Founded in 2014 and located (since 2021) in the historic schoolhouse on Main Street in downtown New Castle, Colorado, Ambleside School Rocky Mountains is an accredited K-8 primary school organized as a Colorado non-profit corporation. We are a member of Ambleside Schools International (ASI) and educate students from across the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys including the towns of Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Silt, Rifle, and Parachute, Colorado. Please learn more about us by visiting our website and that of ASI: https://amblesideschools.org/.

 

Position Overview

An Ambleside® school Principal is first and foremost a lover of Jesus Christ, children and knowledge. Within this relational context, the Principal is responsible to set and maintain a positive (high-joy), inspirational, and peacefully authoritative atmosphere throughout the school. The Principal is to train, support and shepherd teachers in providing a “living education”. Through ASI-provided mentoring and resources, school observation visits and feedback, personal study and practice, the Principal is to become highly competent in leading and promulgating the Ambleside® method and to acquaint him/herself thoroughly with the ASI Principal’s Manual and curriculum for all grades, holding all teachers, staff and students to ASI’s rigorous standards. In a broad sense, the Principal is the school’s primary spokesperson and represents the school on and off campus and acts on behalf of the school by professionally and warmly interacting with all students, parents, teachers, staff, visitors and the community at large. The Principal reports to the School Board.

 

Personal Qualities

Spiritually mature in Christ, psychologically strong, service and others-oriented, teachable, loving towards all persons (children, teachers, parents), joyful, peaceful in and under authority, inspirational in leadership, growth-oriented, administratively excellent, patient, hungry to know and share knowledge/ideas, intelligent, thorough, punctual, flexible, collegial, articulate, and enthusiastic

 

Overarching Responsibilities

• Implementing and overseeing an entire school program that conforms to the policy and budgetary guidelines established by the School Board and is carried out in a manner consistent with the Ambleside® ethos.
• Being mentored in Ambleside® school leadership through regular contact with ASI, attentive participation in Principals’ conference calls and retreats, collaborating in the ongoing movement of Ambleside Schools International by hosting training events, contributing to the broader work when reasonable, helpful and appropriate.
• Promoting and inspiring a community of existing and potential parents, teachers, and students founded upon the Ambleside® educational vision, leading by informed, enthusiastic and genuine example in word and deed.
• Developing teachers in the philosophy and practice of an Ambleside® education through regular observation and feedback, mentoring, modeling, training, and evaluation; ensuring teachers faithfully follow ASI curriculum and uphold standards for life-giving atmosphere, habit training, lessons and student work; recognizing teacher contributions, making suggestions for growth, identifying areas of critical concern, and/or firing teachers as necessary.
• Supporting teacher’s professional growth as they seek academic and relational growth in their students. At times, supporting students directly when warranted by a significant degree of student and/or teacher weakness.

Hours

School Hours: August 1 through June 30 (off during July except as needed for back to school preparations), 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday and some Fridays as scheduled, occasional Saturdays, early morning and/or evening hours according to meetings or required school events and per the current year Instructional Calendar.

 

Summer Hours: July as needed for back-to-school preparations.

 

Salary

Commensurate with experience, 50k-65k.