Elementary School Principal

Mission

The Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School is a K-8 Children’s Aid community school whose mission is to prepare elementary school students for success in middle school, high school, college and life by providing them with a rigorous instructional experience; addressing their physical, emotional and social needs; fostering a sense of pride and hope; and serving as a safe and engaging community hub.

The Elementary School Principal leads a team that serves approximately 450 K-5 students and reports to the CACPCS Head of School who reports to the CACPCS Board of Trustees.

Principal Job Description

The Elementary School Principal of CACPCS is a key senior leader at CACPCS responsible for the following:

Academic Design and Performance

● Ensures the school meets academic performance goals through the high-quality implementation of the school’s Key Design Elements and Educational Program Priorities;

● Sets ambitious quarterly/yearly goals for student progress and achievement in collaboration with staff and the Head of School;

● Analyzes/uses student assessment data in an on-going way to strengthen teaching and learning practices, allocate resources and adjust school-based strategies for ensuring all students are successful;

● Works with Academic Deans and teachers to evaluate individual student performance data as well as school-wide performance data;

● Design professional development and programming for teachers to increase their effectiveness;

● Works with parents and community partners to develop comprehensive academic supports;

● Works with the Head of School and Director of Special Education & Interventions to ensure the academic program and student support services are in compliance and are meeting the needs of the range of learners present at CACPCS; and,

● Works with the Head of School, Middle School Principal and his/her team, PreK Program Director, the Community School Director and Operations Manager to ensure alignment between the elementary and middle schools’ learning environments, cultures, policies, procedures and general expectations to ensure a coherent preK-8 experience for CACPCS students and their families.

School Culture, Climate and Community and Family Engagement

● Promotes the school’s mission and instill its values within the community;

● Ensures a safe and welcoming school environment for all students, staff and parents;

● Provides oversight of implementation of the school’s discipline code by working with the Deans of Student Discipline and Culture to ensure discipline, school culture, school climate systems and procedures are in place and consistently implemented;

● Regularly reviews, communicates, and consistently enforces the school’s student code of conduct and discipline policies;

● Ensures discipline systems are equitable, restorative, developmentally appropriate, and aligned with district/state guidelines;

● Oversees the Deans’ investigations and follow-up on serious student incidents, including fights, bullying, harassment, threats, and other safety concerns;

● Reviews and approves suspensions, behavioral interventions, re-entry plans, and alternative disciplinary responses;

● Monitors discipline data regularly with Deans and Life Coaches to identify trends, disproportionality, repeat incidents, and areas requiring intervention;

● Implements and evaluates a plan for parent orientation, engagement and support in collaboration with the Head of School, Community School Director and Middle School Principal for alignment;

● Works collaboratively with the Community School Director who will serve as a senior leader, thought partner, and effective manager of programs and resources;

● Ensures that Children’s Aid staff and other key school stakeholders are meaningful partners in the on-going development of the school;

● In conjunction with the Community School Director and their team, cultivates a network of providers to ensure that children and families receive comprehensive support services throughout the school day, after-school, and year-round to eliminate barriers to learning;

● Works with the Community School Director to plan and conduct parent and family outreach and community outreach efforts; and,

●    Works collaboratively with the Head of School and Middle School Principal to ensure K-8 programmatic and operational alignment between the two school locations.

Operations, Personnel, and Fiscal Management

● Ensures the school has a fully-functional Operations team to manage daily school operations and major operational tasks (e.g. maintaining student information systems and records, communicating with staff and families, supply ordering and distribution).

● Ensures key operational systems and services are in place and overseen daily including arrival/dismissal, emergency response, communications, busing, School Foods and Nursing are in place and overseen daily;

● Supports student recruitment, enrollment and orientation collaboratively with the Operations Managers and the Manager of Recruitment and Public Relations;

● Recruits, select, hire and orient all school staff in collaboration with the Head of School, Operations Manager;

● Provides input to the development and implementation of personnel policies;

● Works collaboratively with the Head of School and Operations Manager to develop and manage the annual elementary school budget;

● Ensures compliance with all fiscal policies and procedures; and,

● Ensures compliance with all student and staff data privacy requirements.

Board and Charter Authorizer Reporting

● Collaborates with the Head of School to outline annual performance goals and to respond to requests from the CACPCS Trustees and the school’s authorizer, The SUNY Charter Schools Institute;

● Effectively manages key school partnerships and consultants (as needed);

● Reports directly to the Head of School and provides input to monthly reports to the Board and attends Learning, Achievement and Evaluation committee meetings;

● Works collaboratively with the Head of School to ensure that the Board of Trustees is duly informed and engaged around key school issues.

CACPCS Elementary School Principal Qualifications

Mission & Beliefs

● Deep belief that all children can achieve at high levels

● Strong alignment with CACPCS’ mission, values, and commitment to equity

● High expectations for students, staff, and schoolwide excellence

Instructional & School Leadership

● 4–5+ years of school or instructional leadership experience

● Proven success improving student achievement and supporting teacher growth

● Ability to assess classroom instruction and coach teachers effectively

● Experience supporting positive school culture, behavior systems, and character development

● Strong understanding of elementary child development

Community, Culture & Relationships

● Exemplary cultural competence; able to be both empathetic and firm

● Skilled at building strong relationships with students, families, and staff

● Effective communicator who can de‑escalate and resolve conflicts

● Commitment to creating a safe, nurturing, and academically focused environment

Professional Skills & Credentials

● Master’s degree in education or related field (required)

● Strong organizational, decision‑making, and management skills

● Ability to work collaboratively and independently

● Required: New York State School Building Leadership (SBL) certification or active pursuit

COMPENSATION

We offer a competitive compensation package that includes base salary and comprehensive health benefits which evolve with employee needs over time. All staff members are equipped with the tools needed to succeed, including workspace, laptop computer, email, high-speed internet access, and all necessary supplies.

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.

For more information on the Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School, please go to: https://childrensaidcollegeprep.org/