Resident Principal

Founded in 2001, LEARN is a network of high-performing college preparatory, tuition-free public elementary and middle schools with the mission of providing children with the academic foundation and ambition to earn a college degree. There are 11 LEARN Schools serving 4,100 students in grades PK-8 across Chicago, Waukegan, North Chicago, and Washington, D.C. 

It is our goal to create an environment, on every campus, in which our staff members feel supported, respected, and appreciated. Our staff work together at each school and across the network to share ideas, problem solve, and innovate to move our schools and students beyond the expected. LEARN has been honored by having one of our school leaders recognized as the 2022 Principal of the Year by the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, in addition to LEARN 9 Waukegan earning a Exemplary school designation by the Illinois State Board of Education. LEARN also received a $7 million dollar gift from Mackenzie Scott in honor of our positive impact on education in Chicago.

LEARN's mission remains crystal clear: to provide children with the academic and social/emotional foundation and ambition to earn a college degree. LEARN is currently looking for hard-working and passionate professionals that are dedicated to transforming public education.

About the Opportunity

The LEARN Resident Principal works closely with Campus Principal to serve as the academic and cultural leaders of their school. During their time as a Resident Principal they take on the leadership of a functional area (School Culture, Instruction or Operations) or serve as the leader of a focused set of grades.  In addition to shadowing and co-leading with their Campus Principal, the Resident Principal participates in hands-on, collaborative professional development to become familiar with LEARN’s Systems of Learning, Core Values and Mission.  The Resident Principal role is an ideal opportunity for a dynamic and visionary individual to play a central leadership role in growing and shaping one of our high-performing public charter schools, committed to helping students achieve academic excellence from kindergarten through college and beyond.  This role is reserved for individuals who have a previous track record of school leadership (Assistant Principal or Principal). 

Essential Job Functions:
Advancing a vision and leading a culture consistent with our mission and core values that creates an inclusive, welcoming, achievement-oriented environment for our families, students and staff.

School Culture

• In partnership with the School Principal create a school culture and climate that reflects LEARN’s core values and achieves LEARN’s mission. 

• Demonstrate and communicate the organizational vision in daily activities.

• Collaborate to build a school culture of unrelentingly high expectations where scholars feel connected, empowered, and safe to take academic risks.

• Build a collaborative team of adults who feel jointly responsible for the attainment of school goals and committed to achieving excellence.

• Shadow the Campus Principal as s/he manages aspects of human resources and talent development functions, including recruiting new teachers, developing retention strategies, and performing regular performance reviews.

• Participate in collaborative professional development demonstrating the ability to independently execute application-based tasks demonstrating a high capacity for critical thinking and strong managerial skills.

Academic Operations 

• Manage day-to-day school responsibilities including direct supervision of staff. 

• Recruit, select, coach, evaluate, and retain instructional and support staff; lead school-based professional development

• Supervise instructional methods, evaluate lesson plans, observe and coach instructional staff and academic support staff. 

• Develop, implement, and manage curriculum/assessment testing according to state regulations and school performance goals. 

• Drive instruction, performance outcomes, and enrichment for students using data and creative strategies.

• With the School Principal manages the annual school budget including staffing and facilities to achieve ambitious school goals.

Family and Community Engagement

• Manage school communications including interactions with parents for problem resolution. 

• Engage parents and community members in school and extracurricular activities to build sustainable relations. 

• Partner with the School Principal to serves as a key external spokesperson for the school, conveying the school's mission and building strong relationships with constituents, including students, teachers, parents, and community members

• As requested, participate in community and other development efforts.

This job is a great fit if you have the following attributes: 

Education, Training and/or Experience

1. Three to five years in an Assistant Principal or Principal role in a school with an exemplary track record of leading high performing elementary school(s) serving underserved students.
2. Three to five years teaching experience with a proven track record of elevating student achievement, preferably in urban schools.
3. The ability to lead, motivate and collaborate with professionals and a diverse group of stakeholders.
4. Excellent analytical skills and the ability to create and implement plans of action to get desired results.
5. Skilled instructional leadership ability, with a proven track record of driving high levels of student academic achievement 
6. Demonstrated commitment to the charter school movement, with a passion for educating urban, inner city students.
7. Experienced in implementing educational programs such as the Science of Reading, Common Core Standards, and MAP assessments with successful outcomes.
8. Exposure to interacting with a diverse group of stakeholders ranging from students and families to donors and board members. 
9. Track record of using data to drive school-wide decision-making.
10. Bachelor's degree.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics

1. Strong commitment to social and emotional learning.
2. Ability to hire and retain exemplary staff, then to hire, develop and retain exceptionally talented staff members on an ongoing basis.
3. Strong written and verbal skills. 
4. Professional demeanor yet highly approachable. 
5. Ability to express self effectively and concisely, both orally and in writing. 
6. Experience in development and implementation procedures.
7. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects, adhering to strict timelines.
8. Detail oriented and highly organized. 
9. Comfortable interacting with internal and external customers. 
10. Ability to defuse situations and get others organized to meet project expectations. 
11. High degree of initiative and independent judgment.
12. Ability to tactfully and effectively deal with public and staff in a personable and professional manner. 
13. Maintains a high level of energy and a consistent positive attitude.  
14. Ability to be a bold, tireless and engaging change agent and culture-creator; a visionary; a leader who inspires and motivates students and adults.
15. Exceptional self-motivation, entrepreneurial spirit and team orientation.
16. Problem-solving skills, with a combination of confidence and humility.
17. Relentless commitment to preparing every student for college.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Experienced serving as a leader in a charter school 
2. Advanced degree preferred

Benefits Summary

• We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package for all full time employees, including:
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Wellness Benefits: Online Mental Health Support, free on site COVID testing
• Paid vacation, personal days, paid holidays, including 5 days off every 23 days in a school year
• Short and long term disability
• Paid life insurance
• 403B Contribution + 4.5% matching as eligible
• Chicago Teachers' Pension fund or Teacher Retirement Fund
• Ongoing professional development opportunities:
• Weekly PDs

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Majority of work is performed in a general office environment. Position required availability for extended hours plus non-traditional hours required to perform job duties. Also required participation and attendance at organization sponsored events and meetings. Nature of work required an ability to operate standard business office equipment. Requires ability to communicate and exchange information, collect, compile and prepare work documents, set-up and maintain work files. Physical demands require the ability to stand, bend, reach high and low, stoop, walk around the classroom and kneel. In addition, walking up and down stairs several times a day will often be necessary. 

For applicants who apply after 11/1/21, proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a valid medical or religious exemption required.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of LEARN Charter School Network. Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, family medical history, disability or veteran status).