High School Principal (SY2526 Planning Year, SY2627 Principalship)

Originally founded in 1991 as Harlem RBI, DREAM has grown to annually serve more than 2,500 youth across East Harlem and the South Bronx through a network of seven PreK-12, extended-day, extended-year DREAM Charter Schools and community sports-based youth development programs. Through our commitment to rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, deep family and community engagement, and health and wellness, we create lifelong learners who are equipped to fulfill their vision of success in and out of the classroom. We dream big, as well, with an aggressive five-year plan to expand to serve 3,500 students across seven schools—growing our organization’s impact and leveling the playing field for all children. To learn more, visit wearedream.org.
Reporting to the Managing Director of High School, the High School Principal is the academic and culture leader of the school. The High School Principal is responsible for setting and driving strategic priorities, ensuring excellent instruction and equitable outcomes for all students, creating the conditions for all students to thrive, facilitating the growth and development of all staff members, and shaping the day-to-day management of the school and its culture. The High School Principal should be passionate about excellence and equity, champion DREAM’s Grow the Whole Child Model, care deeply about the communities we serve, and work relentlessly to create and sustain transformational outcomes for all students.
The ideal candidate for this role will demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the mission and values of DREAM and should have substantial expertise in all areas of responsibility. Candidates must also value DREAM’s comprehensive approach to education and desire to make a lasting impact in underserved communities as part of a growing organization.
This role will involve two distinct phases:A Planning Stage/In-Residence Year (School Year 2025-2026) during which time the day-to-day running of the school will be led by the Managing Director of High School, and;An Implementation Stage (School Year 2026-2027 and beyond) during which the High School Principal will take over full leadership of the school.

Responsibilities

• Planning Stage / In-Residence Year - School Year 2025-2026
• During the planning year, the High School Principal will collaborate with the Managing Director of High School, the Chief Education Officer, and other key stakeholders to “hit the ground learning,” integrate themselves deeply within the community, develop and refine a vision for the school, and begin moving gradually into more areas of responsibility.
• Planning Stage responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
• Build relationships with staff, students, families, peer Principals, and Network stakeholders;
• Internalize DREAM's Grow the Whole Child model and the long-term vision for DREAM Charter High School;
• Directly support with student culture;
• Coach and develop teachers and leaders as needed;
• Shadow the Managing Director of High School to learn all aspects of the Principal role;
• Take ownership of and directly lead a school-wide strategic priority;
• Take on Principal responsibilities over time (see below).


• Implementation Stage - School Year 2026-2027 and beyond
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Lead the development of a rich, engaging and rigorous curriculum that is aligned with the Common Core Standards;
• Systematically monitor data and observe instruction to facilitate effectiveness, alignment, and quality across grade level and content teams;
• School Culture
• Lead the development of a high-performing High School culture through the refinement and maintenance of systems and routines which set high expectations and are aligned to DREAM’s responsive and restorative educational philosophy;
• Build and maintain excellent relationships with staff, students, and families;
• Facilitate the planning and program coordination for DREAM High School’s College and Career Access Program;
• Strategic Leadership
• Ensure strategic management of the high school grounded in regular review and analysis of student SEL, culture, and academic achievement data;
• Create and execute the school development plan and goal setting, consistent with the school’s charter contract;
• Utilize ethical and motivational leadership appropriate to the context in which