About this role
Primary Purpose: To provide leadership, direction, and supervision for the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP). The Principal will ensure a safe, structured, and rehabilitative learning environment that focuses on both rigorous academic instruction and intensive behavioral intervention. The goal is to successfully transition students back to their home campuses with the academic and social-emotional skills necessary for success. Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Instructional Leadership & Academic Management
• Direct and manage the instructional program to ensure alignment with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and district curriculum.
• Collaborate with home campus administrators and teachers to ensure seamless credit accrual, coursework continuity, and timely transition of student data.
• Monitor and analyze student achievement data (including STAAR/EOC performance) to implement targeted academic interventions.
• Ensure proper implementation of accommodations and modifications for students receiving Special Education, Section 504, and Emergent Bilingual services.
• Behavioral Intervention & Campus Culture
• Establish and maintain a safe, highly structured, and disciplined environment conducive to learning, in strict accordance with Texas Education Code Chapter 37.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive behavior management system rooted in restorative practices, trauma-informed care, and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).
• Oversee the intake process for all placed students, ensuring parents and students clearly understand campus expectations, rules, and transition requirements.
• Coordinate counseling, social work, and mental health services to address the root causes of student misconduct.
• School Management & Operations
• Manage campus operations, including student registration, attendance monitoring, scheduling, and facility maintenance.
• Oversee campus security measures, collaborating closely with School Resource Officers (SROs) and district security personnel.
• Prepare and administer the campus budget based on documented program needs and estimated enrollment.
• Maintain accurate records and compile reports regarding student attendance, discipline, PEIMS data, and program effectiveness.
• Personnel Management
• Recruit, interview, select, and intermediate the onboarding of high-quality faculty and staff who are well-suited for alternative education.
• Evaluate teacher and staff performance using the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) or district-approved evaluation tools.
• Provide continuous professional development focused on classroom management, deescalation strategies, differentiated instruction, and social-emotional learning (SEL).
• Community & Parent Relations
• Convene and lead mandatory student transition meetings with parents, students, and home campus representatives upon a student's entry and exit from the DAEP.
• Maintain open lines of communication with parents/guardians regarding student academic progress and behavioral growth.
• Establish partnerships with local community resources, juvenile justice agencies (e.g., TJJD), and social service organizations to support students and families.
Qualifications & Requirements Education & Certification
• Master's Degree in Educational Administration, Principal Leadership, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Valid Texas Principal Certificate (or Mid-Management Administrator Certificate).
• Certified T-TESS Evaluator (preferred or required within a specific timeframe).
Experience
• Minimum of [3-5] years of successful classroom teaching experience.
• Minimum of [2-3] years of campus administrative experience (Assistant Principal experience preferred).
• Experience working with at-risk youth, alternative education programs, or intensive behavior intervention settings is highly preferred.
Special Knowledge & Skills
• Deep working knowledge of Texas Education Code Chapter 37 (Discipline; Law and Order).
• Strong understanding of curriculum (TEKS), instructional strategies, and data-driven accountability.
• Expertise in student behavior management, conflict resolution, crisis de-escalation (e.g., CPI certification), and restorative discipline.
• Excellent communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to handle high-stress situations with emotional intelligence and decisiveness.
Working Conditions
• Mental Demands: Ability to maintain emotional control under stress; work with frequent interruptions; manage high-volume, high-stakes behavioral crises.
• Physical Demands/Environmental Factors: Frequent district-wide travel; occasional prolonged or irregular hours. Frequent standing, walking, and ability to assist in physical de-escalation/restraint if certified and necessary for safety.