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Assistant Principal of STEM Instruction

The Renaissance Charter High School for Innovation
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Assistant Principal of STEM Instruction

 

OUR MISSION

Innovation Charter High School (“Innovation”) nurtures students to be academically successful, mature, emotionally healthy, and equipped to lead self-directed and fulfilling lives. We embrace all students and we empower them to adapt, excel, innovate and lead. By instilling our core values of collaboration, tolerance, respect, activism, safety, and innovation, students will graduate prepared for success in college and careers.

 

ABOUT INNOVATION

Innovation Charter High School opened in 2010 to meet the needs of underserved youth in East Harlem, Upper Manhattan, and the Bronx. Since its founding, Innovation students have applied what they learn in the classroom to the real world, through project-based and experiential learning. These experiences are transformative, and prepare them for life after graduation.

 

Today, Innovation’s 50+ instructional and student support staff serve just over 400 students. About 30% of our students have IEPs and over 90% are economically disadvantaged. We embrace all students, address their needs, and help them to realize their potential, through creative and engaging instruction with a college and career readiness focus. Innovation takes a restorative approach to discipline and focuses on building a collaborative school culture. We have developed close ties with the East Harlem community and with our co-located neighbor schools. We were the first charter school in New York City with a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program (in the culinary arts) and the only charter school to participate in the NYC DOE’s Software Engineering Pilot (SEP). Innovation students participate in a wide variety of sports, clubs, and extracurricular programs including performing arts, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM), National Honors Society, hydroponic gardening, and many more.

 

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Principal, the Assistant Principal of STEM Instruction serves as the instructional leader for Innovation science, computer science, and math content and instructional practice at Innovation. The Assistant Principal of STEM Instruction is a member of Innovation’s highly collaborative School Management Team (SMT), along with the Executive Director, Principal, Assistant Principal of Academic Interventions & Supports, and Director of College & Career Success and CTE. The Assistant Principal of STEM Instruction supervises the Science and Math teams (approximately 13 educators) and collaborates with the SMT and other key staff on the overall leadership of the school and engagement with the Innovation community.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Innovation’s Assistant Principal of STEM Instruction is tasked with the following responsibilities:

 

Instructional Leadership for STEM (50%)

  • Collaborate with the Principal and other instructional leaders to refine and implement a clear vision for teaching and learning that includes the following:
    • Prioritizes the strengths and needs of Innovation students
    • Is aligned to the school’s charter and internal school goals
    • Is supported through use of evidence-based, standards-aligned curricula; rigorous and relevant assessment; and instructional practices that are culturally responsive, developmentally relevant, and aligned to best practices in high school instruction
  • Implement tailored processes that support the professional growth of instructional staff, including observation and feedback cycles, instructional coaching, walkthroughs, and professional learning communities or other peer/collaborative learning
  • Collaborate with other instructional leaders to identify teachers’ professional learning needs and engage external professional learning providers with an emphasis on effective adult learning for educators and relevant, practice-oriented professional learning content
  • Provide instructional supervision to the Science and Math teams; Facilitate and support the Department Chair to implement effective biweekly team data meetings
  • Support the ongoing development of the STEM Department Chair as an instructional leader with the goal of gradually releasing some STEM teacher development responsibilities to them over time; Collaborate with the Principal to deliver a tiered approach to STEM educator development
  • Ensure that relevant STEM standards curricula, instructional practices, and assessments at Innovation are tightly aligned and that staff have what they need to effectively implement each of these elements

 

STEM Teaching & Learning (25%)

  • Support the STEM team with selection and implementation of evidence-based, high-quality science and math curricula and instructional materials
  • Collaborate with the STEM Department Chair to ensure that formative and summative science and math assessments are rigorous and aligned to relevant standards (Next Generation Science Standards and Next Generation Mathematics Learning Standards in particular) with processes for the effective use of assessment data to drive instruction
  • Serve as Innovation’s resident expert on student-centered STEM instructional strategies such as inquiry-based instruction, project-based learning, and other experiential learning including guidance for other teams in their use of these strategies during Innovation’s annual Enrichment Week intersession

 

School Operations & Compliance (15%)

  • Collaborate with the Principal, Executive Director, HR staff, and others throughout the school to recruit, hire, and retain highly qualified, mission-aligned staff
  • Collaborate with the Assistant Principal, Executive Director, and other staff to generate and submit reports to the school’s authorizer, the New York State Education Department, and other oversight entities
  • Collaborate with others on the School Management Team and key staff on school-wide administrative work streams such as programming/scheduling, leave and substitute teachers, testing coordination, management of student information systems, mandated services and accommodations for multilingual learners and students with IEPs, and others
  • Make periodic reports to the Board of Trustees on relevant topics in collaboration with the Principal

 

School Culture & Community (10%)

  • Maintain a consistent, visible presence throughout the school and model healthy adult-youth relationships and other behaviors that exemplify Innovation’s core values; Collaborate with others on the School Management Team to ensure that arrival, lunch, dismissal, transitions, and other spaces are aligned to Innovation’s vision for school culture and serve as the adult presence in these spaces whenever necessary
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous reflection, and improvement among staff to enhance student outcomes
  • Meet with Innovation families regularly to promote parent engagement, resolve issues that they or their students are experiencing, and identify opportunities for Innovation to effectively support them

 

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

  • A minimum of five years of experience as a classroom teacher in secondary science and/or math with a strong track record of results for students is required
  • A minimum of three years of experience and demonstrated success in an instructional leadership position with supervisory and/or coaching responsibilities such as Assistant Principal, Dean of Curriculum & Instruction, or Instructional Coach is required
  • Experience as a department chair or other content-specific instructional leadership role focused on more effective, cohesive instructional practice across a team of STEM educators
  • Experience facilitating effective professional learning for STEM educators including instructional coaching, workshops, observation and feedback, professional learning communities, and other methods, with a track record of improving teacher practice
  • Experience leading teams to intentionally develop an inclusive, affirming school culture and climate; Experience with social and emotional learning, restorative practices, and attendance interventions is highly preferred
  • Experience working in schools that support underserved communities and/or student populations in urban areas is required

 

Skills & Knowledge

  • Extensive knowledge of evidence-based instructional strategies including practices that support underserved students, such as cultural responsiveness, differentiation, effective co-teaching, and practices aligned to Universal Design for Learning
  • Understanding of effective, student-centered instructional strategies in secondary science and math is required
  • Knowledge of relevant state standards and assessments in secondary science and math is required (Next Generation Science Standards and Next Generation Mathematics Learning Standards); Exposure to a variety of evidence-based curricula and instructional materials in secondary science and math is highly preferred
  • Strong understanding of instructional leadership best practices including demonstrated ability to identify levers for change in the classroom; deliver feedback that is clear, concise, and compassionate; and use data to improve student, staff, and team performance
  • Strong team management skills such as capacity to motivate and inspire teams, demonstrated ability to effectively lead through empowering others, and a balance of clear expectations, support, and accountability
  • Interpersonal leadership skills such as strong ability to establish relationships, communicate collaboratively, set boundaries, hold space for difficult conversations, and build investment with a variety of stakeholder groups and individuals across a school community
  • Knowledge of educational program design, the ability to create and implement action plans, and to effectively manage school-wide initiatives and projects is preferred

 

Values & Mindset

  • Passion for Innovation’s core values of collaboration, tolerance, respect, activism, safety, and innovation; persistence at consistently modeling these values by example
  • Deeply held belief in the power of diversity and community; an assets-based orientation to students, families, community, and staff, and a commitment to a school environment that fosters and respects the voices and opinions of students
  • Deeply held belief in inclusive classrooms, in the value of high expectations, and in the idea that all learners deserve to have their needs met
  • Adaptability, a solution orientation, and openness to new ideas and perspectives
  • Commitment to authentic collaboration and to the development and empowerment of leaders throughout the school community
  • Belief in the importance of holistic support for young people, including restorative practices to strengthen relationships, and a full-service community school approach to meet the wide-ranging needs of students and parents

 

Other Qualifications

  • Masters degree in education or equivalent required; Ed.D or equivalent is preferred
  • Certification as an educator in a relevant content area is required
  • Candidates are required to have New York State School Building Leader certification or to be in the process of receiving certification through an approved program
  • Spanish language skills are a plus
  • Authorization to work in the United States required

 

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time, 12-month position and the ideal start date is mid-February or early March, though an earlier start date is possible. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications and is in the range of $135,000 - $160,000 per year. Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with an employer matching contribution of up to 5%.

 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Innovation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.


*This search is being supported by talent consultant, Mike Jolley. Any questions or referrals can be directed to Mike at michael.jolley@innovationhighschool.org.