Movement Schools is a rapidly growing network of public charter schools. We exist to love and value students by leading a movement of change in education through academic excellence, character development, and preparation for success in life. We believe in the inherent value and dignity of every child, and build schools where students and staff thrive.
Each Movement School is part of a larger community investment to help children and families thrive. These broader investments include early-childhood education, wellness centers, and after-school care.
Principal leadership is a significant factor driving high performance of teachers and students. Principals at Movement Schools develop learning communities with strong adult and student cultures that are academically rigorous and exude a joy of learning and pride for Movement. All school leaders at Movement must project urgency, show a commitment to consistently improving, be open to giving and receiving feedback, demonstrate a dedication to collaboration and teamwork, unapologetically wear a “network hat” (decisions are in service of the larger organization and all kids, not just their school), and hold an unwavering high bar rooted in love for all scholars, families, and staff.
Movement principals lead a team of secondary leaders including a director of operations, assistant principals, SPED coordinator, and grade team leaders, making up the school leadership team responsible for maintaining the overall mission and management of their school.
People Leadership
- Is able to care for people and challenge them
- Is an adult culture role model, can develop and protect an adult culture
- Is able to build relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including across lines of difference, and invest and motivate others, including staff, families, and scholars
- Can give and receive feedback to/from others; Is empathetic, but has unapologetically high expectations
- Takes ownership and acknowledges the role they play in success and gaps at the school
- Able to inspire and motivate a team
Instructional Leadership
- Able to effectively manage and coach other adults
- Knows what excellent teaching and leading looks like (including planning) and can model this through his/her own teaching and leading (both related to academics/rigor and culture)
- Has strong content knowledge in core content areas
- Analyzes quantitative and qualitative data against goals or desired outcomes and can prioritize
- Coaches secondary leaders on meeting their goals and outcomes
- Implements effective assessment systems and uses data to inform decisions
- Leads all aspects of curriculum and assessment implementation, and ensures consistency within the school program and alignment with state and other rigorous standards.
Teacher Coaching and Evaluation
- Conducts daily teacher observations and provides real-time feedback to move the needle on student outcomes
- Oversees faculty and staff, including recruitment, evaluation, retention, and dismissal, and holds primary responsibility for professional development, staff observations, curriculum development, staff communication, and program decisions
- Leads faculty to ensure that all staff are providing well-managed and rigorous daily lessons, reasonable and effective daily homework, and regular and productive after-school tutoring
- Fosters commitment amongst staff to the development and fulfillment of the school’s mission and priorities
- Holds all staff accountable for meeting a high bar for student performance, including requirements for multilingual learners and exceptional children.
School Culture
- Builds a joyful and rigorous school culture
- Fosters consistency in academic and behavioral expectations
- Collaborates with school staff to support students’ academic and socio-emotional development.
Family Engagment
- Communicates regularly with families, ensuring they are kept involved with and held accountable for their children’s performance, and correspond about school policies, trips, events, etc
- Responds to family concerns promptly and effectively.
Personal Organization and Efficacy
- Incorporates feedback quickly to rapidly build skill; seeks out feedback and is consistently eager for feedback from others; has a “learner” mindset and is humble
- Works towards goals and has a deep sense of personal responsibility
- Manages multiple types of work and is highly organized, timely, and responsive
- Adaptively and strategically problem solves
- Flexible and willing to change course when necessary; excited to take on new things or propose new ideas, including in areas potentially outside of initial “job description”
- Relentless
- Communicates clearly and inspires others in a variety of contexts.
Skills and Characteristics
- Committed to the mission and vision of Movement Charter Schools
- Eager to learn and a growth mindsetExcellent oral and written communication skills
- Well-developed emotional intelligence and moral character
- High level of personal organization and planning
- Receptive and responsive to feedback
- Proactive and self-directed
Education and Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree; advanced degree in education or related field a plus
- Prior Principal experience, preferred
- Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience
- Elementary school experience
- Knowledge of state and federal mandates
- Successful experience leading and coaching adults
- Teaching and leadership experience with a record of high student achievement
- If not currently certified, a commitment to obtaining the necessary certification
Salary and Benefits
Movement Schools offers salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package. We also offer a 401K salary match and retirement planning. All staff members receive extensive professional development, and are equipped with a laptop computer and all necessary supplies.
