Principal Fellow

Roxbury Prep Charter School•Boston, MA

18d

About The Position

Uncommon Schools is seeking a Principal Fellow to participate in a full-time leadership fellowship designed to prepare participants to step into an Uncommon Principal role upon completion. The eventual Principal co-leads a school alongside an Uncommon Director of Operations. The Fellow is hired, supported, and evaluated by the Regional Superintendent of Instruction and Senior Director of School Support. The fellowship develops leadership skills through individualized formal and informal feedback, full immersion in the day-to-day activities of an Uncommon school, and professional development. Fellows work with a Host Principal and the Senior Director of School Support to develop the skills and competencies needed to lead a high-performing school, including instructional leadership, teacher development, school culture, and family engagement. Fellows take an active role in identifying and pursuing opportunities to demonstrate leadership readiness. Fellows attend monthly cross-regional professional development alongside Principals and participate in cohort-specific workshops focused on practice, application, and peer support. Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of public charter schools serving economically disadvantaged communities in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester. The organization is committed to preparing students for college and beyond and provides coaching, feedback, and professional development to its educators.

Requirements

Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools.
Passionate commitment to expanding students’ knowledge, skills, and opportunities both in and out of school.
Dedication to building culturally responsive learning partnerships with students, teachers, and families.
Tenacity, personal responsibility, a founder’s mentality, and commitment to continual professional growth.
Strong people management skills, including the ability to navigate difficult conversations and hold staff, scholars, and families accountable supportively.
Ability to develop and maintain a strong staff culture focused on realizing the Uncommon mission.
Strong data analysis skills.
Ability to provide high-leverage feedback through classroom observations.
Ability to strategically manage and prioritize time and tasks, meet school needs, and apply systems thinking.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, work flexibly and autonomously, and take direction as needed.
Familiarity and success with, or commitment to, implementing Uncommon’s instructional leadership tenets, such as the See It-Name It-Do It framework and Leverage Leadership principles.
At least 3 years of teaching experience with evidence of outstanding student growth and achievement.
At least 1 year of experience coaching, leading, and/or managing teachers.
Bachelor’s degree.

Nice To Haves

Experience teaching core subjects such as Math, ELA, Science, or History.

Responsibilities

Participate in formal and informal feedback throughout the Fellowship, including feedback from the Host Principal, Regional Superintendent of Instruction, and Senior Director of School Support.
Integrate into the day-to-day activities of an Uncommon school and learn to manage the complex situations encountered in school leadership.
Work with the Host Principal and Senior Director of School Support to plan development of the skills and competencies needed to lead a high-performing school.
Develop capabilities in instructional leadership, teacher development, school culture, and family engagement.
Seek and plan opportunities to demonstrate leadership presence and readiness while immersed in a school.
Attend monthly cross-regional professional development and cohort-specific workshops.
Upon completion of the Fellowship, step into an Uncommon Principal role and co-lead a school alongside an Uncommon Director of Operations.

Benefits

Competitive compensation.
Generous paid time off, including sick time, paid holidays, and approximately 10 weeks of paid breaks during spring, winter, and summer.
Extensive training and development.
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
Pre-tax flexible spending accounts, dependent care flexible spending accounts, and health savings accounts.
Pension through the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System.
403(b) retirement savings program.
Transit commuter benefit with employer subsidy toward eligible transit expenses.
Paid leave of absence options, including parental, medical, and disability leave.
Mental health and counseling support and wellness benefits.