What are the responsibilities and job description for the High School Principal - Alexandria City High School position at Alexandria City Public Schools?
Job Description
The Principal of Alexandria City High School (ACHS) serves as the Lead Instructional Leader, Strategic Visionary, and Public Representative of the division’s comprehensive high school. The principal leads one of the largest high schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia, serving a diverse student population across four campuses: King Street Campus, Minnie Howard Campus, the Satellite Campus, and Chance for Change Academy.
The Principal is responsible for ensuring instructional excellence, operational coherence, and a unified high school experience across all campuses. This role requires exceptional leadership to coordinate complex academic programs, student services, and administrative operations while maintaining alignment with the division’s mission, strategic priorities, and commitment to equity and excellence.
As a highly visible and community-facing leader, the Principal represents Alexandria City High School across the city and region, building strong partnerships with families, community organizations, higher education institutions, local businesses, and civic leaders. The Principal ensures that all students graduate prepared for college, career, and post-secondary life, while fostering a culture of high expectations, belonging, and opportunity. This Principal role is a 12-month, 240 day administrator position.
Alexandria City High School Overview
Established in 1965 during the desegregation era through the consolidation of George Washington, Francis C. Hammond, and Parker-Gray High Schools, ACHS—formerly T.C. Williams High School—holds a significant place in the city’s history and national narrative, including recognition through the film Remember the Titans. In 2021, the School Board unanimously renamed the school to reflect the community’s commitment to equity and inclusion. Today, ACHS remains a diverse and academically rigorous institution, organized under the Academies at Alexandria City model, which includes STEM, Education, Liberal Arts and Human Services, Business and Government, General Studies, and Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts. The academy structure provides personalized pathways, industry partnerships, and opportunities for certifications and dual enrollment, ensuring that students graduate prepared for both college and career success.
Qualifications
ACPS seeks a visionary and experienced educational leader to serve as the next Principal of Alexandria City High School, guiding the school’s continued growth, innovation, and commitment to excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Instructional Leadership
Clearances
The Principal of Alexandria City High School (ACHS) serves as the Lead Instructional Leader, Strategic Visionary, and Public Representative of the division’s comprehensive high school. The principal leads one of the largest high schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia, serving a diverse student population across four campuses: King Street Campus, Minnie Howard Campus, the Satellite Campus, and Chance for Change Academy.
The Principal is responsible for ensuring instructional excellence, operational coherence, and a unified high school experience across all campuses. This role requires exceptional leadership to coordinate complex academic programs, student services, and administrative operations while maintaining alignment with the division’s mission, strategic priorities, and commitment to equity and excellence.
As a highly visible and community-facing leader, the Principal represents Alexandria City High School across the city and region, building strong partnerships with families, community organizations, higher education institutions, local businesses, and civic leaders. The Principal ensures that all students graduate prepared for college, career, and post-secondary life, while fostering a culture of high expectations, belonging, and opportunity. This Principal role is a 12-month, 240 day administrator position.
Alexandria City High School Overview
Established in 1965 during the desegregation era through the consolidation of George Washington, Francis C. Hammond, and Parker-Gray High Schools, ACHS—formerly T.C. Williams High School—holds a significant place in the city’s history and national narrative, including recognition through the film Remember the Titans. In 2021, the School Board unanimously renamed the school to reflect the community’s commitment to equity and inclusion. Today, ACHS remains a diverse and academically rigorous institution, organized under the Academies at Alexandria City model, which includes STEM, Education, Liberal Arts and Human Services, Business and Government, General Studies, and Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts. The academy structure provides personalized pathways, industry partnerships, and opportunities for certifications and dual enrollment, ensuring that students graduate prepared for both college and career success.
Qualifications
ACPS seeks a visionary and experienced educational leader to serve as the next Principal of Alexandria City High School, guiding the school’s continued growth, innovation, and commitment to excellence.
- Education: A Master’s degree in Educational Leadership or a related field is required.
- Certification & Licenses: A Valid Virginia Department of Education Teaching PostGraduate License, with the add-on endorsement in Adminstration & Supervision PreK-12. Candidates must have an "Active Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) license with an endorsement in Administration and Supervision, or eligible to submit and complete VDOE licensure application for an Administration and Supervision endorsement upon hire. Please note that the Adminstration & Supervision endorsement is not a stand alone endorsement
- Experience: Minimum of five years of successful experience as a principal and/or lead administrator, with secondary experience preferred. Demonstrated record of improving student achievement, leading instructional excellence, and fostering innovation and high integrity in diverse school communities. Proven experience effectively leading a large urban school serving 2,500 or more students is preferred.
Key Responsibilities
Instructional Leadership
- Establish and communicate a clear instructional vision that promotes high-quality teaching, rigorous academic expectations, and strong student outcomes across all ACHS campuses.
- Lead the implementation of division curriculum, instructional frameworks, and assessment systems aligned to state standards.
- Provides strategic leadership and oversight for specialized academic programs, including English Learners (EL), Special Education, Advanced Academics, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment.
- Monitor student achievement data and campus performance indicators to guide continuous improvement and close achievement gaps.
- Supervise and develop campus administrators, department leaders, and instructional staff to ensure consistent and effective instructional practices.
- Expand access to advanced coursework, career and technical pathways, and specialized academic programs for all students.
- Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the four campuses of Alexandria City High School, ensuring alignment in instructional programs, student supports, and operational practices.
- Leads the strategic planning and implementation of the Academies at Alexandria City, ensuring expanded, innovative, and equitable learning opportunities for all students in grades 9-12.
- Establish systems for collaboration and shared decision-making among campus leaders and administrative teams.
- Coordinate cross-campus initiatives related to curriculum, scheduling, student services, and school improvement planning.
- Ensure that each campus maintains a safe, inclusive, and academically focused learning environment aligned with the ACHS vision.
- Foster a culture of high expectations, academic excellence, and belonging across the ACHS community.
- Oversee systems that support student attendance, engagement, behavior, and academic progress.
- Leads the collaborative development, implementation, and ongoing monitoring of the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (SIP) in alignment with the ACPS Strategic Plan.
- Ensure effective implementation of student support structures, including counseling services, intervention systems, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).
- Promote student leadership, extracurricular opportunities, and experiences that support student voice and engagement.
- Maintaining strong relationships with families, community organizations, higher education institutions, and civic partners.
- Communicate regularly with Alexandria families regarding school initiatives, progress, and achievements.
- Represent ACHS in division initiatives, community forums, and strategic partnerships.
- Develop partnerships that expand students' internship, mentorship, career pathway, and postsecondary success opportunities.
- Recruit, supervise, and evaluate campus administrators, teachers, and support staff in accordance with division policies and leadership standards.
- Foster a collaborative professional culture focused on instructional excellence and continuous improvement.
- Ensure meaningful professional learning opportunities that strengthen instructional practice and leadership capacity.
- Promote professional collaboration and shared accountability for student success across campuses.
- Oversee the effective management of school operations, including budgeting, staffing, facilities, safety, and compliance with state and division policies.
- Lead the development and implementation of the Alexandria City High School strategic improvement plan.
- Lead the continued implementation of the Academies at Alexandria City Strategic Plan
- Ensure that operational systems support instructional priorities and student learning outcomes.
- Coordinate major school initiatives, events, and division-wide programs affecting multiple campuses.
- Deep knowledge of effective instructional leadership, curriculum implementation, and assessment practices.
- Ability to lead and align multiple campuses within a single comprehensive high school structure.
- Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Strategic leadership and organizational management capacity.
- Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive leadership.
- Ability to manage large-scale operations while maintaining a focus on instructional excellence and student success.
- Visionary leadership and strategic planning
- Instructional expertise and data-driven decision-making
- Multi-campus organizational leadership
- Community engagement and partnership development
- Talent development and staff leadership
- Equity-centered leadership and student advocacy
Clearances
- Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance.
- Tuberculosis Skin Test.
- Public Health Compliance - Must follow safety and health protocols.