Head Of School Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Master's degree in Education, Educational Leadership, School Administration, or a closely related field.
• Appropriate New Jersey educational leadership certification or eligibility consistent with assigned duties and applicable requirements.
• At least five years of school leadership experience, preferably in a charter school or innovative K–8 setting.
• Demonstrated success in instructional leadership, educator evaluation, curriculum implementation, data analysis, and school improvement.
• Experience supervising and developing instructional and administrative personnel.
• Working knowledge of educational standards, student assessments, special education, school accountability, and operational requirements.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, organizational management, and problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

• New Jersey Department of Education Principal or Superintendent Standard License is preferred.
• Experience leading a high-performing public charter school.
• Experience with MicroSociety, project-based learning, experiential education, or comparable student-centered models.
• Experience with Professional Learning Communities, instructional coaching cycles, classroom walkthroughs, and educator evaluation systems.
• Knowledge of charter school governance, accountability, and renewal.
• Success strengthening school culture, staff retention, family engagement, and student achievement.
• Stability and long-term commitment to the school community; visionary leadership aligned with MicroSociety and thoughtful innovation; cultural competence, empathy, authenticity, and an approachable presence; operational discipline, fiscal awareness, sound judgment, integrity, accountability, and commitment to equity.

Responsibilities

• Lead curriculum, instruction, assessment, intervention, and academic improvement systems across Grades K–8, ensuring alignment with New Jersey Student Learning Standards and the school's mission.
• Oversee curriculum mapping, pacing, lesson and unit planning, instructional resources, differentiated implementation, and alignment among curriculum, assessment, intervention, enrichment, and student outcomes.
• Champion and align the MicroSociety model with grade-level learning goals, including student-run ventures, civic and nonprofit organizations, financial systems, interdisciplinary projects, and authentic real-world learning.
• Monitor academic performance data and strategic improvement goals; identify learning gaps and ensure responsive instructional actions.
• Establish and maintain instructional support and accountability systems, including educator evaluations, coaching cycles, classroom walkthroughs, observations, written feedback, and follow-up.
• Participate in and monitor monthly Professional Learning Communities and grade-level team meetings, including agendas, data analysis, collaborative planning, deliverables, and follow-through.
• Support educators with lesson design, questioning, differentiation, formative assessment, classroom discourse, and student engagement; promote reflective practice and ongoing professional learning.
• Oversee the school's baseline, midyear, and end-of-year benchmark assessment cycle and monitor instructional responses to findings.
• Coordinate applicable state assessment preparation, scheduling, administration, reporting, and analysis, including NJSLA and ACCESS for ELLs.
• Ensure staff use data to group students, reteach content, provide targeted intervention and enrichment, and monitor student progress.
• Collaborate with special education, multilingual learner, and student-support teams to ensure equitable access, appropriate services, and implementation of student-support requirements, including IEPs and Section 504 plans.
• Monitor grade-level and schoolwide performance trends and intervention effectiveness; prepare academic reports and recommendations for executive leadership and the Board as appropriate.
• Strengthen student readiness and pathways for transition to competitive and high-performing secondary schools.
• Create opportunities for student voice, leadership, collaboration, decision-making, and authentic assessment; evaluate the quality, access, participation, and impact of innovative programs.
• Collaborate with community organizations, businesses, and cultural institutions to expand real-world learning opportunities.
• Build and sustain a safe, inclusive, joyful, academically focused school environment grounded in belonging, restorative practices, and clear expectations.
• Collaborate with the Dean of School Culture and Climate on student conduct, attendance, recognition, restorative responses, and social-emotional support systems.
• Monitor school climate, attendance, behavior, bullying concerns, and student engagement, and address emerging patterns promptly.
• Maintain a visible and accessible presence with students, families, teachers, and staff; strengthen trust, morale, retention, collaboration, and professional respect.
• Oversee daily staffing, schedules, instructional assignments, student services, facilities coordination, and operational procedures as the primary on-site administrator.
• Develop and oversee the master teaching schedule to maximize instructional time and address diverse student needs.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws, New Jersey administrative code, charter requirements, and Board policies.
• Oversee school safety, emergency plans, required drills, incident-response procedures, and coordination with public safety partners.
• Maintain appropriate student and personnel records, confidentiality protocols, and records-retention procedures; oversee timely school reporting and documentation, including relevant NJDOE systems such as NJSMART and Homeroom.
• Collaborate with the business office on budget implementation, fiscal stewardship, purchasing, resource allocation, and accounting for school activity funds.
• Monitor facilities, technology, and other essential services through designated personnel; establish accountability for delegated tasks, timelines, escalation, and follow-through.
• Recruit, interview, recommend for appointment, assign, supervise, and evaluate employees consistent with Board policy and delegated authority.
• Set performance expectations and provide coaching, feedback, mentoring, and professional development; develop the capacity of assigned school leaders.
• Address performance and interpersonal concerns fairly, promptly, and with appropriate documentation and support; support recruitment, retention, succession planning, and internal leadership pathways.
• Recognize staff achievement, invite staff input, and foster shared responsibility while maintaining accountability.
• Serve as a visible school-level liaison with families and community stakeholders; communicate through newsletters, conferences, events, meetings, and direct outreach.
• Plan and supervise parent-teacher conferences and other family-engagement opportunities; respond to caregiver concerns promptly, constructively, transparently, and confidentially.
• Ensure family communication and engagement are culturally responsive and accessible; collaborate with parent organizations and community partners.
• Report to the Board of Trustees within the approved governance structure and collaborate with the Executive Advisor and Founder on continuity, strategic initiatives, and organizational improvement.
• Prepare and present accurate academic, operational, and school-improvement information for Board and committee meetings as assigned; attend relevant Board, committee, and leadership meetings and support Board-approved priorities.
• Maintain clear distinctions between Board governance, executive advisory responsibilities, and the Head of School's day-to-day administrative authority.
• Support charter renewal, compliance, accountability, organizational sustainability, and long-range planning.
• Ensure accurate assessment, attendance, student-information, and compliance reporting; maintain confidentiality, safety, incident documentation, and mandatory reporting protocols.
• Support external monitoring, internal reviews, charter accountability, and timely corrective action where needed.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package consistent with school policies and applicable New Jersey requirements.