Principal's Secretary

Howard County Public School System Secretary Position This is experienced secretarial work of a confidential nature. An employee in this class, with direction from the Principal or designated Assistant Principal, manages the main office of a school and renders clerical assistance to the Principal and other members of the management staff. This position requires a high degree of accuracy, accountability, attention to detail, and confidentiality. Minimum qualifications include: 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. Three years of general office experience of a secretarial nature. One year of experience working with accounting or bookkeeping records. Six semester hours of college accounting or bookkeeping may be substituted for one year of working experience with accounting or bookkeeping records. Preferred qualifications include: Knowledge of financial and statistical record-keeping methods. Ability to count money accurately and prepare bank deposits, write checks, post debits, and credits. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both written and oral form. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Knowledge of business English, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Ability to manage the office, supervise, and train other office personnel. Experience working in a school setting. Ability to remain calm under trying circumstances. Knowledge of district organization, operations, policies, and objectives. Knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, and equipment as well as word processing, database, and spreadsheet programs. Essential position responsibilities include: Leading the activities of the office staff providing training, indirect supervision, technical leadership, and direction as necessary; assuring compliance with established procedures; assisting in setting work priorities and assisting in preparation of performance evaluations; serving as contact person for students, parents, and staff. Preparing and accurately maintaining a variety of reports, records, and files relating to students, staff, operations, and activities including those of a confidential nature. Planning, organizing, and coordinating school activities and communications. Independently preparing, typing, and distributing communications. Serving as secretary to the principal; scheduling appointments and meetings; making travel arrangements. Handling financial records and bookkeeping to include, but not limited to, the payroll and bank transactions; collect and account for monies collected in conjunction with school activities; secure monies and process according to established procedures. Additional requirements include: The duty day for this position is 8.5 hours, which will include a 30-minute unpaid, duty-free lunch period. Application requirements include: 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 include: 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 includes: 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. 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. 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 include: 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 at . 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.

Created: 2026-03-09