Middle School Principal

Empowerment Academy is looking for a Middle School Principal to begin as soon as possible.

INITIAL SALARY: $100,000 - $140,000 (depending upon experience)

ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS

Empowerment Academy Charter School and Beloved Community Charter School are sister schools and are both college preparatory schools in culturally vibrant Jersey City, located just minutes by subway from New York City, Hoboken and Newark.

Empowerment Academy currently serve students in grades K-8 at two campuses. Empowerment is kicking off their high school next year with a 9th grade. The growth plan is to add one high school grade level a year until it offers all grade levels, K-12, in SY26-27.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The schools are broken down into academies -- Primary, Upper Elementary, Middle School and High School -- each led by a Principal. Empowerment's Upper Elementary/Middle School are combined, serving grades 5-8, and we are looking for a certificated Principal to lead the campus. You would report to our Director of Education.

If you have the demonstrated effectiveness we are looking for and want to help lead a cutting-edge education program serving a student body that is among the most economically and ethnically diverse in America, then apply today.

Requirements

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

NJ Principal certification is desired for this role. (Note: Upon being hired, candidates with a Principal CE license can enter into the mentoring program required to obtain a Standard Principal license.) Candidates with teaching or school leader certification in other states who are still seeking reciprocity certification from New Jersey, should flag this for us during their initial interview.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 10 years of experience (teaching and leadership combined)
• Experience as a leader in a high-performing charter public school (e.g., UnCommon Schools, KIPP, Success Academy), traditional public school or privately managed school.
• Experience working with a diverse student population
• Proven strengths in the area of teacher professional development and coaching.
• Expertise in the analysis of assessment data, in how to use data to drive instruction, and in training teachers in how to conduct effective, data-focused Professional Learning Community meetings
• Commitment to the mission and goals of the school

RESPONSIBILITIES

Academy and School Wide Leadership

Principals are members of K-12 instructional leadership team and report to the school wide Director of Education (Head Principal) and Executive Officer (Superintendent).

Teacher Hiring, Induction and Certification Oversight

Principals are centrally involved in teacher interviewing, hiring and induction, and oversee teacher certification at their academy.

Teacher Professional Development, Coaching, Support and Assistance with Evaluation

Principals are expected to:

• Oversee teacher professional development in classroom management, data-driven instructional planning, the creation of effective lesson plans, the delivery of engaging and effective instruction, and in the effective use of technology and learning programs;
• Periodically meet one-on-one with academy teachers throughout the school year to review and guide the periodic revision of their Personal Professional Development Plans;

• Provide observation and feedback, as well as real-time coaching and instructional modeling for academy teachers;
• Ensure teachers and students are receiving the support they need from other instructional and student professionals; and
• Work with the schoolwide Director of Education (Head Principal) in the evaluation of teachers.

Department Chair Training in Assessment Data Analysis and Professional Learning Community Leadership

We look for Department Chairs to conduct effective Professional Learning Community meetings with their department peers -- meetings that focus upon the kind of “test-in-hand” data analysis that:

• Goes beyond what scholars got wrong to why scholars got it wrong;
• Facilitates teachers taking responsibility for (either individually or as part of a team) successfully addressing their scholars’ learning challenges; and that
• Develops teachers’ ability to effectively use data to drive high quality instructional planning.

Principals must be expert in these skills so they can coach Department Chairpersons who have not yet mastered them.

Parent Meetings

When requested by an academy teacher or as otherwise appropriate, the Principal will be