Assistant Principal

Effective teaching at Bulleen Heights is the provision of a safe learning environment within which consistency is valued and motivated staff engage, instruct and assess students along a continuum of learning to achieve individual goals. The Bulleen Heights School community is diverse, including all individuals and groups who work in direct and indirect ways to achieve goals outlined in the school's Strategic Plan 2027-2030 and our vision and mission statements. The school promotes and upholds the values of integrity, high professional standards, care and support, and consistency.

Bulleen Heights School is a Department of Education (DET) specialist school for students with autism spectrum disorder, providing exemplary educational programs for approximately 290 students ranging in age from five to eighteen years. Classes vary in size with staffing reflecting student needs. The school has two campuses: Primary School and Secondary School. Students are placed in classes based on a combination of age, developmental level and maturity. Inclusion learning programs involve local primary and secondary schools.

The school provides excellent teaching programs and learning experiences designed to develop and extend the skills and strengths of each student by encouraging decision-making and risk-taking within a structured, predictable and secure environment. Bulleen Heights is committed to providing core teaching and learning programs and supporting students and their families, believing that all students can learn, achieve success and enjoy adult life as contributing members of a community.

Curriculum development and implementation across the school is based on the Victorian Curriculum, providing a framework for planning the whole school curriculum by setting out standards for students to achieve in core areas. This curriculum assists the development of individual learning plans, assessment and reporting on student achievement and progress. Program delivery, using Applied Behaviour Analysis teaching techniques, continues to be an option predominantly for students in our Primary School. Applied Behaviour Analysis methodologies are implemented by a team of therapists in partnership with classroom teachers.

As an accredited senior secondary school, students in Year 11 and 12 may be enrolled in the VPC program offered by the school. Specialist programs in Health and Physical Education, STEAM and Visual Arts provide an integrated approach to personalized learning. Our Multidisciplinary Team supports classroom staff in achieving exemplary learning outcomes for our students, including psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, and speech therapists.

Partnerships between parents, siblings, past students, local schools, consultants, universities, government and non-government agencies, and the local community provide vital contributions to programs. The varied characteristics of our student population demand the implementation of a range of evidence-based teaching methodologies. Individual Learning Plans are developed through Student Support Group meetings involving parents/carers, teachers and other appropriate professionals and/or agencies.

Teaching and learning take place within many contexts, structured to be functional and meaningful. Social, academic, independent living, recreational, behavioural and vocational goals are developed for each student.

Selection Criteria

• Educational and Instructional Leadership: Demonstrated capacity to provide visible, accessible and responsive educational leadership that improves teaching and learning and student outcomes in a Foundation-Year 12 specialist school.
• Leadership of People, Culture and Wellbeing: Highly developed capacity to develop the capability of staff and build effective, collaborative teams.
• Student-Centred and Inclusive Leadership: Demonstrated commitment to inclusive, student-centred education, with the capacity to lead high-quality programs that respond to the individual needs of students with autism and diverse abilities.
• Strategic and Operational Leadership: Demonstrated capacity to lead strategic planning, change, policy implementation, resource management and complex operational matters.
• Relationships, Communication and Community: Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated capacity to build trust and engage staff, students, families, allied health professionals and the broader school community.

Role

The assistant principal reports directly to the principal and has primary responsibility for the management of significant areas or functions within the school to ensure the effective development, provision and evaluation of the school's education program. Assistant principals will have the authority to make significant decisions relating to the program, budget and staff within their area of designated responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Supervision and coordination of the work of senior curriculum or level coordinators.
• Allocation of budgets, positions of responsibility and other resources within the area of responsibility.
• Supervision of the delivery of teaching programs.
• Management of programs to improve the knowledge and experience of staff.
• Responsibility for general discipline matters beyond the management of classroom teachers and year level coordinators.
• Contribute to the overall management of the school.

Who May Apply

Appropriately qualified individuals currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

Diversity and Inclusion

The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department.

Child Safe Standards

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment.

DE Values

The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights.

Conditions of Employment

All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements. Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.

Qualification Requirements

To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class, the person must have provisional or full registration approved by the Victorian Institute of Teaching.