Principal Fellow (SY 21-22)

  • Full-time
  • Hiring Start Time: July 2021 Start

Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a non-profit network of 55 outstanding public charter schools in grades K-12 across New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Our mission is to start and manage outstanding urban public charter schools that close the achievement gap and prepare students from low-income backgrounds for success in college and beyond. We are accomplishing that mission every day, with a college graduation rate that is well above the national average and thousands of stories of our students and alumni achieving their dreams.

Job Description

To build more high performing schools, we need leaders to commit themselves to the most urgent and exciting work of our time! Running outstanding schools requires leaders who can inspire students, put excellence ahead of easy, and project urgency about providing our scholars with college access. Our leaders make decisions, conduct difficult conversations, and build highly collaborative teams, all while shaping a vibrant school culture. These individuals nurture learning communities that are simultaneously academically rigorous and joyful. They know that their job is the most important one in the world. Self-reflective and humble, they are open to feedback and committed to continuously improving.

Uncommon Schools is offering a fellowship to prepare fellows to open a new Uncommon school or sustain an existing school as Principal.

The Principal Fellowship provides a robust development process to prepare leaders to lead a school in conjunction with the Director of Operations. This Fellow and eventual Principal is a full-time employee, hired, supported, and, evaluated by the Assistant Superintendent.

Leaders are born, sure. But those who become great leaders do so through hard work and deep learning. At Uncommon Schools, we make that learning possible through a fellowship that is based on a foundation of core elements aligned to the competencies of Uncommon leaders. Each element is designed to build Fellows’ capacity towards becoming effective instructional school leaders:

Evaluation and Feedback

Fellows receive mentorship and feedback from their Assistant Superintendent in addition to the school leaders they work closely with. Each Fellow will have an Individual Development Plan that identifies the specific areas of development for the Fellow around which the fellowship will be customized to ensure focused development opportunities.

Fellowship Deliverables

Fellows will be placed at an existing Uncommon school to observe and learn in the environment of a successful school. While in this residency, the Fellow will be involved in teaching across subject and grade levels, observing and coaching teachers, and completing special projects for the school. In addition, Fellows will complete a variety of pre-determined deliverables.

Professional Development

Fellows will engage in professional development focusing on two domains: Cultural Leadership and Management, and Instructional Leadership. Each session will be led by our experienced group of Assistant Superintendents, current leaders, and a select group of external partners. Examples of professional development sessions include Data-Driven Instruction, Observation and Feedback, Managing Teams and Groups, Family and Community Engagement, and Teacher Recruitment.

Qualifications

  • Relentless dedication to improve the minds, characters, and lives of students both in and out of school;
  • Strong record of driving outstanding student results;
  • Strong data analysis skills;
  • Interest in and passion for supporting teacher growth;
  • Ability to provide high leverage feedback via classroom observations;
  • Grit, personal responsibility, and a commitment to continual professional growth;
  • Strong communications skills with multiple stakeholders including teachers, students, families, and colleagues;
  • Strong organizational skills, careful attention to detail and follow-through
  • Required experience:
    • At least 4 years of teaching experience;
    • At least 1 year of experience coaching or leading teachers (e.g., grade level chair, content/department chair, Assistant Principal, Dean of Curriculum, etc.);
    • A Bachelor's degree.

Additional Information

Uncommon Schools offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package.  Aside from extensive professional development, all our staff members are equipped with a laptop computer, email, and all necessary supplies.

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building a talented team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. At the same time, we work to ensure an inclusive community through creating a space for important dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students.  As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.