Principal - School for the Deaf

Principal - School for the Deaf

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

DBA-11411-JB-04/26

Department

Department of Education

Division

Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind

Opening Date

04/01/2026

Closing Date

5/1/2026 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

allhumanresources@csdb.org

Type of Announcement

This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

Primary Physical Work Address

Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB); 33 North Institute Street; Colorado Springs, CO 80903

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Department Information

https://csdb.colorado.gov/

Commitment: CSDB is a Deaf and Blind-led academy where language, leadership, and learning converge to generate agency.

Grounded in lived experience, students develop presence, purpose, and wayfinding - in a space built for growth, pride, and authenticity.

Aspiration: CSDB builds generations of thinkers, makers, and leaders who set new standards and transform the world.

Description of Job

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Principal of the School for the Deaf serves as a collaborative, culturally responsive instructional leader responsible for fostering a Deaf-centered educational environment. This includes sustaining a bilingual (ASL/English) learning community where Deaf ways of being, thinking, and creating are foundational.

The Principal leads the development, support, and supervision of staff to ensure high-quality instruction and services. This role aligns instructional practices, school culture, and operational systems to advance academic achievement, identity development, and student agency.

The Principal is responsible for ensuring strong educational outcomes while promoting an affirming understanding of Deaf individuals as integral contributors to human diversity. This includes coordinating resources and services to support students' academic, social, and developmental needs in alignment with school priorities, language practices, and community values.

This position operates within a Deaf-centered framework that values both Deaf and hearing professionals and emphasizes shared responsibility, mutual respect, and collective ownership of student success. The Principal leads through shared decision-making by incorporating input from staff and the community, ensuring meaningful inclusion of Deaf stakeholders, while maintaining decision-making authority and accountability.

The Principal builds staff capacity through coaching, feedback, and professional learning; leads staffing and performance management in collaboration with leadership; ensures effective use of resources; applies current research and best practices in Deaf education; and fosters a positive, inclusive, and respectful school climate that supports student and staff well-being, engagement, and effective communication.

We use the word "Deaf" inclusively to encompass D/deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and late deafened identities.

JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provide collaborative leadership that engages staff, leadership, and stakeholders in shared decision-making while maintaining accountability for schoolwide outcomes.
• Align academic, residential, and student life programming to support a consistent, student-centered learning environment.
• Lead instructional improvement through data-informed practices, professional learning, and ongoing coaching and feedback.
• Implement and sustain a bilingual-bicultural (ASL/English) instructional framework aligned with organizational priorities.
• Maintain a visible presence in classrooms through walkthroughs, observations, and direct support to staff.
• Oversee MTSS, assessment systems, and intervention planning to support student achievement and growth.
• Ensure alignment of student programming with IEPs, including scheduling, service delivery, and compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and safe school climate, ensuring consistent and equitable implementation of discipline and safety practices.
• Recruit, hire, supervise, and evaluate staff; support performance through clear expectations, feedback, and accountability.
• Strengthen staff capacity by addressing workload, removing barriers, and ensuring access to necessary resources.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with families, the Deaf community, and external stakeholders.
• Manage school operations and resources, including staffing, curriculum, technology, and facilities, while supporting budget and fiscal accountability.
• Communicate program goals, student outcomes, and school initiatives, and participate in accountability and continuous improvement processes.
• Engage in and lead ongoing professional learning aligned with best practices in Deaf education and leadership.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to and is evaluated by the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (CIA). This position is expected to work in alignment with organizational leadership, maintain open and ongoing communication, and implement school and system-level direction with fidelity.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Full-time position scheduled in accordance with the academic calendar (currently 210 days, August through June).
• Annual base salary is established in accordance with the Principal Salary Schedule and based on relevant experience.
• Continued employment is contingent upon satisfactory performance of assigned duties and adherence to organizational policies, performance expectations, and professional standards.
• Employment is at-will and does not constitute an actual, expressed, or implied contract.

EFFECTIVE DATE

School Year 2026-2027

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is performed in a typical school environment and involves primarily sedentary to light physical activity. This position may require exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and frequent walking or standing.

Duties may include climbing stairs, bending, reaching, handling objects, and using fingers to operate a computer keyboard. The role requires the ability to communicate effectively, exchange information, and receive detailed instructions.

Work also requires the ability to compare, compile, analyze, and coordinate data and information; instruct and train others; and demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and professional behaviors.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (MQs)

• Master's degree in Education or a related field.

• Must hold or be eligible for Colorado licensure as one of the following:

• Special Education Specialist: Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing

• Professional Principal

• Demonstrated at minimum intermediate-plus ASL fluency and the ability to work effectively with Deaf individuals.

• Ability to lead, supervise, and communicate effectively in ASL.

• Minimum five (5) years of professional experience in education.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (PQs)

• Master's degree in Deaf Education or a closely related field.
• Significant experience working in Deaf-centered environments.
• Advanced ASL proficiency.
• Minimum three (3) years of administrative or supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience working in collaborative, team-based environments.
• Strong communication skills, follow-through, and alignment with organizational leadership expectations.
• Commitment to continued professional growth in Deaf education and leadership practices.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to lead an interdisciplinary educational vision that addresses the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of Deaf students, including students with additional disabilities.
• Ability to build trust, foster collaboration, and sustain a positive and accountable professional culture.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make sound decisions under pressure.
• Knowledge of best practices in Deaf education and bilingual-bicultural (ASL/English) instruction.
• Strong knowledge of curriculum, instruction, assessment systems, and data-informed decision-making, including PLCs and MTSS.
• Ability to lead curriculum development and continuous instructional improvement.
• Demonstrated competence in staff recruitment, supervision, evaluation, and professional development.
• Ability to support staff through clear expectations, ongoing feedback, and accountability.
• Commitment to equitable and collaborative decision-making practices.
• Understanding of Deaf culture, identity, and language development, and the ability to apply this knowledge in leadership practice.
• Knowledge of special education law, IEP development, and service delivery.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and with specialized service providers.
• Knowledge of federal and state education laws and the ability to ensure compliance.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Proficiency in ASL and English, both receptive and expressive.
• Ability to work effectively in collaborative, team-based environments.
• Ability to use and adapt technology to support school operations and communication.

Supplemental Information

How To Apply:

Applicants are also invited to provide/upload the item listed below to the on-line application:

• Current Resume. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a complete on-line application.

Important Information:

Applications are part of the selection process and will be reviewed by a qualified Human Resources Specialist to determine if applicants meet the minimum qualifications for this position. Applications may also be used as a part of the comparative analysis process to rank candidates and identify a top group for interview. Read this job announcement carefully before completing the on-line application. Applications must specifically address/support applicant qualifications as they relate to the requirements listed in Description of Job and Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions and Conditions of Employment/Additional Requirements sections. If applicable, official transcripts and/or other supporting documentation must be provided with the application to verify education / minimum qualifications / substitution / additional requirements (unofficial or copies of transcripts may serve as temporary verification only; applicant(s) selected for hire will be required to provide official transcripts to verify education). Failure to complete the application properly and include required information and/or documents, or if applications do not demonstrate that experience and/or education are consistent with the categories listed on this announcement, may result in the applicant not being considered for this position. Also, in order to be considered for this position, complete applications must be received by the application deadline/closing date. Applicants will be notified of the results of this review.

Please refer to the CO-Jobs State Employment Opportunities website (careers.colorado.gov) for the following information:

• State Employment FAQs
• Address Confidentiality Program
• ADA Accommodations
• Residency Requirements

In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Medical and Dental plans
• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Wellness programs
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system

Please note that each agencys contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

As a condition of employment, selected applicant(s) will be required to submit to and pass a background check, to include Colorado and Federal criminal history checks, employment verification, and professional / personal reference checks. Employment verification and reference checks may be conducted without applicant authorization. Are you willing to submit to a background check as described, as a condition of employment?

• Yes
• No

02

Have you ever been non-renewed, or resigned in lieu of non-renewal:

• Yes
• No

03

The position of Principal, School for the Deaf is assigned to work with students, staff and others who are Deaf/hard-of-hearing and requires proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL) at the Advanced skill level or above, as demonstrated by an appropriate assessment tool and according to school policy/procedures. Please check one box below to describe / indicate your current level of ASL proficiency.

• SUPERIOR - Able to have a fully shared conversation, with in-depth elaboration for both social and work topics.
• ADVANCED - Able to have a generally shared conversation with good, spontaneous elaboration for both social and work topics.
• INTERMEDIATE - Able to discuss with some confidence routine social and work topics within a conversational format with some elaboration; generally 3-5 sentences in length.
• SURVIVAL - Able to discuss basic social and work topics with responses generally 1-3 sentences in length.
• NOVICE - Able to provide single sign and some short phrase/sentence responses to basic questions signed at a slow-to-moderate rate with frequent repetition and rephrasing.
• NO FUNCTIONAL SKILLS - (May be) Able to provide short single sign and "primarily" fingerspelled responses to some basic questions signed at a slow rate with extensive repetition and rephrasing.

04

What do you believe are the critical components of a positive school culture and climate?

05

What is your philosophy on the education of Deaf students?

06

If you were referred from a current CSDB Staff member, please provide their name.

Required Question

Employer State of Colorado

Address See the full announcement by clicking

the "Printer" icon located above the job title

Location varies by announcement, Colorado, --

Website https://careers.colorado.gov/