Founding School Principal (IB)

DCS seeks a founding school leader to launch a globally minded, inquiry‑driven IB school that reflects the brilliance, diversity, and aspirations of the Danbury community.

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About Elevate Charter Schools

Elevate Charter Schools (ECS) is a growing charter management organization committed to providing exceptional educational opportunities for students in historically underserved communities. We believe in the power of education to transform lives and are dedicated to developing students’ academic potential, character, and social‑emotional growth. Our mission is to deliver a rigorous, personalized, and holistic education that equips every child with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to thrive in school and beyond.

ECS currently operates Booker T. Washington Academy (BTWA) Elementary and Middle Schools in New Haven, CT, and is expanding its reach through new schools and strategic partnerships across the state. Our team is united by a shared commitment to equity, inclusion, and excellence, and we are proud to partner with communities to build schools where every child is known, valued, and supported.

Visit: https://elevatecharters.org

About Danbury International Academy Charter School

Danbury International Academy Charter School (DCS) is a diverse, inclusive, globally minded public charter school launching in one of Connecticut’s most culturally rich cities. Grounded in the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, DCS nurtures curious, compassionate, and confident learners prepared to thrive in an interconnected world.

Students engage in inquiry‑driven, concept‑based learning that builds strong academic foundations alongside cultural awareness, multilingual communication, and real‑world problem‑solving. DCS educators honor students’ identities, celebrate their cultures and languages, and ensure every learner is seen, valued, and supported. Through strong partnerships with families, local organizations, and community leaders, DCS creates meaningful learning experiences that connect students to both their Danbury roots and the wider world.

As a founding school, DCS is building a community where equity, belonging, and global citizenship are lived every day. The school will launch with the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and is strategically positioned for future expansion into the Diploma Programme (DP), creating a full IB continuum for Danbury students.

Visit: www.danburycharterschool.org

About the Opportunity

DCS seeks a mission‑driven, globally minded Founding Principal to lead the launch of an IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) school and lay the foundation for future DP expansion. This leader will shape the school’s academic vision, build a strong adult culture, and ensure that inquiry, global citizenship, and whole‑child development are embedded from day one.

The Founding Principal will partner closely with ECS executive leadership to design systems, structures, and routines that translate vision into consistent, high‑quality execution. This role requires a leader who thrives in dynamic environments, brings deep instructional and cultural leadership, and is energized by the opportunity to build a world‑class IB school in a diverse, multilingual community.

This is a rare opportunity to design and lead a school that reflects the strengths, hopes, and cultural richness of Danbury families — and to build a learning community where students develop the curiosity, confidence, and global awareness needed to lead in an interconnected world.

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Key Responsibilities of the Role

As a Founding IB School Principal at DCS, you will be primarily responsible for:

Visionary Leadership & School Culture

• Establish and communicate a clear, ambitious vision aligned to IB philosophy, global citizenship, and ECS values.

• Build a joyful, safe, inclusive school culture grounded in inquiry, belonging, and high expectations for all students.

• Embed the IB Learner Profile, global contexts, and whole‑child development into daily routines, rituals, and instructional practices.

• Model adaptability, clarity, and a solutions‑oriented mindset in a dynamic founding environment.

Instructional Leadership & IB Alignment

• Serve as the school’s instructional anchor, ensuring rigorous, inquiry‑driven, concept‑based teaching across all classrooms.

• Partner with the Founding IB Coordinator to ensure fidelity to IB MYP standards, interdisciplinary learning structures, and long‑term DP readiness.

• Lead curriculum development, assessment systems, and professional learning aligned to IB frameworks and state standards.

• Use data to monitor student learning, strengthen instructional practice, and support multilingual learners and students from historically underserved backgrounds.

• Build teacher capacity in inquiry cycles, interdisciplinary planning, performance‑based assessment, and culturally responsive pedagogy.

People Leadership & Adult Culture

• Recruit, hire, and develop a high‑performing founding team committed to equity, global citizenship, and inquiry‑driven learning.

• Build a collaborative, reflective, high‑expectations adult culture where feedback is embraced and professional growth is continuous.

• Coach teachers and leaders through observations, feedback cycles, and data‑driven reflection to ensure consistent, high‑quality instruction.

• Develop emerging leaders and build a sustainable leadership pipeline for long‑term school success.

Operational Leadership & Systems Design

• Design and implement systems, routines, and structures that maximize instructional time, ensure student safety, and support a smooth, predictable school experience.

• Partner with ECS executive leaders to ensure operational excellence, compliance, and alignment with network‑wide frameworks and strategic priorities.

• Oversee scheduling, resource allocation, staffing, and budget stewardship, ensuring systems are efficient, equitable, and sustainable.

• Use key performance indicators to assess school effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Serve as the public face of DCS, building deep trust with families, community leaders, cultural organizations, and local partners.

• Lead family engagement initiatives that build understanding of the IB model, inquiry‑driven learning, and the school’s global citizenship mission.

• Build partnerships that expand learning opportunities and connect students to both their local community and the wider world.

• Represent DCS and ECS with professionalism, humility, and cultural responsiveness.

Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

• Ensure every student is known, valued, and supported through inclusive practices and strong student support systems.

• Lead and model culturally responsive instruction that honors students’ identities, languages, and lived experiences.

• Build systems that promote student voice, agency, leadership, and authentic engagement in learning.

• Ensure equity and belonging are embedded across all aspects of school culture, instruction, and decision‑making.

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Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate

While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

Required

• 5–7 years of educational leadership experience with a strong track record of student achievement and school improvement.

• Demonstrated ability to lead inquiry‑based, concept‑driven, globally minded instruction.

• Familiarity with IB (MYP or DP) or the ability to rapidly learn and lead within the IB philosophy.

• Experience supporting multilingual learners and culturally diverse communities.

• Experience in a founding or start‑up school environment, or demonstrated capacity to build systems from the ground up.

• 3 years of successful teaching experience with evidence of strong student outcomes.

• Strong understanding of curriculum design, assessment systems, and professional learning.

• CT 092 Certification (or equivalent).

• Master’s degree in Education, Educational Leadership, or related field.

Preferred

• Experience in an IB school or with IB programme design (MYP or DP).

• Experience designing inquiry‑driven, interdisciplinary, or concept‑based instructional systems.

• Experience in a charter school or similar network environment.

• Bilingual or multilingual skills (Spanish highly preferred)

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ECS/DCS Leadership Dispositions

Mission‑Driven & Globally Minded:

• Deep commitment to equity, global citizenship, multilingualism, and whole‑child development, with a belief in the power of inquiry‑driven, culturally responsive education.

Growth‑Oriented & Adaptive:

• Reflective, humble, and able to navigate ambiguity, adapt to evolving needs, and lead with clarity in a founding environment.

People‑Centered & Development‑Oriented:

• Skilled at building, inspiring, and developing high‑performing teams; committed to coaching adults in inquiry‑driven, concept‑based practice.

Instructionally Anchored & Inquiry‑Driven:

• Strong understanding of rigorous, inquiry‑based, concept‑driven instruction and the ability to lead interdisciplinary learning and data‑driven improvement.

Vision‑Inspired, Systems‑Minded & Execution‑Disciplined:

• Balances innovation and long‑term vision with disciplined implementation, operational rigor, and systems thinking.

Communicative, Trust‑Building & Partnership‑Driven:

• Builds trust with families, staff, and community as the face of DCS; invested in deep organizational partnership and executive collaboration.

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Compensation and Benefits

At ECS, we are committed to ensuring fair compensation. Our salaries are set through a lens of equity, and based on an individual’s skills, education, and years of experience relevant to the role.

The salary range for the Founding IB School Principal is $120,000 to $150,000, commensurate with experience, and reflective of the responsibilities and expertise needed to succeed in this position.

In addition to competitive compensation, we offer a range of comprehensive benefits including no cost insurance plans for all full-time employees.

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ECS and DCS are Equal Opportunity Employers

Compensation Range: $120K - $150K