Principal Fellow - Uncommon Schools North Star Academy

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 53 schools serving 19,000 students in five cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond.

The Uncommon Schools Principal Fellowship was created to strategically identify, develop, and train rising leaders. As we continue to grow and maintain the highest standards for all of our schools, it is critical to prepare our future leaders in an environment immersed in the successful practices of our current schools and the thoughtful leadership of our Principal leaders.

The Principal Fellowship provides a robust development process to prepare leaders to lead a school in conjunction with the Director of Operations. This Principal Fellow and eventual Principal is a full-time employee, hired, supported, and evaluated by the Regional Superintendent of Instruction and the Senior Director of School Support.  The fellowship  is based on a foundation of core elements aligned to the competencies of Uncommon Principals. Each element is designed to build Principal Fellows’ capacity towards becoming effective instructional school leaders:

Feedback and Assessment 

Feedback, especially individualized feedback, is the main tool that will support the Principal Fellow’s growth as a leader. It is the main reason our schools go from good to great. Principal Fellows will receive feedback formally and informally throughout the year. Informal feedback will be given throughout the Principal Fellow’s time in schools, PD, and in cohort gatherings. This will include feedback from the Principal Fellow’s Host Principal, Regional Superintendent of Instruction, and the Senior Director of School Support. 

School Immersion 

By integrating fully in the day-to-day activities of an Uncommon school, Principal Fellows will gain exposure to situations they may face as a school leader and be challenged to manage the complexity of scenarios that occur at a school.  Principal Fellows will work with their Host Principal and Senior Executive Director of School Support at the beginning and throughout their Fellowship to plan how they will master the competencies needed to lead a high-performing school. Principal Fellows should be “in the driver’s seat” of their learning and should feel empowered to take advantage of all opportunities to build their leadership. The Principal Fellow must seek and plan for opportunities throughout their Fellowship to demonstrate a leadership presence and full school Immersion into the following activities.

Professional Development

All Principal Fellows will join our Principals in monthly, cross-regional professional development. This is an amazing opportunity to learn alongside your Principals and cohort members to learn the most up-to-date best practices and develop your leadership capabilities. 

In addition, all 1-year and 2-year Principal Fellows will attend a series of professional development workshops. These sessions will be more intimate and allow for more “at bats”, practice, and direct application to your school immersion. In years past, Principal Fellows have found these sessions to be most effective when they are able to immediately practice their learnings in their host school. These cohort sessions will provide opportunities for Principal Fellows to look to one another for professional and personal support. 

• Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization;
• Passionate commitment to expand knowledge, skills, and opportunities for students both in and out of school;
• Passionate commitment to building culturally responsive learning partnerships with students, teachers and families;
• Strong data analysis skills;
• Interest in and passion for supporting teacher growth; 
• Ability to provide high leverage feedback via classroom observations;
• Demonstrates tenacity, personal responsibility, and a commitment to continual professional growth;
• Strong communications skills with multiple stakeholders including teachers, students, families, and colleagues;
• Strong organizational skills, careful attention to detail and follow-through;
• Required experience:
  • At least 3 years of teaching experience with evidence of outstanding student growth and achievement;
  • At least 1 year of experience coaching or leading teachers (e.g., grade level chair, content/department chair, Assistant Principal, Dean of Curriculum, etc.);
  • Demonstrated instructional coaching capabilities that contribute to teacher growth and development;
  • A Bachelor's degree.

Our people are what makes us Uncommon.  We believe our compensation philosophy and benefits should reflect our values—equity, transparency, and clarity—to enhance our ability to attract and retain talent and reward their expertise.  Our staff receive best-in-class training, coaching, and support to develop and operate mission-driven schools that provide a high-quality education to our students and families.

Compensation for this position: Candidates who meet all job description requirements will likely receive an offer of $96,000.  The starting pay will depend on various factors including but not limited to relevant professional experience, education, certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools.  To receive an offer greater than $96,000, candidates will need experience beyond the job description requirements, including time spent in a directly equivalent role.

Other Benefits:

• Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time and school breaks (spring, winter, and summer)
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development  
• Choice of 3 comprehensive health insurance plans
• Pre-tax flexible spending and health saving accounts
• Financial planning & wellness
  • New Jersey Pension program
  • 529 college savings program
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness application assistance
  • Financial  planning tools and assistance
• Dependent Care FSA, back up childcare and daycare discounts
• Paid leave of absence 
  • Fully paid parental leave
  • Fully paid medical leave
  • Additional paid Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance 
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email recruitment@uncommonschools.org.