Middle School Principal (26-27 SY, NY)

General Overview 

Democracy Prep Public Schools is a network of high-performing public charter schools. Our mission is to educate responsible citizen-scholars for success in the college of their choice and a life of active citizenship. We are guided by the belief that all students — regardless of race, zip code, or socioeconomic background — can achieve at the highest academic levels.

The Principal is the instructional and cultural leader of the school building and the most critical driver of scholar outcomes at Democracy Prep. Reporting to the Deputy Superintendent, the Principal is responsible for setting and executing a vision for academic excellence, building and developing a high-performing team, and fostering a joyful, rigorous school culture. 

Who You Are

• A leader and education reformer with an unwavering commitment to the Democracy Prep mission of college success and authentic civic engagement for all scholars, especially those with significant challenges. You have an innate or highly-developed ability to set a vision across an entire school and motivate others towards achieving the vision. 


• A highly effective leader with a clear track record of raising student achievement in a classroom for at least four years.


• A self-reflective and self-aware leader who is dedicated to aligning their school to Democracy Prep's commitment to antiracism and who is eager to use these skills to further a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.


• An educator who values diverse perspectives and is committed to empowering young people and to lifting up and working alongside communities.


• An expert at translating academic standards and state assessment requirements into effective instructional design.


• A coach with demonstrated success in building and developing the leadership capacity in others.


• An excellent writer and skilled orator – ability to easily connect with students, families, and staff and effectively tailor communication to multiple stakeholder groups.


• A data-informed leader, adept at data analysis; ability to extract meaningful insights across school wide data. A constant learner who is willing to reevaluate one’s understanding based on new information and data.

What You’ll Do

Instructional Leadership

• Provide exemplary leadership to all school community members to achieve outstanding performance 


• Develop and communicate strategic school systems, culture, and vision, and build a plan to achieve that vision


• Implement effective assessment systems and use data to inform decisions


• Lead all aspects of curriculum execution and assessment and ensure consistency within the school program and alignment with state and other rigorous standards.

Teacher Coaching & Evaluation

• Conduct daily teacher observations and provide real-time feedback to move the needle on student achievement;


• Oversee faculty and staff, including evaluation, retention, and dismissal and hold primary responsibility for professional development, staff observations, staff communication, and school decisions


• Lead faculty to ensure that all staff are providing well-managed and rigorous daily lessons


• Foster commitment among staff to the development and fulfillment of the school’s mission and objectives;

Champion equitable access to rigorous learning for every scholar by collaborating with the Special Services Manager to ensure instructional practices reflect the needs outlined in IEPs and special education accommodations.Data Analysis & Action Planning

• Analyze academic, instructional, and culture data to identify trends, strengths, and areas for growth on campus.


• Develop and execute targeted action plans aligned to campus and network priorities.


• Monitor progress and adjust strategies based on outcomes and ongoing data review.

School Culture

• Build a joyful and rigorous school culture


• Foster consistency in academic and behavioral expectations


• Collaborate with school staff to support students’ academic and socio-emotional development

Family Engagement

• Communicate regularly with families, ensuring they are kept involved with and held accountable for their scholar’s performance, and correspond about school policies, trips, and events;


• Respond to family concerns promptly and effectively.

Qualifications

• Passionate commitment to the mission of Democracy Prep Public Schools and investment in our vision as an anti-racist organization


• Strong record of driving outstanding student and teacher growth and achievement


• Strong data analysis skills


• Ability to provide high leverage feedback via classroom observations


• Strong communications skills with multiple stakeholders including teachers, students, families, and colleagues


• Strong organizational skills, careful attention to detail and follow-through

Preferred Experience:

• At least 4 years of teaching experience with evidence of outstanding student growth and achievement;


• At least 2 years of experience as an instructional leader, Assistant Principal, Dean or equivalent leadership role at a high-performing urban public school;


• A graduate of a Bachelor’s degree program (required), Master's degree in related field (preferred). *Please note that we request transcripts as a part of our onboarding process.*


• Experience at a high-performing charter school is highly preferred.


• School Building Leader or School District Leader (preferred)

Compensation

Salary range starts at $141,000 and is commensurate with experience. Democracy Prep employees are provided with a benefits package that includes medical, vision, and dental insurance, 403B matching, and parental leave. 

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Democracy Prep is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. Our mission is to educate responsible citizen-scholars who will change the world. We strongly believe that by building a DREAM team that represents numerous perspectives, backgrounds, and expertises, we can achieve this goal together. This is a value we highly support and strongly encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.