners.
- Establish and maintain a culture of high expectations and mutual respect.
- Interact daily with students in a supportive and encouraging manner.
Operational Leadership
- Manage school operations, including budgeting, staffing, scheduling, and facilities.
- Oversee safety protocols, crisis management, and emergency procedures.
- Allocate resources strategically to support early literacy and math initiatives (e.g., budgeting, instructional coaches, assessment tools).
- Ensure school systems and instructional supports are aligned with current state and federal mandates, particularly in early childhood education.
- Participate in PreK-12 district planning, ensuring vertical alignment of curriculum and assessment practices in ELA and math.
Community Engagement
- Partner with families and community organizations to strengthen early childhood learning and family literacy.
- Communicate regularly with families about student progress, early learning goals, and ways to support literacy and math at home.
- Advocate for community resources that support foundational learning, such as early reading programs, tutoring, and library partnerships.
- Collaborate with central office and district leadership to support school-wide goals.
Other Duties
- Continually assess and refine systems that impact early learning outcomes
- Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned by district leadership.

Qualifications

Valid Michigan Teaching Certificate – Required.
Educational Leadership Degree or Certificate – Required.
Michigan School Administrator Certificate (or ability to obtain within six months and complete within three years).
Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, Administration, or Curriculum.
Minimum of three (3) years of administrative experience.
Minimum five (5) years of successful teaching and/or administrative experience, preferably with an early elementary focus.
Demonstrated knowledge of early childhood education, foundational literacy and numeracy strategies, and curriculum development.
Proven knowledge of school improvement strategies, curriculum development, and teacher effectiveness research.
Knowledge of culturally responsive teaching practices and educational equity.
Strong communication, leadership, and data-driven decision-making skills.

Desired Traits

Demonstrated expertise in foundational literacy and mathematics instruction, with a strong commitment to early learning equity and academic excellence for all students.
Proven ability to lead with empathy, transparency, and integrity while fostering a culturally responsive and inclusive school culture.
Inspirational instructional leader who empowers and supports educators through coaching, collaboration, and continuous professional growth.
Technologically proficient and innovative, with the ability to integrate digital tools effectively for instruction, assessment, communication, and school operations.
Exceptionally organized and solutions-oriented, capable of navigating the complexities of a dynamic school environment with flexibility, resilience, and a student-centered mindset.
Deep commitment to ongoing learning, educational innovation, and the continuous improvement of teaching and learning systems.
5D+ training preferred.

Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment). The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust/focus.

Work Environment:
The noise level in the work environment is usually loud to moderate. Work is performed indoors, although there may be required outdoor activities. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being, and work output of students.

Mental Functions:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing in the English language, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile, and negotiate.

Benefits:
Full-Time Position - 45 Weeks
Great Benefits
Collaborative and Supportive Work Environment

Elementary Principal