Principal in Residence - Belmont Campus

Intrinsic Schools•Chicago, IL

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal in Residence (PIR) is a full-time, school-based leadership role designed for a high-capacity instructional leader who is ready to own the principalship — and committed to building something exceptional from the very start. The PIR will spend their first full year embedded in the school alongside our current Principal — learning the community, building relationships, and developing their own vision for the school's next chapter. This is an intentional, structured transition designed to set the incoming leader up for lasting success. During year one, the PIR will be present and active across every dimension of school life — in classrooms, in leadership meetings, with families, and alongside staff — absorbing the culture and systems that have been built while beginning to leave their own mark. The current Principal remains in the lead role throughout this year, providing coaching, context, and support as the incoming leader grows into full ownership of the school. By the start of year two, the PIR steps fully into the role — not as someone still finding their footing, but as a leader who knows the school deeply, has earned the trust of the community, and is ready to lead with clarity and confidence. This role is ideal for leaders who are deeply committed to educational equity, have a proven track record of driving student achievement, and are energized by the opportunity to lead a high-performing, student-centered school — with the rare gift of a full year to learn, connect, and build their vision before fully taking the reins.

Requirements

Prior K-12 classroom teaching and leadership experience is required. Candidates who have not taught in a K-12 setting will not be considered.
Currently serving as Principal, School Director, or Campus Leader
Have led in school administrative roles for at least 5 years
Demonstrated success in developing teachers and improving student outcomes
Completed at least 5 years of teaching experience in a core content subject
Knowledge of personalized learning with a focus on small group instruction
Operate with a forward-thinking mindset regarding the ethical integration of AI in education, with a commitment to evolving instructional practices to meet the needs of a changing student landscape

Nice To Haves

Eager to grow into whole-school leadership with coaching and feedback
Motivated by equity-driven leadership and community partnership

Responsibilities

Partner with the Current Principal to build and sustain a culture of transparency, trust, and excellence across all stakeholders — students, staff, and families
Support the development of the administrative team's school-wide vision and take an active role in investing and mobilizing teachers to achieve collective goals
Take increasing ownership of school-wide initiatives and leadership responsibilities over time, aligned to readiness and development goals
Collaborate with the administrative team on hiring diverse, highly-effective teachers and school staff, developing fluency in staffing strategy and inclusive recruitment practices
Drive implementation of the school's mission and vision to prepare students for postsecondary success
Model and support ambitious instruction by ensuring classes are challenging, engaging, and aligned to rigorous standards
Serve as a direct coach to a designated cohort of teachers — conducting regular observations, delivering actionable feedback, and holding teachers accountable to growth through consistent follow-through
Develop systems and processes to consistently gauge the level of teaching and learning across the school
Design and facilitate professional learning that is rooted in research, responsive to current needs, and aligned to the Intrinsic POD model
Communicate areas of strength and growth related to instruction clearly and consistently to teachers and school leaders
Transparently utilize data to track school progress toward annual goals, analyzing results through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens
Monitor GPA, attendance, and promotion data and develop school-wide plans for improvement as needed
Utilize ACT/IAR and benchmark data to develop instructional insights that drive student-centered, challenging instruction and aligned curricula
Lead data-driven instruction by supporting teachers and coaches to disaggregate data, identify areas of student mastery and growth, and map findings to end-of-year standards and competencies
Provide high-quality instructional coaching through frequent, scheduled classroom observations, actionable feedback, and accountability for adjustment in practice
Oversee systems to review and provide feedback on instructional and lesson plans
Connect teachers with relevant resources to strengthen their content and pedagogical knowledge
Collaborate with the administrative team to plan and facilitate professional development aligned to school-wide priorities
Support a culture of joy, celebration, and strong relationships between students and staff
Ensure a safe and affirming learning environment for all students through consistent school-wide systems of expectations and restorative practices
Serve as a visible, engaged presence in the building — at arrival/dismissal, during lunch, and across daily school operations — developing fluency in the full scope of school management
Respond to the needs of students, staff, and families in an open, proactive, and solutions-oriented manner
Serve as a point of contact for family engagement and student interventions, partnering with teachers and support teams to determine next steps
Build credible, trusting relationships with families as a core leadership competency