Academic Officer – PRINCIPAL

Seeking a Principal Academic Officer in Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg, and Kissimmee, FL

The Principal Academic Officer is responsible for providing the instructional, operational, cultural and administrative leadership necessary to ensure the success of the school including primary responsibility for 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. financial, relationship, etc.) of the school. The Principal Academic Officer will be held accountable for the continuous improvement of the school and its staff and for increased student achievement.

Achievement Leadership

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of instructional programs
• Collaborate with the Assistant Principal Academic Officer to determine instructional vision for school
• Implement the organizations academic priorities and goals in collaboration with the instructional leadership team
• Provide leadership and support on adopting research-proven pedagogy and standards-based instructional practices
• Ensure teachers receive training in pedagogy and curriculum, learning environment, assessment, and student and family support
• Implement student achievement planning and execution including annual adjustment in the school’s improvement plans
• Monitor student achievement through ongoing data analysis from multiple sources (such as monthly assessments, teacher created tests, diagnostic testing, etc.); use data-driven decision-making to inform planning and teaching
• Complete and present the annual school progress report to district and/or charter board and school community
• Support and monitor PD plans of staff; provide research-based, high-quality professional development opportunities for all staff
• Conduct regular observations of learning and teaching, and provide constructive feedback and coaching to support teacher growth and development
• Supervise and evaluate staff to ensure quality instruction and student achievement

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 school’s vision to ensure that the 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, school partners, superintendents, authorizers, community leadership, political leaders, etc.)
• Develop and maintain positive community and parent relationships

Qualifications

Qualifications and Characteristics:

• Bachelors degree in Education and/or training in school administration
• FL State Leadership Certification or ability to obtain within 6 month to 1 year
• Proven success as a school principal or instructional leader
• Significant K-12 teaching experience and at least four years of experience in an instructional leadership role
• Strong coaching skills, with the ability to differentiate the approach and ensure feedback is implemented with fidelity
• Prior success managing a team to work collaboratively and achieve individual, team and organizational goals
• Able to work autonomously, while managing interdependencies and appropriately cascading communications
• Entrepreneurial problem-solver with a focus on driving results and continual improvement
• Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.