NEO Lower - K-8th Grade Principal

ACCEL Schools•Northeast Ohio College Preparatory School - Lower Campus, OH

14h•$85,000 - $100,000•Onsite

About The Position

ACCEL Schools is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Principal at Northeast Ohio College Preparatory School in Cleveland, Ohio. The school offers a continuous EK-12 college-preparatory education and serves students in a nurturing environment focused on academic, social, and emotional development. The Principal is the campus’s instructional and administrative leader, responsible for developing and implementing the school’s academic vision, advancing student outcomes, and managing daily operations. The role also supports long-term instructional sustainability through professional development, teacher quality assessment, curriculum advancement, and pedagogical improvement. The Principal leads instructional design and implementation, curriculum and assessment practices, teacher coaching and evaluation, student achievement, school culture, and student support programs. The role supervises and develops teachers and staff, manages school operations and compliance, and works with ACCEL’s Home Office and Operations Team on budgets, facilities, student data, safety, and reporting. The Principal also serves as a key liaison to families and the community, building partnerships and communicating the school’s mission and performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Education or a related discipline.
Current valid Principal license.
At least three years of full-time teaching experience.
At least two years of successful school administration or instructional leadership experience in an urban setting.
Demonstrated success raising achievement among diverse learners, including low-income students, non-native English speakers, students of color, and other traditionally underserved populations.
Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain a rigorous academic program that meets the needs of all students.
Experience with public education accountability, compliance, and related legal requirements.
Experience coaching teachers to improve instructional planning, teaching practice, and classroom culture.
Knowledge of State Standards and Common Core Standards.
Knowledge of or experience with innovative school designs and instructional models, including blended, inquiry-based, project-based, and personalized learning.
Familiarity with students’ developmental, behavioral, social, and academic needs.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
Strong management, leadership, and team-building skills.
Ability to translate critical feedback into effective outcomes.
Ability to organize, communicate, and disseminate policies, strategies, and tasks effectively.
Ability to work under pressure, prioritize effectively, and consistently meet deadlines.
Ability to manage confidential information.
Exemplary written and verbal communication skills.
Successful completion of federal and state criminal background checks.
Ability to meet applicable educational standards.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree in education or educational leadership is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead strategic instructional design and practice, including integrated curriculum, instructional coaching and evaluation, assessment-data use, and blended learning where available.
Develop and lead instructional programs; assess curriculum, pedagogy, and lesson plans; and observe classes regularly to support effective teaching and learning.
Drive rigorous, engaging instruction and strong academic outcomes for all students, meeting student-achievement, school-culture, and Adequate Yearly Progress goals.
Facilitate standards-based curriculum implementation, review lesson plans weekly, and conduct frequent walkthroughs and teacher debriefs.
Take responsibility for students’ academic achievement and social-emotional wellbeing, and foster a growth-focused professional environment.
Develop or modify school cultural programming and the school-wide PBIS process, promoting appropriate conduct and behavior.
Coordinate teacher-based teams, staff in-service days, data days, and ongoing research-based professional development.
Implement behavior-management practices that promote consistent, respectful conduct and positive relationships.
Lead the Special Education program and support high achievement for participating students.
Coordinate summer educational opportunities and before- and after-school programs as applicable.
Build a strong school community through positive, cooperative relationships with faculty, staff, families, students, and other stakeholders.
Supervise, coach, and manage the performance of teachers, staff, and school leaders.
Lead teacher evaluation and professional development programs, including evaluations under the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System (OTES).
Create a student support system addressing academic and behavioral needs holistically and involving parents, teachers, and relevant staff.
Manage daily operations, including facilities, instructional technology, food services, student data systems, assessment tools, office management, budgets, recruitment, and retention.
Work with the Home Office and Operations Team on compliance, budget, procurement, student data, academic assessments, campus safety, and administrative improvements.
Partner with Human Resources to recruit, select, hire, retain, recognize, and support school staff, following Equal Employment Opportunity requirements.
Coordinate state, charter-authorizer, federal, and sponsor reporting requirements and contribute to the charter renewal process.
Oversee census, attendance, enrollment, accountability, and other required student reporting, with support from the Operations Team.
Support the national school lunch program, transportation, audits, and student application processes as applicable.
Manage student recruitment and retention, with a goal of retaining 85% of students annually.
Understand and address compliance requirements under the school’s Sponsor Agreement.
Maintain and publish a master school calendar and work with Home Office staff to keep marketing and communication tools current.
Communicate regularly with the Home Office and Operations Team and maintain daily or weekly meetings with the Regional Vice President.
Ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and colleagues and assist with updates to parent and student manuals, policies, and handbooks.
Represent the school in the local community, communicate its mission and vision, and seek input from parents and families.
Implement the school’s philosophy and mission, uphold professional standards, and maintain regular, timely communication with parents.
Build partnerships with external organizations, local districts, and charter authorizers.
Plan and conduct student and family orientations; coordinate projects such as peer mentoring, service learning, and community involvement; and conduct home visits as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Paid time off.
Retirement contributions.
Optional basic life and AD&D insurance.
Voluntary life insurance for employees, spouses, and children.
Discounted childcare at Early Learning Academies locations.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Employee Assistance Program.
Voluntary short-term disability insurance.
Voluntary long-term disability insurance.
Career advancement opportunities across ACCEL Schools and its network of education professionals.