<p><strong>Overview</strong></p> <p>Inventorium Academy is a new independent special assistance high school established in South Australia. It was established to provide education to high school students who for various reasons are unable to attend mainstream schools.&nbsp; It provides an online or hybrid interdisciplinary curriculum that was designed to bridge the gap between school disengagement and employability, while still providing the SACE curriculum and a range of VET options.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;A Principal is sought to &nbsp;provide educational leadership to the Academy through its next stage of growth and development, from enrolments of 68 Special Assistance School (SAS) and 110 Tailored Learning Provision students to 300 plus SAS and 500 plus TLP over a period of 5 years.</p> <p>The Principal is responsible for the operational management of the Academy, reporting to the Board of Directors.&nbsp; The Principal is responsible for all day-to-day operations, recruitment and management of teachers, allied health professionals and other staff, the wellbeing and educational outcomes for students and the reporting and administration of the Academy in line with legislative and reporting requirements.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>The Inventorium has a successful partnership with schools, including Open Access College, and the Academy will continue to build these relationships. The Academy will enrol students who are not suited to mainstream high school options.&nbsp; &nbsp;This will include students classified in levels NCCD2-4, students permanently excluded from other schools, and/or students who have personal circumstances that require additional support.</p> <p>The Principal sets the culture of the Academy and the tone of the campus and online workspace.&nbsp; Being truly student centred and learning centred are key to the role of the Principal. The role requires a professional educator who is open to pushing boundaries while maintaining standards, is responsive to change, and is happy to take a back seat to facilitate the team’s success.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>About the Principal’s Role</strong></p> <p>The Principal is jointly responsible with the Board of Directors for the governance of the Academy.</p> <ol> <li>The Principal operates within the powers and functions delegated by the Board of Directors and is responsible to the Board for the good management and leadership of the Academy, operating within Board-approved policies and available resources.</li> <li>The Principal is answerable to the Board of Directors for carrying out the functions and responsibilities defined in this position description.</li> <li>The Principal participates in an annual performance and development process with the Board for the achievement of specified results that reflect the priorities of the Board and the Academy.</li> <li>The Principal actively engages with allied health professionals, families and other partner schools and community groups to integrate services and programs that improve outcomes for students.</li> <li>The Principal has authority and responsibility for the good conduct and safety of all persons on site, whether as students, volunteers, visitors, or as employees of the Academy or another agency.</li> <li>The Principal builds strong complementary working relationships with the Founder of the Inventorium, the Board of Directors and the Finance Committee, to work closely with the Founder of the Inventorium to ensure the professional knowledge, expertise and work of staff appropriately informs the work of the Board and ensures the Academy stays in line with the Inventorium pedagogy and practice.</li> </ol> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Role Purpose</strong></p> <p>To lead the Academy through innovative educational leadership that creates an inclusive, student-centred learning community where self-determined learning is valued and supported.&nbsp; The Principal will inspire excellence in teaching and learning, build strong partnerships, and ensure that every student has the opportunity to develop the capabilities, agency and recognised qualifications needed to pursue sustainable futures in education, employment and community life.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Main Responsibilities</strong></p> <p><i><strong>Leading Teaching and Learning</strong></i></p> <ul> <li>Manage the Academy’s provision of teaching, learning and support services to meet the educational needs and abilities of students, to enable achievement of the educational goals of individual students and groups of students.</li> <li>Assess, record, and report on the attendance, development, progress, attainment, and behaviour of enrolled students for internal review, external scrutiny, and legislative requirements.</li> <li>Maintain appropriate order and discipline across the Academy, and safeguard the health and safety of all students and staff at all times.</li> <li>Nurture a culture where teachers view themselves essentially as facilitators of learning and reflective practitioners, adopting a student centred and learning centred approach.</li> </ul> <p><i><strong>Developing Self and Others</strong></i></p> <ul> <li>Negotiate workloads, give feedback, contribute to professional development, and perform day-to-day management of the Academy senior management team and the staff they line manage.</li> <li>Review and evaluate one’s own performance and practice, methodologies, and contribution to the Academy, annually at minimum.</li> <li>Lead, participate in, and coordinate In-Service education and training courses, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities.</li> </ul> <p><i><strong>Leading Improvement, Innovation and Change</strong></i></p> <ul> <li>Manage the culture and environment of the Academy to ensure it is inclusive and promotes the development of agency and tolerance within students and a respect for other persons and their property.</li> <li>Lead and continually refine the Academy’s interdisciplinary curriculum and self-determined approach to learning, designed to bridge the gap between school disengagement and employability while maintaining SACE and VET pathways and a hybrid mode of delivery.</li> </ul> <p><i><strong>Leading the Management of the School</strong></i></p> <ul> <li>Manage the operational finances of the Academy, under the direction of the Finance committee.</li> <li>Ensure exemplary governance of the Academyl in conjunction with the Board of Directors (as an ex-officio member) that meets regulatory and legislative requirements.</li> <li>Participate in arrangements for, and reporting of, the Academy, within an agreed national framework for the appraisal of students’ performance, when required.</li> <li>The proper care and safekeeping of the property of the school and the management of the school premises and facilities.</li> <li>Ensure the Academy is meeting its obligations with regards to information security and managing systems to sustain ISO27001 certification and Safer Technology for Schools accreditation.</li> </ul> <p><i><strong>Engaging and Working with the Community</strong></i></p> <ul> <li>Promote the general progress and well-being of individual students or groups of students within the Academy.</li> <li>Communicate, consult and co-operate with other members of the Inventorium team, including those having posts of special responsibility, and parents/guardians to ensure the best interest of students.</li> <li>Lead or participate in staff, group or other meetings related to the Academy and/or Inventorium or pastoral care arrangements to improve the organization and administration of the organisation.</li> <li>Liaise and collaborate with specialist teachers/resource persons and other professionals working with students in the Academy.</li> <li>Foster community participation in Academy programs and events and in educational development generally.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Requirements</strong></p> <p>Eligibility:</p> <ul> <li>Full teacher registration with the relevant State Teaching Registration Board</li> <li>Working With Children Check (WWCC)</li> <li>Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect (RRHAN) training</li> <li>Approved First Aid certificate</li> <li>Australian residency or current work permit</li> </ul> <p>Essential:</p> <ul> <li>Experience of leadership in an educational context&nbsp;</li> <li>Excellent communication skills</li> <li>Minimum 5 years senior management experience</li> <li>Ability to build trusting relationships and motivate a team</li> <li>Effective and efficient organisational skills ensuring oversight without micromanaging</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Preferred:</p> <ul> <li>A master’s degree in education or management</li> <li>Experience of managing in a virtual or hybrid environment</li> <li>TAE40116 Cert IV in Training and Assessment</li> <li>Engagement with education professional practice, particularly around entrepreneurship education</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Selection Criteria</strong></p> <p>The five professional practices particular to the role of a principal identified by the <i>Australian Professional Standard for Principals</i> (July 2011):</p> <ul> <li>Leading Teaching and Learning – embrace different approaches</li> <li>Developing Self and Others&nbsp;</li> <li>Leading Improvement, Innovation and Change – try new things</li> <li>Leading the Management of the School – trust your team</li> <li>Engaging and Working with the Community</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In addressing these criteria, applicants must demonstrate their leadership attributes within the context of the Inventorium Academy, as defined by <i>the Australian Professional Standard for Principals</i>:</p> <ul> <li>Vision and values</li> <li>Knowledge and understanding</li> <li>Personal qualities, and social and interpersonal skills</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Legislative Framework</strong></p> <p>As an independent special assistance school, Inventorium Academy operates under the registration and reporting obligations of the Education Standards Board of South Australia and, where applicable, the Education and Care Services National Law. The Principal actively promotes and ensures a professional, safe, and equitable workplace by adhering to relevant legislative and policy requirements, including:</p> <ol> <li>Work Health and Safety Act</li> <li>Equal Opportunity Act</li> <li>Children and Young People (Safety) Act</li> <li>Non-Government Schools Registration requirements (South Australia)</li> <li>other applicable government guidelines and legislation</li> </ol> <p>The Principal promotes and implements work practices that reflect these standards and support a positive and inclusive organisational culture.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>