Founding Middle School Principal - Career Academy

Job Title:  Founding Middle School Principal - Career Academy                Wage/Hour Status: Exempt

Reports to: Network Executive Director                                                Pay Grade: Principal Excellence Initiative                                                                     

Dept./School: Academics and School Leadership 2026                          Initiated Date: March 2026                                                                                                                                                                                         

WHO WE ARE

La Joya Independent School District (ISD) is committed to excellence for students and our community. We have a strong, 100-year legacy in the Rio Grande Valley. The district’s vision - Educational Excellence: The Right of Every Student -  conveys our urgent focus on students.

Our work is rooted in five district priorities, which require collaboration and deep commitment to supporting one another as we serve the community. 

1. Customer Service
2. Trust & Transparency
3. High-Quality Instruction
4. Excellence in Leadership
5. Integrity & Accountability

We are focused on ensuring every student in La Joya ISD has access to a high-quality, best-fit school as we work to improve from a B-district to an A-rated district. We serve more than 22,000 students in more than 30 schools and span six municipalities, covering more than 220 square miles.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Founding Principal will open and lead a new middle school campus designed to integrate strong academic instruction with Career and Technical Education (CTE) career exploration and workforce awareness. This leader will design systems, structures, programming, and culture from the ground up. The campus will prepare students for high school pathways, endorsements, and future workforce opportunities while maintaining rigorous Tier 1 academic instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, and science.

The Founding Principal must be a systems-builder, instructional leader, and community connector capable of launching a school, hiring staff, developing programming, and building partnerships with industry and postsecondary institutions.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking a transformational leader capable of creating a model middle school where students complete 8th grade with strong academic readiness, career awareness, an understanding of postsecondary pathways, and a positive, engaging school culture. The ideal candidate demonstrates proven results in improving student achievement, experience coaching adults and developing leadership teams, and the ability to build a campus culture from the ground up. This leader must possess strong change management and school launch planning skills, understand college, career, and military readiness expectations, and effectively align middle school learning experiences with high school pathways.

WHY LA JOYA ISD

You will be joining a district that is building on a legacy of achievement while rapidly improving and creating systems to reach new heights for student outcomes. You will receive intentional, targeted support in your leadership journey and have access to the highest-quality, research-based resources and instructional materials. We are also a district focused on continuous improvement and rigorous analysis of where we need to grow and learn.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Certification:

• Master’s degree required; preferred in Education, Educational Leadership or related field
• Valid or eligible to receive Texas Principal Certification or MId-Management Certification
• TTESS (Texas Teacher Evaluation & Support System) and ILD/AEL Certified

Experience:

• Minimum of three year’s teaching experience
• Minimum of one year’s experience as an Assistant Principal
• Minimum of three year’s experience as a Principal preferred
• Experience implementing CTE, college readiness, STEM, or pathway programs preferred
• Experience launching a program, academy, or initiative strongly preferred

              Special Knowledge and Skills

• Proven success in leading a school or district community toward continuous improvement in academic goals with a relentless pursuit of academic excellence for all students
• Deep knowledge of curriculum and instruction as well as evidence-based practices in multiple content areas, in middle school preferred
• Understanding and experience with middle school coursework and preparation for the high-school environment
• Demonstrated ability to design and launch new initiatives, think creatively, and problem-solve in complex environments.
• Demonstrated leadership on district-wide committees and/or district-wide activities
• Understanding of high school endorsements and career pathways
• Ability to build master schedules including intervention and exploratory courses
• Proven experience to use and interpret data to inform decision-making processes that allow for intentional actions and lead to improved student/campus achievement 
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral)
• Leadership, management, and organizational skills
• Experience with diverse populations
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Founding Campus Leadership (2026-2027)

During the 2026-2027 planning year, the Founding Principal will collaborate with community stakeholders and district leaders to create an innovative Career and Technical Education (CTE) learning program rooted in best practices, district goals, and local needs. The Founding Principal will participate in a New School Design Fellowship and be responsible for project management of the opening of the new campus.

• Establish campus mission and vision
• Design a 6–8 grade CTE exploratory program aligned with the LJISD high school endorsements
  • Develop a robust set of supplemental student experiences to achieve the school’s mission including career days, guest speakers, and career exploration opportunities
• Create the school’s operating procedures including master schedule, hiring, teacher development, student culture and behavior, academic and intervention systems in alignment with the school’s mission and vision
• Recruit and onboard the school’s founding staff
• Recruit and provide inspirational orientation and onboarding to the school’s founding students and families
• Build partnerships with feeder high schools, business, industry, and postsecondary institutions

Founding Campus Leadership (2027 and Beyond)

In the 2027-2028 school  year, the Founding Principal will step into the campus principal role and be fully responsible for the student learning experience and outcomes of JD Salinas Career Academy.

Executive Leadership

1. Serve as a transformational leader working to create a best-in-class learning environment.
2. Participate in professional development and training to improve skills related to job assignment.
3. Foster collegiality and team building among staff members.
4. Provide for two-way communication with staff, students, parents, and community.
5. Demonstrate professional, ethical, and responsible behavior. Serve as a role model for all campus staff.
6. Develop and set annual campus performance objectives.
7. Lead the development of the campus improvement plan with staff, parents and community members.
8. Delegate leadership responsibilities as appropriate, ensuring strong systems of monitoring, support, and feedback for campus staff.

Instructional Leadership:

1. Promote the expectation for high-level performance from staff and students and recognize excellence and achievement.
2. Develop and monitor instructional and administrative processes to ensure that instructional practices are aligned to evidence-based practices and implemented with fidelity. 
3. Ensure high-quality instructional materials and resources are implemented with fidelity.
4. Closely monitor student growth and achievement data in alignment with district strategic plan and Texas Accountability System (STAAR) to ensure the campus tracks towards and achieves a positive state rating
5. Utilize campus data for corrective action leading to improvement, as well as for recognition of success.
6. Provide professional learning to support the teaching staff in accomplishing the school’s instructional goals.
7. Evaluate and adjust educational programs and approaches to ensure rapid student acceleration.
8. Establish clear expectations for staff performance with regard to instructional strategies, classroom management, and communication with the parents, families, and community members.
9. Disaggregate and interpret data in order to assist in developing appropriate next steps for campus improvement.
10. Support teachers in analyzing data and developing action plans to improve teaching and learning.

Middle School Leadership:

1. Ensure every student is on path to high-school readiness, fully aware of and ready to choose rigorous academic and CTE pathways.
2. Lead and support robust arts, athletics, and extracurricular programming, including supervision, evaluation, and feedback of directors, coaches and sponsors.
3. Lead and nurture a quality counseling and advising program, ensuring support for students academically, behaviorally and with high school planning.
4. Create a campus environment and system that ensures strong daily attendance and minimal chronic absenteeism on campus, connecting students and families to resources and support as necessary.
5. Serve as the executive, dynamic leader required for the middle school environment leading with vision, integrity and strategy.

Professional Learning Community (PLCs)

1. Lead, implement and support Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) that create positive relationships amongst teachers and administrators while fostering a team culture of open sharing, risk taking and shared leadership, to work effectively as a team.
2. Ensure PLCs develop and improve teacher instructional capacity.
3. Develop and lead a strong Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) for the campus.

Effective Feedback

1. Regularly consult the Instructional Leadership Team about planning, operation, supervision, and evaluation of campus education programs. Include students and community representatives when appropriate.
2. Provide coaching and meaningful feedback to teachers and staff with the intent of improving employee performance.
3. Support and evaluate teachers with regular classroom visits and providing timely formative and summative feedback to teachers.
4. Provide instructional feedback to teachers, administrators, and staff based on classroom observations and walk-throughs.
5. Coach and develop the Assistant Principal.

Culture & Climate

1. Create, cultivate and lead a culture of excellence, support, and community for all stakeholders.
2. Work with faculty and students to develop a student behavioral support system that results in positive student and staff behavior and enhances the school climate.
3. Facilitate effective and timely resolution of conflicts.
4. Identify, analyze, and apply research findings (e.g., effective school correlates) to promote school improvement.
5. Enhance students' social, emotional, behavioral, and academic achievement.
6. Act as campus behavior coordinator in accordance with state laws and regulations.
7. Ensure that school rules are uniformly applied and that student discipline is appropriate and equitable in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and student handbook.
8. Follow all policies, practices, and procedures that create optimal learning conditions for students with special needs in alignment with IDEA
9. Conduct conferences about student and school issues with parents, students, and teachers.
10. Ensure that students are adequately supervised during non-instructional periods.

Personnel Management

1. Select, train, supervise and evaluate all staff fairly and in alignment with proper policies and procedures.
2. Ensure accurate documentation on any and all recommendations relative to assignment, retention, discipline and dismissal.
3. Observe employee performance, record observations, and conduct evaluation conferences with staff with the lens of both support and accountability for all employees.
4. Coach staff and help them identify and develop appropriate professional growth opportunities as well as accomplish improvement goals.
5. Work with campus-level planning and decision-making committees to plan professional development activities.

School or Community Relations

1. Articulate the school’s mission to the community and solicit its support in realizing the mission.
2. Communicate with parents, families, and communities on a regular and consistent basis to ensure clear and consistent messaging to parents on both campus and district information and events
3. Engage with parents, families, and community members to increase parental involvement on the campus
4. Demonstrate awareness of school and community needs and initiate activities to meet those needs using appropriate and effective techniques to encourage community and parent involvement.
5. Communicate the purpose of the CTE middle school model to families
6. Host family information sessions and outreach events
7. Build partnerships with community organizations and workforce partners
8. Increase parent involvement and school pride

Management of Fiscal, Administrative, and Facilities Functions

1. Plan daily school activities by leading the development of class schedules, teacher assignments, and extracurricular activity schedules.
2. Ensure all employees follow proper protocols to maintain accurate records (i.e. grades, attendance, other required documentation)
3. Ensure that all administrative duties and tasks delegated to the campus are completed in a timely manner to ensure alignment to state and local policies
4. Compile, maintain, and file all reports, records, and other documents required including accurate and timely reports.
5. Lead safety inspections and drills.
6. Report any and all facilities issues that present a safety concern on the campus.
7. Work with faculty and staff to compile annual budget requests based on documented program needs
8. Develop budgets based upon documented Campus Needs Assessments, estimated enrollment, personnel, and other entitlement funding streams; implement programs within budget limits; maintain fiscal control; accurately report fiscal information.
9. Manage use of school facilities. Oversee maintenance of facilities to ensure a clean, orderly, and safe campus.
10. Coordinate transportation, custodial, cafeteria, and other support services as assigned.
11. Comply with district policies, state and federal laws and regulations affecting schools.

Other duties

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervise and as assigned,evaluate the performance of staff assigned to the campus, including but not limited to: assistant principal(s), teacher(s), counselor(s), librarian(s), educational support staff, instructional aides, clerical support staff, food service staff, and custodians.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Demands

Typical demands of a school environment, including extensive computer use and district-wide travel for meetings and events. Lifting and carrying of books, boxes, and audiovisual equipment, light (15-20 pounds), climbing, stretching, visual acuity, walking, pulling, bending, stooping, climbing stairs, reaching, pushing, sitting, kneeling, standing, and twisting, may be required to control behavior through physical restraint.

Work Environment
Primarily school-based with regular interaction with district staff, educators, students, families, and community members. Campus visits will be required as needed and as a part of ensuring program implementation with fidelity and monitoring of service delivery models. Attendance at evening or weekend events may be required. Frequent prolonged and irregular hours.

Reading, supporting instruction, demonstrating computer skills appropriate for assignment, effective communication and interpersonal skills, ability to work well with students, concentration (detailed work), interpretive skills (policy, procedure, dates), reasoning skills, understanding verbal instructions, analyzing, differentiating, memorizing, coordinating, compiling, and computing.

Mental Demands:

Work with frequent interruptions, maintain emotional control under stress.

POSITION WORKING DAYS
220 days

COMPENSATION

Principal will follow the Principal Excellence Initiative (PEI) compensation plan.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive description of all work requirements and responsibilities, and management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other responsibilities be performed when the job changes. Additionally, the minimum level of education notated as a requirement could be supplemented by commensurate experience and/or certification(s) or license(s) as determined by the hiring manager.