PRINCIPAL - Grow Public Schools

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Salaried, Exempt

Reports to: Chief Academic Officer, Grow Public Schools (CMO)

Organizational Overview

At Grow Public Schools, our mission is fueled by a need for educational equity and a belief in the transformative power of education and wellness. We believe education and wellness are regarded as the fundamental pillars and their harmonious integration pave the way for brilliant and vibrant futures. Founded by the Grimm Family Education Foundation in August 2011, the mission of Grow Public Schools is to close the achievement gap for students in the rural areas of Kern County by creating an environment of student excellence and well-being. Grow Public Schools is committed to building a brighter future for generations to come in Kern County, California. 

Our model includes:

• • Hands-on Learning: At the heart of each campus is an Edible Schoolyard, an initiative that integrates gardening and cooking into the educational experience of scholars. Students learn to plant, cultivate, harvest, and prepare food, gaining valuable skills and knowledge about healthy eating and sustainability.
  • Health and Wellness: We promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being among students. Each campus has an Instructional Leadership Team and a Culture Leadership Team including academic coaches, counselors, and social workers to support student well-being. Additionally, all students receive three cooked-from-scratch meals from our Cafe each day.

• Personalized Learning: At Grow Public Schools, each child is known by name and instruction is tailored to each student’s need. Our small class sizes, a 2-educator per classroom model, and Learning Lab, allow staff to adjust instruction to each scholar’s unique needs. Our campuses are full inclusion models, promoting equal access and integration of students with disabilities into regular classrooms.

Summary Description

At Grow, the Principal is the beating heart of the school campus. The Principal serves as the instructional and learning leader and is responsible for the strong academic program, ensuring a healthy and positive school-wide culture, building community with family and staff, and efficient and effective operations of a charter school. The Principal will ensure successful academic, social-emotional, and health & wellness outcomes for all students. In collaboration with the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) and fellow GPS Principals, the Principal shall be responsible for:

Academic Leadership

As the academic leader of the school site, the Principal is responsible for:

• Leading the implementation at the school site of an integrated and rigorous standards-aligned curriculum. The principal will optimize the integrated curriculum model aligned to the Grow Public Schools, integrating blended learning opportunities and maximizing the learning opportunities through the Edible Schoolyard, learning kitchen, learning lab and classroom.
• Implementing the instructional program, assessing curriculum and pedagogy, ensuring effective standards-aligned lesson plans and observe classes (teaching and learning) on a frequent and structured basis to encourage the use of a variety of instructional strategies and materials consistent with research on the best practices for student learning and development.
• Deliver consistently high levels of achievement and learning for all students through rigorous and engaging programs and classroom instruction.
• Systematic use of assessment data to guide instruction; and, maximizing impact of the blended learning model.

Healthy and Positive School-Wide Culture

• Establish a strong school community culture by maintaining positive, cooperative and mutually supportive relationships with faculty, staff, parents, students, and all other school stakeholders.
• Implement the Grow Public Schools restorative behavioral approach schoolwide to ensure consistent norms of respectful behavior, effective learning environments in the classroom, motivating students through strong relationships with their teachers, positive reinforcement, and effective implementation of the SEL curriculum
• Creating a student support system that addresses students’ academic and social-emotional needs holistically and involves parents, teachers, and all relevant staff.
• Acting as Grow Academy’s point person to the local community, effectively communicating the school’s mission and vision and soliciting input from parents and families about school performance, areas for improvement, and their needs - including through LCAP outreach, and close collaboration with the Parents of Grow Academy (POGA), and English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC).
• Engaging and building strong professional relationships with parents, characterized by involving parents, wherever possible in the life of the school.

Efficient and Effective School Operations

• Develop and implement consistent and frequent professional learning and development opportunities for teachers, ensuring regular instructional training is consistent with the latest research-based methodologies and development program ensuring a strong, collaborative professional community, regular training opportunities and a meaningful summer experience. 
• Manage the school’s daily operations, including: facilities management; information/instructional technologies; food services; student data management systems; academic assessment tools; office management; budget and fiscal controls; and, student recruitment and retention. 
• With support from CMO leadership, exercise full engagement on compliance, budget, procurement, student data, academic assessments, and campus safety. Cooperate with the back-office service provider where necessary to meet all school administrative activities.
• In partnership with the GPS CMO Team, execute a highly effective talent management system of recruiting, selecting, hiring, retaining, recognizing, and supporting all school site staff.
• Collaborate with the CMO Team on the review and reporting requirements of the State of California, charter authorizing agency and Federal regulatory agencies, including charter school monitoring and the charter renewal process.
• Maintain a master school calendar to be posted for all stakeholders in all appropriate mediums (i.e. website, social media, student/parent guide, employee handbook). Work with the CMO Team to ensure all marketing and communications tools are up-to-date and active.

Network Collaboration

In addition to being a strong single-site leader, the Principal will work with the CMO and the community to create a compelling and comprehensive vision and strategy for next stage of Grow Public Schools. This includes:

• Cultivating partnerships with local and regional external organizations that enrich the culture of the school as well as strong working relationships with the charter school authorizers.
• Along with the CMO Team and the charter authorizing agency, develop plans for expanding Grow Public Schools to additional sites. 
• Building relationships throughout Kern County with families and potential families to support future enrollment of families into Grow Public School programs
• Along with the CMO Team, consider potential sites for the expansion of Grow Public Schools and work with the Facilities team to advance plans for an additional campus.
• Review and codify Grow Public Schools’ policies, procedures and programs, in order to strenghten and replicate the school model

Qualifications

Attributes:

• Passion for improving educational opportunities for all students and for building a strong, highly effective organization aligned to this mission.
• Demonstrated experience raising student achievement among a diverse group of learners, economically disadvantaged students, non-native English speakers, and other historically underserved populations.
• Personal connection to and/or experience working closely with English Language Learners and their families.
• Knowledge of/experience with innovative school designs and instructional models, including those featuring 21st-century learning strategies like blended, inquiry, problem/project-based and personalized learning.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Strong, experienced manager with excellent leadership and team building skills.
• Ability to translate critical feedback into effective outcomes.
• Leads with grit, perseverance and a “can-do” positive attitude.
• Ability to productively organize, communicates, and disseminates policies, strategies, and tasks.
• Familiarity with the developmental, behavioral, social/emotional, and academic needs of students in the academic years.

Required Education and Experience:

• BA/BS in a related field.
• Three to five years’ experience teaching elementary school and/or secondary school.
• A valid California Teaching Credential. If the candidate does not have have a current California Administrative Services Credential, one must be obtained within the first year. 

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:

• MA or MEd – PhD or EdD highly desired.
• At least three years’ experience as a school leader (principal or other school administrator). Preference will be given to candidates with more experience. 
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).
• Experience in or familiarity with a charter school setting.
• A California Clear Administrative Credential or state-issued equivalent. If the candidate does not have have a current California Administrative Services Credential, one must be obtained within the first year. 

Salary

Grow Public Schools offers a competitive salary range from $130,000 to $170,000 as well as a comprehensive benefits package including PPO medical, dental, vision, and STRS retirement. Additionally, Grow Public Schools offers several wellness perks, such as free scratch-cooked lunches, discounted gym memberships, premium Calm subscription, and employer-paid wellness opportunities.

Application Process

To apply, please send your resume to applications@schoolhouseconsulting.org. In your email, please share why you are interested in the role and include a link to your linkedin profile, if available.