Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced, passionate and highly successful organizational leader to serve as the next principal for Humanities Charter High School. The principal is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the school provides students with the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to successfully transition to an articulated post-secondary plan. The principal must have the skills necessary to adeptly collaborate with faculty and staff including a deep understanding of adult learning; the ability to identify and use diagnostic and formative assessments in order to drive instructional improvement and programs; and the ability to engage in and support classroom as well as organizational level development. The principal is directly managed on a day-to-day basis by the Chief Executive Officer for United CharterHigh Schools and reports to the Board of Trustees.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated successful school leadership experience. They will have demonstrated alignment with the United Charter High Schools mission to empower young people by challenging them academically and providing them with the support they need to excel.

About the School

HUM is a Rose that Grew from Concrete. Excellence is the Expectation. The staff at Humanities I are excited, energized and deeply committed to making a positive impact in the lives of their scholars. The school is located at the John F. Kennedy Campus: 99 Terrace View Avenue 3rd floor, Bronx, NY 10463.

HUM's focus includes high student achievement, college and career readiness, and helping HUM scholars become future leaders of tomorrow. Teachers deliver quality instruction and set clear learning targets and educational goals for every scholar. HUM staff think deeply and carefully about each student's academic needs and the courses that are best suited for their success. Each scholar's path is closely monitored using the HUM Graduation Road Map and YES PLAN. HUM ensures the coursework across grades is rigorous and challenging to allow students to accelerate and meet post secondary options.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment

• Lead a challenge-based curriculum that has embedded, community learning opportunities for students.
• Deliver the academic preparation and requisite support for all students to be prepared to succeed in college and career.
• Foster connections between academic learning, the community, and the natural world.

Staff Supervision and Development

• Hire and support the development of all school staff.
• Create a professional community that focuses on instruction and assessment as the primary vehicles for improving student achievement and school culture.
• Provide on-going observation, coaching and evaluation.
• Motivate teachers to continue to develop their content knowledge and instructional repertoire, and to provide the resources needed for them to do so.

School Culture

• Build a school culture that evidences high expectations for courtesy, respect, compassion and an intellectually-engaged environment for both students and adults.
• Ensure a safe, supportive and productive environment for students, staff and families.
• Model effective adult development practices in staff meetings, professional development sessions and team meetings.

Accountability

• Understand accountability metrics and annual reporting required of charter schools and oversee the submission of all accountability reports.
• Collaborate with the Board of Trustees to ensure the academic and fiscal success of the school. Prepare for and attend monthly Board Meetings.
• Implement all policies required for the school to remain in good standing and in accordance with network standard operating procedures.
• Fully participate in network-wide professional learning communities.

Required Education and Experience

• Masters degree in Educational Leadership, Management, or Administration
• School leadership training, certification, and/or experience that is consistent with the core concepts of the New Visions Charter School Model
• Possession of the New York State School Building Leader certification
• Teaching experience, preferably at the high school level, with a strong record of improving student achievement
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including management and team-building skills
• Experience working in an urban school setting
• Experience with supervising, evaluating and supporting teacher development at all levels, but particularly for new teachers
• Experience implementing pedagogical strategies and developing rigorous curriculum practices including: challenge-based learning, data-driven decision making, student feedback protocols, classroom routines and structures, adolescent literacy strategies, differentiated instruction
• Experience with College and Career Preparatory curriculum and effective college access practices
• Experience developing schedules to maximize time and space use
• Experience managing organizational budgets
• Experience working in a shared DOE space, a plus

Required Skill Sets and Knowledge Base

• Demonstrated commitment to the school vision and mission
• Commitment to democratic governance and collaborative, data-based decision-making
• Rigorous approach to problem-solving - collecting all relevant information, consulting diverse perspectives, and creating feedback systems
• Recognition of self as a learner and reflective practitioner, able to identify areas for growth and commitment to working in these areas
• Experience and zeal for working in an entrepreneurial environment
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Passion for developing a strong school community that supports the development and achievement of all students, particularly those underserved and at risk in other school settings

Disclaimer:

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. These statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.

Application Instructions

A letter of interest outlining the candidate's career goals and specific skills aligned to the position description and a full resume should be submitted as soon as possible for initial screening. Please do not reach out to the school directly. Only candidates with complete applications will be considered for this position. Upon initial review, eligible candidates moving on in the process will be notified of next steps.

About the Organization

United Charter High Schools (UCHS) is the largest and most successful public charter high school network in NYC. Originally founded as New Visions Charter High Schools by the non-profit New Visions for Public Schools, it was established to provide quality educational opportunities for students in underserved communities. Renamed UCHS as of July, 2024, the network consists of 7 charter high schools that held a collective graduation rate of 96% in each 2022 and 2023 while serving more than 3,000 students across the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. They are some of New York State's highest performing charter high schools, consistently meeting, and in many cases exceeding, NYSED's Performance Benchmarks for Student Performance - outperforming NYS on the 4-year Cohort Regents' exams and the 4-year graduation rate for all students and special populations. They also include the only NYC High School to receive the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award in 2022.