Principal – Early Learning Center Position Available In Clayton, Georgia

Principal – Early Learning Center
Clayton County Public Schools

CLAYTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

– Jonesboro, Georgia This job is also posted in Clayton County Public Schools
Job Details

Job ID:

5248277

Application Deadline:

Sep 21, 2025 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)

Posted:

Jun 20, 2025

Starting Date:

Immediately
Job Description

Applicants:

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POSITION SUMMARY

The Principal of the Early Learning Center (ELC) is responsible for the administration, instructional leadership, and operational management of the early childhood education program. This individual ensures a safe, nurturing, and high-quality learning environment that fosters young children’s social, emotional, and academic development. Key responsibilities include overseeing curriculum implementation, managing staff, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, and cultivating strong relationships with families and the community. This position reports to the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Demonstrates a strong understanding of early childhood development, pedagogy, and effective instructional methodologies. Familiarity with early childhood state and federal regulations, including IDEA, Head Start, IEPs, and accreditation requirements. Develops and implements policies, instructional strategies, and educational programs aligned with early learning best practices and state standards. Hires, supervises, coaches, and professionally develops staff to build a high-performing team. Manages budget, allocates resources, and secures grants and/or funding for early childhood education programs. Fosters a positive school culture and create strong relationships with families and the community. Oversees daily operations, including scheduling and facility management. Ensures compliance with licensing regulations, health and safety policies, and accreditation requirements. Participates in appropriate in-service programs designed to enhance professional competencies as recommended by Georgia Pre-Kindergarten program and/or Early Childhood agencies.
Oversees the development and execution of age-appropriate curriculum that promotes cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Supports teachers in implementing engaging and developmentally appropriate instructional strategies. Assesses program effectiveness and implements data-driven adjustments to enhance student learning outcomes. Utilizes early learning assessment tools and curriculum frameworks. Fosters a safe, inclusive, and nurturing learning environment. Demonstrates social-emotional learning (SEL) programs and behavior intervention strategies.
Establishes and maintains partnerships with local organizations, early childhood agencies, and key educational stakeholders to advance early learning initiatives.
Collaborates with Assistant Principals and instructional support staff to lead high-fidelity implementation of district policies as well as instructional process, practices, and programs to include curriculum, instruction, assessment, intervention, and prevention. Manages, analyzes, and interprets demographic, student learning, process, and perceptual data for school improvement. Ensures faculty and staff participation in the school’s continuous improvement decision-making process. Develops with stakeholders and monitors school improvement plan based on identified students, staff, and school needs. Conducts daily instructional walk-throughs and provides teachers with timely and constructive feedback on classroom instruction. Coordinates with the various teaching, learning, curriculum, assessment, and professional learning departments to maximize staff support and leverage resources that can improve staff performance and student outcomes.
Develops, manages, and monitors building operations, safety, and security processes for the overall working and learning environment. Supervises and co-supervises curricular and extracurricular events. Attends school-related community events. Develops positive and collaborative relationships with staff, students, and families. Communicates with and responds to stakeholders in a timely manner.
Supervises, manages, and coordinates with assistant principals the evaluation of all faculty and staff. Screens, interviews, and recommends staff. Assigns duties and responsibilities to staff. Develops and manages effective staff orientation and school-based onboarding processes. Conducts faculty meetings, assemblies, volunteer programs, and other school-based group activities.
Reads, reviews, and prepares reports required by the district or by state and federal policies. Ensures implementation and compliance with district policies and procedures by working with supervisor, other district staff, school staff, and families. Leads the planning and monitoring of the school’s federal and grant budgets, and ensures compliance of expenditures. Implements asset management processes to report and minimize loss, theft, or damage to school property (i.e., textbooks and electronic devices). Attends state and national meetings related to accountability, school improvement, strategic planning, etc.
All other duties, as assigned and required, in order to perform the above services.

KEY JOB REQUIREMENTS

Master’s, Specialist, or Doctorate degree in K-12 Educational Leadership required. A degree in Early Childhood Education and/or a Birth to Five Certification preferred. A minimum of three (3) years of successful leadership experience as a Principal, Assistant Principal, or Early Learning Center Director required, with a minimum of three (3) years of experience in early learning (PreK3-3rd) operations, procedures, and/or compliance expectations in a leadership capacity required.
GaPSC Standard or Performance-Based Professional Educational Leadership—Tier II certificate and completion or exemption of all applicable Special Georgia Requirements at the time of application required.
Strong knowledge of child development principles and early learning best practices, that routinely affects the Early Learning Center, District, and surrounding community.

Analytical:

A supervisor is available to review established broad objectives; independent judgement is required.
Requires regular, frequent contact with internal personnel of influence and decision-making responsibility to discuss issues of moderate importance. Excellent interpersonal skills are required for working with inter-organizational teams. Coordinates activities with external stakeholders including community sponsored events to include but limited to school districts, early learning coalitions, public health, higher education, etc. to promote quality of care for children, families, and caregivers.
Responsible for supervising multiple functions with full accountability for effective operation and results.
Applies, recommends, and implements technology concepts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the District. Constantly (Daily) responsible for the welfare of others.
Normal school setting.
Typically walking around facility (manage by direct monitoring around).

Position Type:

FULL TIME

Job Requirements
Citizenship, residency or work visa required