Principal, Fugett Middle School
Ideal Start Date: April, 2026
About West Chester Area School District:
West Chester Area School District serves more than 12,000 students across 17 schools: 11 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The district covers a 75-square-mile area that includes West Chester Borough and surrounding townships in Chester and Delaware Counties. The district boasts strong academic outcomes, including a 95% graduation rate, placing it in the top 10–20?percent of Pennsylvania public school districts. To learn more about strategic initiatives WCASD is leading, please visit Our Initiatives - West Chester Area School District.
About Fugett Middle School:
Fugett Middle School serves approximately 900 middle school students enrolled in 6-8th grade within West Chester Area School District. These students typically matriculate from East Goshen Elementary School, Exton Elementary School, Fern Hill Elementary School, and Glen Acres Elementary School. Upon graduation, most Fugett students enroll at East High School, which is located on the same campus as Fugett Middle School.
Fugett students identify as the following:
- White: ~ 69%
- Hispanic/ Latinx: ~ 10–11%
- Asian: ~ 9–10%
- African American / Black: ~ 5%
- Two or more races / Multiracial: ~ 5%
- 23% of students at Fugett Middle School are eligible for free or reduced price lunch.
Fugett Middle School has had a stable teaching force for years; teachers within the building often cite the positive culture among them as one of the primary reasons they remain working there. Fugett also is proud to have strong honors participation among its student body and rich extracurricular and athletics program, with an emphasis on social-emotional learning and belonging.
Summary:
The Principal works to improve and lead student achievement, school culture, and operational effectiveness. This leader implements a clear vision for school improvement, grounded in high expectations, instructional excellence, data-driven decision making, and equitable practices. The Principal recruits, develops, and retains high-quality staff, establishes systems for rigorous teaching and learning, and cultivates a safe and inclusive culture focused on relationships, accountability, and student success.
Working collaboratively with district leaders, families, and community partners, the Principal drives sustainable change by monitoring progress, aligning resources, and ensuring fidelity to improvement plans. This role requires exceptional skills in change management, coaching, communication, and strategic problem-solving, along with a deep commitment to serving diverse learners and eliminating achievement gaps.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Equity-Centered Instructional Leadership
- Develops and implements a shared vision for high-quality teaching and learning aligned with district goals.
- Supervises, observes, and evaluates instructional staff to ensure effective, evidence-based classroom practices.
- Uses data to monitor student progress, identify learning gaps, and implement targeted interventions.
- Communication and Community Engagement
- Builds and maintains a positive, inclusive, and safe learning environment for students and staff.
- Promotes equity, cultural responsiveness, and high expectations for all students.
- Establishes systems that support students’ social, emotional, and behavioral development.
- Engages students, families, and community partners in supporting the school’s mission and goals.
- Operations and Resource Management
- Oversees daily operations, including scheduling, budgeting, and resource allocation.
- Ensures compliance with district policies, state and federal regulations, and collective bargaining agreements.
- Maintains accurate records and reports on student performance, staffing, and school improvement activities.
- People and Culture Development
- Recruits, hires, supports, and retains effective teachers and support staff.
- Builds leadership capacity within the school through coaching, mentoring, and distributed leadership.
- Conducts staff evaluations and provides meaningful feedback focused on growth and performance.
- Implements systems for recognizing and rewarding staff excellence and innovation.
- Addresses personnel matters fairly, confidentially, and in alignment with HR policies.
- Strategic Data-Driven Decision Making
- Develops and monitors the school’s improvement plan, ensuring measurable progress toward goals.
- Analyzes performance data to inform decision-making and adjust strategies as needed.
- Aligns school priorities with district strategic initiatives and resource allocations.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Valid Pennsylvania Principal Certification
- Masters degree required; doctorate degree preferred
- 5 years of relevant teaching experience
- 3 years of administrative experience
Reporting Relationships:
- The Principal reports directly to the Assistant Superintendent.
- The Principal works closely with the central office of WCASD, including but not limited to the Offices of Business Affairs, Human Resources, Pupil Services, and Teaching and Learning.
Terms of Employment:
- This position is a 12 month (260-262 day) position.
- Starting salaries are determined based on relevant experience, education, and internal equity, and are generally set below the midpoint of the salary range.
- This position requires someone to be on site 40 hours a week.
Representation:
West Chester Area School District employees fall into the following groups:
This position is part of Act 93.
Disclaimers and Affirmations
The West Chester Area School District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, disability, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 104 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.