Rising Principal
At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential. We believe that every student deserves the right to dream, to discover, and to develop their unique potential and it is our responsibility and our privilege to unleash the potential inside every Rocketeer we serve. Our non-profit network of public elementary charter schools propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators, and partners with parents who enable high-quality public schools to thrive in their community. We are a collective of parents, teachers, leaders, and students working together to transform the future for underserved communities across our country. At Rocketship Public Schools, we are unleashing potential.
As a Rising Principal, you’ll serve as an Assistant Principal while receiving additional coaching and development to prepare you to move into a Principal role. Assistant Principals (APs) play a critical role in driving academic achievement for students and building a rigorous college preparatory environment. APs ensure academic excellence by working closely with the principal to lead and implement the instructional vision for 1-3 grade levels. APs directly manage and coach the teachers in their grade levels (3-9 instructional staff members) by conducting observation cycles, modeling lessons, co-planning unit plans and lessons, real-time coaching, and providing support and resources aimed at increasing educator effectiveness and leadership. APs also serve as cultural and community leaders for their grade levels by building teacher capacity in culture, discipline, and parent engagement. APs may share responsibilities with the school leadership team in the following additional areas: professional development, culture and discipline in common spaces, management of the Enrichment Center Coordinators, and special events (trips, community meetings, evening events).
Our school leaders have unique aspirations and, as such, we provide the support needed for both the current school year and beyond. As an AP, you will receive ongoing professional development on your coaching needs to ensure your growth and success as a leader in conducting rigorous observations, providing meaningful feedback, and executing useful planning and 1:1 meetings. The training received by Rising Principals will be tailored to prepare leaders to either take over an existing Rocketship campus or open a new site. During the spring, Rising Principals will begin to prepare for the following school year.
Reports to the Director of Schools and direct reports include Assistant Principal(s), Business Operations Manager, Office Manger, and teachers special education staff.
Our Ideal Candidate
- Understands that eliminating the achievement gap is hard, but deeply rewarding work
- Believes that adult preparation is essential to student success
- Has a track record as an instructional school leader of leading a group of adults to achieve excellent student outcomes
- Possesses elementary content expertise and is eager to use that knowledge to develop assistant principals and teachers’ instructional and leadership skills
- Has experienced success managing and coaching adults
- Values parents as stakeholders and partners in ensuring student achievement
Essential Functions: Developing Effective Educators
- Our Rising Principals’ primary focus is around making sure all students receive an excellent education and that our teachers are prepared to deliver on this goal.
- Foster a rigorous and college preparatory culture of excellence in every classroom that ensures high levels of student achievement
- Work with teachers to build content expertise in humanities or STEM that is captured in units of study and daily plans
- Engage in cycles of data driven instruction and assessments to inform planning and personalize instruction to student needs
- Ensure at least 1.5 years of progress for all Rocketeers annually through management, planning and coaching of grade level teams (3-9 instructional staff members)
- Support effective collaboration of Special Education Team, Enrichment Center Coordinators, and Operations staff so that all school staff are aligned towards common goals
Essential Functions: Parent Partnership
- Our families are very involved with their students’ education and, as a result, both parents and teachers own each child’s successes and challenges
- Build trusting relationships with all students and families embracing the knowledge parents have as their child’s first teacher
- Create a school community that frequently and proactively communicates with families and fully involves parents in student achievement through multiple outlets including home visits, regular community meetings, and parent/family meetings
Essential Functions: Rocketship Professional Culture
- Rocketship Rising Principals are deeply committed to doing and being their best, and to growing their skills as professionals and as individuals, so our daily and annual expectations reflect that commitment.
- Exhibit a high level of honest and humble self-reflection owning good and bad outcomes. Effectively respond to and implement constructive feedback
- Create a healthy, high-achieving environment where staff and students feel challenged, and also fully supported and valued
- Promote and participate in collaborative opportunities across schools to share practice, problem solve, and gather feedback, including actively participating in the Rocketship principal cohort within their region
- Lead human capital activities for their school, including hiring, promotion, staffing, and termination decisions
Required Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience teaching in an urban school classroom delivering significant achievement gains
- 1 year of experience as an instructional school leader or coach at an urban elementary school serving a diverse student population with a track record of realizing significant achievement gains (2-3 years preferred)
- Experience managing, coaching and developing teachers
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate staff and families
- Personal drive for high expectations
- Results-oriented, using data to make decisions
- Adaptable and able to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
- Spanish and/or Vietnamese language skills are a plus
- Experience in building and maintaining outstanding school culture
- Excellent time management and organizational skills
- Commitment to parent partnership
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
Education Requirements
- BA from an accredited university
- Valid teaching credential in CA or ability to transfer credentialing to CA
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally climb ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high.
Compensation:
Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health and wellness benefits, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), and generous paid time off.
Rocketship Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Rocketship Public Schools complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Rocketship Public Schools expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Rocketship Public Schools’ employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated. Click here for our Sexual Harassment Policy. For questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact Human Resources.