Job Summary

Palm Beach Preparatory Charter Academy in West Palm Beach, FL is seeking an experienced Principal to lead our team of exceptional instructors, staff and scholars!

About EdisonLearning and NorthStar Academies

NorthStar Academies (NSA) are public charter schools governed by the Governing Board of NorthStar Academies. The NSA board has entered into an agreement with EdisonLearning to manage the NSA Schools.

EdisonLearning brings together best practices in instruction, developed over three decades of supporting schools, with blended solutions designed by educators to meet students where they are and deliver the education they need and deserve. The company’s comprehensive content, resources and support include 150 full eCourses in core and elective subjects, plus career and technical education and social-emotional learning; actionable learning analytics dashboards and blockchain-enabled micro-credentials; and instructional services teachers and advisors who provide personalized student support. The guiding purpose behind all of EdisonLearning’s work is to ensure equitable access and opportunity for each and every learner.

Our organization’s growth and success is due to the hundreds of dedicated professionals who share a passion for making a difference in the lives of young people – both academically and in character development. We are committed to maintaining a work environment that empowers every employee to take ownership for the growth and success of the company – making sure that the best ideas are always on the table, and that the students we serve always receive our best.

The EdisonLearning Schools Core Values

Wisdom; justice; courage; compassion; hope; respect; responsibility; integrity and resilience—provide the basis for our character and ethics curriculum and student management system that contribute to building a positive learning environment. Helping students develop into responsible citizens is an integral part of the EdisonLearning program.

Job Summary:

The Principal operates in accordance with the NorthStar Academies Seven Non-negotiables and serves as the chief administrator of the school, supervises all school personnel, develops and implements policies, programs, curriculum activities and budgets in a manner that promotes the educational development of each student and the professional development of each staff member. The role of Principal is responsible for providing the instructional, operational, cultural and administrative leadership necessary to ensure success of the school including the primary responsibility for advancing achievement and financial performance. The Principal is the overall leader of the school, with a dominant focus on instructional leadership. The principal will also be held accountable for the operational management (i.e. physical, financial etc.) of the school including ensuring that the physical assets of the school are safe, clean and well maintained; and that the school’s expenditures do not exceed annual budget allocations and are in keeping with district as well as EdisonLearning policies, regulations and guidelines.

This role works as a part of a team in order to meet the needs of all students. Because building relationships is a critical component of this learning environment, the team works together to identify student needs that may be barriers to success. The principal works collaboratively with team members to implement with fidelity the five domains that are central to EdisonLearning’s Achievement Framework Model and works collectively to develop and enhance systems, processes and practices that are in alignment with the company’s and school’s vision, mission, core values and strategic goals.

Main Responsibilities:

Achievement Leadership

• Implement with fidelity all Domains of the EdisonLearning Achievement Framework Model;
• Apply and implement at the school site all aspects of the school’s charter application, chartering agreement and governing board by-laws as required by the school’s chartering district;
• Ensure that the school is represented at all mandatory Principal, ESE Specialist, ESOL Contact and any other mandated district compliance meetings or trainings;
• Ensure that the school’s ESE Department maintains a compliance status and that Students With Disabilities are provided with the instructional support, interventions, modifications and services in accordance with their IEPs, Eps or 504 plans;
• Ensure that the school’s ESOL Department maintains a compliance status and that all English Language Learners are provided with the instructional supports in accordance with each student’s language proficiency level and their identified instructional needs;
• In accordance with the school’s reporting policies, ensure that the Director of School Leadership is informed of all District requests and compliance items;
• Implement EdisonLearning personnel policies and procedures that are consistent with and as outlined in the EdisonLearning Employee Handbook;
• Conduct regular observations of learning and teaching, and provide constructive feedback and coaching to support teacher growth and development;
• Supervise and evaluates the performance of all assigned staff to ensure quality instruction and student achievement;
• Takes appropriate action as outlined in the EdisonLearning Employee Handbook and refer to the EdisonLearning Human Resources Department all HR matters within a timely manner;
• Takes appropriate action in cases of exceptional performance; and encourages individuals with leadership or innovative potential;
• Ensure that accurate documentation is maintained such as enrollment, attendance, retention, student progress and needs;
• Present and participate in temperature checks, bi-weekly and monthly board meetings and ensure that the school is represented at all company-wide PLC or departmental meetings;
• Implement the school’s adopted Reading Program with fidelity and in accordance with the chartering district and state’s Reading intervention requirements;
• Use data-driven decision making to develop and implement a yearly Professional Development Calendar that aligns with EdisonLearning’s strategic goals, the site’s School Improvement Plan and the instructional and operational goals of the school; and ensure that staff members participate in on-site and across schools Professional Learning Communities;
• Ensure that the school’s Multi-tiered System of Support is implemented and that students receive appropriately tiered behavioral and instructional support and interventions in accordance with the school’s adopted Reading Plan and the school’s Multi-tiered System of Support Plan;
• Systematically progress monitor students and implement the school’s data cycle in accordance with the Multi-tiered System of Support Plan;
• Ensure that the instructional staff is utilizing the Florida Department of Education Standards and approved curriculum to meet the learning needs of all students and that teachers are creating and submitting weekly Direct Instruction Lesson Plans that are consistent with all components of the EdisonLearning Standard Lesson Plan format;
• Ensure the approved benchmark assessments are administered and monitor student achievement through ongoing data analysis from multiple sources such as diagnostics, progress monitoring benchmarks, standardized, monthly and formative and summative assessments to inform planning and teaching;
• Delegates functions and responsibilities to qualified assistants in such a manner that the school operates effectively and efficiently;
• Performs other related duties as directed.

Organizational Leadership

• Lead the school community (students, staff, parents and community members) in the collaborative development and implementation of a school vision for student achievement and strong character development;
• Persuasively lead change management efforts; monitor and sustain changes that further the school vision and goals through staff empowerment;
• Implement school organizational structure including staffing and scheduling;
• Oversee hiring of highly qualified staff who excel at meeting the academic and social-emotional needs of students;
• Develops a model of distributed leadership, establishing leadership roles for all staff and students, and sharing leadership responsibilities.

Culture Building

• Translate the EdisonLearning vision to ensure that EdisonLearning core values and an achievement focused learning environment pervade the school;
• Lead the development and implementation of school culture and student behavior plan;
• Ensure effective implementation of student and family support systems;
• Create a culture of inclusion and ownership among all stakeholders.

Operational Management

• Through effective management of the School Operations Manager, ensure all operational responsibilities are executed in a timely and high-quality manner;
• Ensure revenue, enrollment and expense targets are met;
• Establish and enforce standard operating policies and procedures to ensure facility and operational services are safe and effective;
• Oversee compliance to federal, state, local and contractual requirements;
• Identifies, communicates the need for and effectively manages resources to ensure the school meets its academic and financial goals;

Relationship Management

• Build/maintain key relationships (i.e. Board leadership, EdisonLearning partners, superintendents, chartering school board and district personnel, community leadership, political leaders, etc.);
• Develop and maintain positive community and parent relationships.

Key Relationships:

Internal: NorthStar School colleagues, EdisonLearning corporate staff

External: Charter Boards and Districts, Parents, Community Members

Key Behavioral Competencies:

• Adheres and behaves in accordance with the Florida Principal Leadership Standards;
• Uses different behaviors as necessary to achieve desired outcomes; able to amend own behavior to influence and gain acceptance;
• Shift priorities to address changes in events or assigned goals;
• Inspires groups of individuals to work together to achieve a common purpose; promotes a culture of open communication and respect;
• Actively establishes and promotes best practices for EdisonLearning work processes and standards;
• Analyzes reasons behind results, takes actions to address failures and seeks to improve outcomes;
• Never accepts excuses for breaches of ethics, values or regulations and confronts potentially unethical behavior in others;
• Develops and uses subtle strategies to influence others in order to achieve organization objectives; anticipates reactions and works hard to find common ground between stakeholders with opposing views;
• Coaches employees and team members on ways to enhance their level of performance and develop their skills;
• Encourages constructive feedback and a culture that provides opportunities for development. Attracts, assesses, develops, motivates and retains a diverse workforce that drives results.

Qualifications

Required

• Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction; or Master’s Degree in a specialty area such as Elementary Education or Secondary Education; or Master’s Degree in Educational Administration & Supervision
• Minimum of 5 years teaching experience
• Minimum of 5 years experience in instructional leadership including at least two years as an assistant principal
• Administrative Certification
• Ability to recognize effective instruction based on current research
• Knowledge of teacher evaluation and observation methods
• Knowledge of various instruction and teaching methodologies
• Excellent organizational, planning and implementation skills
• Proficiency with technology (including student data systems, office suites, communication tools, and instructional technology)

Preferred

• Experience working with at-risk student population;
• Evidence of educational experiences after college (fellowships, summer study, or graduate course work to pursue greater depth in a subject area, specific instructional methodology, curriculum development, special education, technology, etc.);
• Proven experience as a teacher working with student population in some capacity;

Benefits and other Perks:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Basic Life/AD&D – company paid
• Voluntary – Life/AD&D, Short/Long Term Disability
• Generous time off schedule (Holidays, Personal, Vacation, and Sick Time)
• Retirement Plan
• Student Loan Assistance
• Employer Paid Teladoc Mental Health support network
• Perks at Work discount site

An Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of EdisonLearning, Inc. to provide educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, alienage and citizen status, age, marital status, disability, prior record of arrest or conviction (except as provided by law), sexual orientation, gender (sex), and to maintain an environment free of discriminatory harassment, including sexual harassment, or retaliation as required by civil rights law.