Principal's Secretary

Howard County Public School System

Columbia, MD

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JOB DETAILS

SKILLS

Accounting, Administrative Skills, Background Investigation, Bookkeeping, Calendar Management, Conflict Resolution, Customer Support/Service, Data Visualization, Employee Orientation, Establish Priorities, Executive Assistant Skills , Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), High School Diploma, Information/Data Security (InfoSec), Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Logistics, Mail Processing, Maintain Compliance, Medical Genetics, Mentoring, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Military, Multitasking, Operational Support, Operations, Operations Management, Performance Analysis, Performance Reviews, Photocopy, Privacy Regulations, Problem Solving Skills, Proofreading, Records Management, Regulations, Reporting Skills, Retirement Plan, Secondary School, Security Protocols, Spreadsheets, Staff Requirements, Staff Training, State Laws and Regulations, Technical Leadership, Telephone Skills, Time Management, Training/Teaching, University/School Regulations, Voice Mail, Word Processing, Writing Skills

LOCATION

Columbia, MD

POSTED

1 day ago

ABOUT US

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is one of the leading school systems in Maryland and the nation. To learn more about us and our 2024 -2029 Strategic Plan, please visit our website and our careers page. Join our award-winning workforce and make a difference in the lives of our students!

ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Before you begin, please read the job posting below carefully including the Application Requirements specific to this position. Be sure your application reflects experience and education required to meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications listed. Our application guide includes detailed instructions to assist you. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes.

Please note that application submission will be available only through 11:59 PM on the date prior to the indicated end date. If no end date is indicated, the posting will remain open indefinitely.

Job Posting End Date:

05-28-2026

Reminder: Current permanent and temporary employees must apply through the Jobs Hub in Workday, not the external career site.

DESCRIPTION

Under the supervision of the Principal, the Principal's Secretary, High school primary focus is to ensure the operational efficiency of the school's main office and function as a confidential assistant to the Principal, Assistant Principal and other members of the administrative staff. As the first point of contact for the school, it fosters a professional school environment. Ensure the integrity and security of sensitive student information.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must meet all qualifications below to be considered for the vacancy.

Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (must scan and upload to the online application at the time of submission). Foreign credentials must be evaluated as U.S. High School diploma or above by an MSDE approved organization. For a list of approved vendors, please click here.

Experience:

Three years of general administrative support or clerical experience, one year of which must be working with accounting or bookkeeping records.

An Associate Degree or the successful completion of 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university may be substituted for up to two (2) years of the required administrative support or clerical experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience overseeing daily office operations, including the training of administrative staff.

Administrative support/clerical experience in a PreK-12 setting

Experience with word processing, database, and spreadsheet programs.

ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

The list below is a summary of the functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

Administrative Support & Customer Service

Maintains Principals calendars, schedules appointments and meetings.

Plans, organizes and coordinates school activities and communications.

Functions as the primary contact for students, parents, and staff.

Resolves administrative inquiries to maintain a positive school environment.

Answers telephone communications and voicemail messages.

Leads the daily operations of the office staff by providing training and technical guidance.

Ensures total compliance with district procedures, establishes work priorities, and assists school leadership in the preparation of staff performance evaluations.

Performs general secretarial tasks including, but not limited to producing letters, data reports, etc. via the computer; making photocopies, files, distributing mail, etc.

Independently drafts, formats, and distributes official school correspondence and messaging.

Student Records Management & Compliance

Prepares and maintains a wide range of reports, records, and files regarding student data, personnel, and school operations.

Ensures the highest level of integrity and security for all sensitive and confidential information.

Substitute Coverage

Coordinate substitute teacher and staff coverage by managing requests, assigning substitutes, communicating schedules, and ensuring adequate coverage to support daily school operations.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

Office Operations & Management: Deep understanding of daily school office workflows, including records management, mail distribution, and administrative support systems.

District Policies & Compliance: Familiarity with school district regulations, privacy laws (like FERPA), and standardized procedures for staff evaluations and reporting.

Personnel Coordination: Knowledge of substitute management systems and staffing requirements to ensure seamless classroom coverage.

Information Security: Understanding protocols for handling sensitive student data and confidential personnel files with 100% integrity.

Skills

Executive Support: Expert-level calendar management and scheduling for high-level leadership, ensuring balanced priorities and timely meetings.

Technical Proficiency: Advanced skill in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and school-specific databases for generating reports, letters, and data visualizations.

Leadership & Mentoring: Ability to lead office staff through technical guidance, training, and workflow prioritization.

Professional Communication: Skilled in drafting, formatting, and proofreading official correspondence and multi-channel school messaging.

Logistics & Planning: High-level coordination of school-wide activities, events, and Revision Date: April 2025 complex scheduling puzzles.

Abilities

Conflict Resolution: The ability to remain calm and professional while resolving inquiries from parents, students, and staff to maintain a positive school climate.

Multitasking & Prioritization: Ability to manage a high-volume environment, switching between immediate needs (like phone calls) and long-term projects (like performance evaluations).

Interpersonal Finesse: Serving as the "face of the school" and acting as a primary, welcoming contact for a diverse community.

Independent Problem-Solving: Ability to draft official messaging and resolve administrative hurdles with minimal supervision.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Working Hours

The duty day for this position is 8.5 hours, which will include a 30-minute unpaid, duty-free lunch period.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Complete applications must be submitted, and once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be included in further evaluation. Interviews will be limited to those applicants who, in addition to meeting the basic requirements, have experience and education which most closely match the position qualifications and the needs of the school system.

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

Compensation

This is a 12-month per year position in the Howard County Education Association, Educational Support Professionals (HCEA-ESP) employee unit. The current salary range for this position is Grade X on the Secretaries and Assistants salary scale. Step placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Howard County Public School System and the HCEA-ESP Master Agreement which considers relevant prior experience. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, this position is not exempt from overtime.

Retirement

Membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). A qualifying employee cannot reject membership, nor can an ineligible employee elect membership. The annual contribution to the pension plan will be 7% of an employee's annual salary.

Benefits

HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreement for employees in this bargaining unit.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Professional references will be contacted prior to any offer of employment. Recommended candidates will be required to provide references from current and recent supervisors.

All employees, regular and temporary, must be fingerprinted, have a criminal background investigation completed, and successfully complete the Maryland Employment History Review, pursuant to Section 6-113.2 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. In addition, some positions will require completion of a physical examination and/or drug testing.

Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the United States. HCPSS participates in E-Verify and does not offer employee sponsorship.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact: Denise_Lee@hcpss.org

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

To request an accommodation during the application or interview process due to a documented disability, please email humanresources@hcpss.org.

HCPSS celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. HCPSS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees in providing them with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at HCPSS are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, veteran status or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Principal's Secretary

Howard County Public School System

Columbia, MD

About the Company

Howard County Public School System

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