Principal
Job Description
Job DescriptionDescription:
About The SEED School of Washington, D.C.
The SEED Foundation (www.seedfoundation.com) was created in 1997 to establish college-preparatory urban boarding schools that prepare children both academically and socially, for success in college and beyond. In 1998, the Foundation opened The SEED Public Charter School of Washington, D.C. – the nation’s first urban public college preparatory boarding school. The school currently serves 325 students in grades 6-12. In 2015, 100% of SEED’s seniors were accepted to a four year college or university.
All SEED students live on campus from Sunday evening through Friday afternoon when they return home for the weekend. The dormitories are organized into small “houses” of 10-12 students per life skills counselor for afternoon and evening routines such as study hall, house meetings, and social activities. We provide a safe and caring 24 hour boarding experience. Our relationship with parents and guardians is essential to the success of their child while at SEED.
About The SEED Network
SEED is the pioneering national network of public, college-preparatory boarding schools, offering a unique 24-hour, 5-day per week learning environment. Our tuition-free schools, the first of their kind in the U.S., are intentionally designed to serve traditionally underserved students. Supported by The SEED Foundation, we operate in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Miami, and Los Angeles. The Foundation's College Transition & Success (CTS) team provides comprehensive support to SEED graduates from junior year through college graduation. SEED's success has gained recognition from media outlets like 60 Minutes and The New York Times, and former President Obama has lauded it as "a true success story." Learn more at www.seedfoundation.com.
Position Overview
The Principal is responsible for leading the academic program and ensuring a high-quality learning environment for all students. They understand how learning works and how to create the conditions for learning within the school. The Principal is responsible for managing all policies and programs during the academic school day to ensure a learning environment consistent with the college preparatory mission of the school. The Principal collaborates and cooperates with key personnel, leveraging subject-matter expertise to maximize the effectiveness of school programming.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Establish and lead the academic vision and expectations for excellence, guide the curriculum and instructional vision, build instructional capacity, oversee professional development and evaluation, implement curricula with fidelity and rigor, and monitor and ensure student growth, learning, and achievement.
• Serve as the instructional leader to fulfill the school’s vision and mission including responsibility for assessment, instruction, curriculum, and professional development.
• Advocate for students, promote an inclusive community, emphasize family involvement, and create a culture of excellence and opportunity for students pursuing their education.
• Frequently use data to identify students and teachers who need additional support, and then coordinate the proper support plan for them to ensure success.
• Develop and lead a robust dual-enrollment program for students with the college success team.
• Effectively analyze, manage, and use data to achieve performance outcomes. Ensure performance accountability metrics are met, and that student outcomes continue to improve.
• Evaluate assigned personnel for the purpose of ensuring the vision, mission, and performance goals are met annually for the school and student body.
• Oversee a strong and positive student and staff culture, managing the team while setting the expectation for excellence.
• Implement policies, procedures, and a process for complying with school, local, state, and federal regulations, guidelines, and policies.
• Model for staff and students a growth mindset, ensure quality professional learning, a supportive learning community, and create an environment where staff and students are successful.
• Ensure that all positions are filled with highly qualified personnel.
• Ensure that the school meets all reporting and accountability requirements as defined by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) as well as the DC Public Charter School Board.
• Partner with the Head of School to continue to develop the school’s programs to align with the school vision and mission.
Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree required. An advanced degree in K-12 school administration, curriculum & instruction, or a related field with strong academic preparation is preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience with proven results in an urban school setting that demonstrates high student outcomes in a high school setting.
• Minimum 3 years demonstrated success as an effective high school classroom teacher as evidenced by teacher and scholar growth and achievement data as well as personal performance data.
• A performance and outcome-driven approach with a demonstrated track record of impact on student outcomes, with strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytic skills.
• Strong communication and listening skills, with a track record in team building, change management, and building alignment around a shared vision and direction.
• A high degree of personal integrity, demonstrated leadership abilities, and a history of working cooperatively with key stakeholders in a school environment.
• Solid understanding of the developmental and social nuances of children in high school.
• Develops and supports a climate that values, accepts, and understands that achievement is at the core of our work, and that excuses are irrelevant.
• Demonstrated commitment to educational equity for all students.
• Works independently with little direct supervision.
• Works well with others and as part of a team.