Principal, Downtown Campus - Intrinsic Schools

INTRINSIC SCHOOLS 

Intrinsic Schools is a small charter network in Chicago that is implementing a revolutionary new model for public education that prepares all students for postsecondary success and world-changing endeavors. We started Intrinsic to reimagine the learning experience for middle and high school students based on the beliefs that young people learn best when they collaborate, feel a deep sense of belonging, and set and monitor progress toward individualized goals. Our model systematically teaches students to think, solve, communicate and reflect while also building Empathy, Perseverance, Identity and Curiosity - our EPIC Core Values. We flex time and space in both of our schools, redefine the role of teachers, and use technology in new ways to ensure every student receives tailored instruction, and eventually graduates with their own personalized postsecondary plan that is dedicated to their own interests, goals, and choices.

Our approach is focused on the whole child, and can look different than in other public schools - in part because of our dual focus on student gains in academics and personal agency. To support this, we use mastery-forward grading; a weekly Choice Day (C Day) for all students; Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) that connect students, teachers, and families three times each year; and Advisory classes comprised of groups of students who meet daily all four years of high school and essentially grow up together, under the guidance of one four-year advisor. Our school culture deliberately prioritizes student voices and relationships - with each other and with adults - while also having very high expectations of them. To support this work, we rely on restorative practices as well as consequences, when necessary, to ensure a safe and joyful learning environment for all students. 

The personalized postsecondary support we provide to students and families is a big differentiator for Intrinsic, and students and parents often cite our postsecondary strategies as one of the greatest benefits of the Intrinsic experience. As a result, every graduating senior has a plan in place for life post-high school that is developed in combination with the family. While Intrinsic prepares graduates to be successful at four-year colleges and roughly 90% of seniors matriculate directly into college, we believe all students should have the opportunity to explore any post-graduation path that will ultimately lead to a career they enjoy and can meet their long-term financial goals.  

Our leadership team believes strongly in the seven levers for school leadership outlined in Leverage Leadership 2.0 by Paul Bambrick and school leaders that have been trained via the National Principal Academy Fellowship. We are in year two of a multi-year plan for continuous improvement and are seeing success of the plan realized. 

Other differentiators and points of pride include: 

• Featured in the new book Extraordinary Learning for All 
• Consistent, invested senior leadership  
• Commitment to Diversity Equity and Inclusion  
• Family Participation including paid Parent Ambassadors
• Winner of the AP CS Diversity Award 
• Administrative / back office support 
• Collaboration with teachers, administrators, researchers in Chicago and the U.S.  
• Award-Winning Facilities 
• Featured by Public Impact and the Clayton Christensen Institute as a school using innovative staffing to personalize learning
   

THE DOWNTOWN CAMPUS 

History. We opened our Downtown Campus to: 

1. Create a new, much-needed, high-quality public high school open to any student in Chicago. 
2. Create a partner school for the Belmont Campus to innovate with and learn from. 

Growth. We launched the Downtown Campus in Fall 2019. By Fall 2025, we will serve roughly 800 students in Grades 9-12. We will reach full enrollment in Fall 2026.

Demographics. The Downtown Campus serves a student body that is 45% African American, 38% Latinx, 5% Asian and 4% White and 8% Other. Students live in 74 of 77 of Chicago neighborhoods, and we are on track to be one of the most diverse student bodies of any high school in the city. More than 85% of our students qualify for free and reduced lunch, 19% are students with disabilities and 16% are English Language Learners. 

Benefits Opportunities of the Downtown Location. We deliberately chose the Chicago Loop as the location of our second school so that more students from more lower-income Chicago neighborhoods would have access to each other and to the resources almost exclusively located downtown. This includes jobs, internships, mentors, enrichment, college coursework/dual enrollment, and cultural institutions, which we incorporate into the student experience starting in 9th grade.

THE ROLE OF PRINCIPAL

Building upon Intrinsic’s early successes and 10 years of learning, this leader will have the best of two worlds: 1) the structure and support of a strong, existing organization and 2) the culture and opportunities that come with a young school. This person must also have a proven track record of achieving academic excellence for students while leading adults, and a strong desire to collaborate within a rigorous and positive school culture. 

The Downtown Campus principal will work closely with both the cross-campus leadership team and the Belmont Campus principal and lead in the following ways:  

Responsibilities

Instructional Leadership Student Growth 

• Create a culture of academic excellence at the staff and student levels.
• Grow all students at least two points on the Pre-ACT/ACT suite of tests 9-11th grade via detailed data analysis, staff support and academic interventions. 
• Lead regular instructional walkthroughs / rounds with data collected to share trends with school leadership and Cross-Campus Team.
• Lead a team of instructional leaders (AP and Deans) to support teachers via data meetings to unpack standards, and lead high-quality instructional coaching with frequent, scheduled teacher observations, actionable feedback, and accountability for adjustments in practice. 
• Provide professional learning opportunities that are rooted in research and based on evolving needs of Intrinsic staff, often in collaboration with Cross-Campus Team members.
• Work with the Cross-Campus Team to ensure that all students have access to high quality, grade-level curriculum. 
• Work with the Cross-Campus Team to ensure an effective and compliant program is in place to support the needs of our ELL and diverse learners.  

School Safety Culture   

• Foster a culture of joy, including strong relationships between students and staff and the celebration of student successes. 
• Ensure a safe learning environment for all by implementing a clear, school-wide vision and a system of student expectations, restorative practices and consequences (when necessary) that makes achieving this vision possible. 
• Provide a robust mix of extracurricular activities, special events, and opportunities for student learning outside the classroom.

Staff Culture

• Strategize and collaborate with others to recruit and retain a diverse, highly-effective team and continue to make Intrinsic a great place to work. 
• Ensure that the Downtown Campus is Well-Organized on the University of Chicago 5Eessentials Survey.
• Be present to support students and staff by attending events outside of school hours such as athletic competitions, artistic performances, school dances, parent meetings, and staff socials. 

Persuasive Inspiring Communications 

• Communicate passionately about the mission and vision of Intrinsic Schools, as well as progress toward annual goals, events, activities, and policies.
• Maintain a culture of transparency and trust with all stakeholders, including using data to ensure school success and responding to the needs of students, staff and families in an open manner.
• Inspire prospective students and families at open houses, shadow days and community events with a clear vision that compels families to choose Intrinsic. 
• Model a commitment to excellence for all and motivate all team members toward achievement. 

Continuous Improvement Innovation

• Work closely with Mentor Principal from our Belmont Campus to replicate operational systems that have been in place and highly regarded for many years.
• Collaborate continuously with Cross-Campus leaders (including a CEO, COO, Chief Learning Officer, Chief of Schools and Chief of Communications and Community) to assess the impact of the Intrinsic model and adjust/refine where needed.
• Leverage and build upon existing opportunities for students at the Downtown Campus – enrichment, jobs and internships, afterschool and summer programs, dual-enrollment coursework. 

Ideal Qualifications

• High expectations of self, students and colleagues, and expectations of shared responsibility when setting and achieving goals. 
• Proven track record of achieving goals, including academic excellence for students as an individual and through the leadership of other adults.
• Ability to drive stronger student outcomes through the use of data. 
• Proven track record of fostering dynamic environments with a consistent, warm and welcoming culture for students and staff.
• Deep commitment to constant self-reflection, improvement and innovation. 
• Willingness and history of effective collaborative work with organizational leadership.
• Patience, flexibility and an innate willingness to take risks. 
• Strong work ethic with a willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve results for students, families, and staff. 

Education and Experience Requirements

• At least two years of prior school leadership experience in a high school  as a principal, assistant principal or similar role, with a track record of high achievement in the role(s).
• At least three years teaching experience, with a track record of high achievement in the role(s).
• Experience working with diverse student populations and children with developmental differences.
• Familiarity with principles in Leverage Leadership, Relay National Principal Fellowship program a plus.
• Bachelor's degree. IL Type75 not required. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

Intrinsic Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Intrinsic Schools ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. Intrinsic Schools has a policy of active recruitment of qualified minority teachers and non-certified employees. Any individual needing assistance in making an application for any opening should contact the Department of Human Resources.

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