Job Details

Principal

Principals are systems leaders and people managers who coach and develop teachers and lead team members at their school to achieve ambitious goals with students. Principals focus on excellence and continuous improvement, and they expect and foster these values in staff and students. Principals lead their schools to ensure IDEA's mission of College for All Children becomes reality.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Directly manage campus leadership (i.e. Assistant Principals of Instruction, Assistant Principal of Operations, Director of College Counseling, etc.).
• Supervise Admin Assistant

Travel Expectations:

Travel to IDEA training events or step-back may be required.

What You'll Do Accountabilities

Essential Duties:

• Lead School Culture Systems: You will set the vision for school culture and build and maintain strong schoolwide systems to ensure that vision becomes a reality. You will ensure all teachers are proficient in building positive student relationships, creating effective classroom routines and procedures, reinforcing positive behaviors, and responding consistently and effectively to misbehaviors. You will coach and train teachers to master these skills, and you will coach and develop other leaders to do the same so that you can drive this work through your lead team.
• Lead Instructional Systems: You will build and maintain strong schoolwide systems to ensure all teachers internalize their content, deliver high quality first instruction, and analyze data in order to implement strategic adjustments and interventions that increase student learning. You will coach and develop other instructional leaders to do the same and drive this work through your instructional lead team.
• Lead Operational Systems: You will build and maintain strong systems for school operations to ensure your campus is safe, welcoming, and efficiently run. You will coach and manage the assistant principal of operations to meet student enrollment and daily attendance goals. You will also coach and develop the assistant principal of operations to be an excellent systems leader and people manager so that they can drive results through their operations team.
• Lead Family Engagement Systems: In order to ensure student persistence year over year and through graduation, you will build and maintain strong systems for family engagement and communication, including both new family onboarding and ongoing family engagement. You will ensure families receive regular communication about their child's progress and school events, and that staff engage them as key partners in the education of their child. You will coach and manage other leaders to do the same so that you can drive this work through others.
• Lead Staff Culture and Talent Management: You will make strategic hiring, retention and promotion decisions, and coach other leaders to do the same. You will build and maintain systems for fostering a strong staff culture, and coach other leaders to do the same. You will build and maintain strong systems for coaching and management so that all staff members receive excellent coaching and are held accountable for meeting high expectations in service of our students.
• Strategically Manage your Campus Budget: You will plan how to use your campus discretionary funds to achieve your campus priorities and driving goals. You will work with your assistant principal of operations, business clerk and admin assistant to ensure your campus discretionary budget is managed strategically throughout the year. You will also coach and manage your assistant principal of operations to lead the operations team to meet their budget goals.
• Ensure your Campus Remains in Compliance: You will complete all required annual compliance training and ensure your staff members do the same. You will build and maintain systems to ensure that staff members and the campus as a whole remains in compliance with all applicable laws and policies. You will coach and develop other leaders to do the same so that you can drive this work through others.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead Special Programs: You will build and maintain strong schoolwide special program systems to ensure all students with IEPs, 504s, and any other eligibilities (ie EB) receive the instruction and services they need for success. You will also ensure there are systems in place to meet all state compliance requirements as outlined by state and federal laws.
• Lead Data Systems: You will plan, execute, and maintain systems that allow for school-wide data collection, analysis, and action in order to make strategic data-driven decisions.
• Additional Duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills Competencies

• Make Sound Decisions: This leader is responsible for guiding the decision-making process within the team. They foster a collaborative environment where team members contribute to decision-making, ensuring that diverse perspectives are considered and team consensus is built when appropriate.
• Manage Work and Teams: This leader is responsible for the overall performance and cohesion of their team. They build operating mechanisms, establish strategic plans, and implement project management systems that ensure that their team operates smoothly and achieves its targets.
• Grow Self and Others: This leader is responsible for fostering a culture of growth within the team. They create opportunities for team learning, facilitate team development sessions, and ensure that team members have the resources and support they need to grow professionally.
• Build Trust and Psychological Safety: This leader is responsible for ensuring team members feel safe to express their ideas and concerns. They proactively address conflicts and facilitate open communication, setting the standard for trust and safety within the team.
• Communicate Deliberately: This leader prioritizes open channels of communication on their team. They facilitate team meetings, ensure clear dissemination of information, and encourage feedback loops within their teams to promote understanding and cohesion.

Required experience:

• Education: Bachelor's degree is required.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience in education is required.

Preferred experience:

• Education: Master's degree.
• Certification: Principal certificate
• Experience: 3+ years of experience as an instructional leader and 3+ years of experience as a teacher is preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• The ability to see and respond to dangerous situations
• Standing, vision, lifting, walking

What We Offer:

Compensation & Benefits:

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $114,200 and $135,900, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment.

Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at

Application process:

Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Learn more about IDEA

At IDEA the Staff Culture and Belonging Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members. Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: