Regional Superintendent of Instruction - Uncommon Schools

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.

We are always looking for excellent school leadership talent. While this is not an immediate opening, we welcome your application to begin the conversation about future opportunities that may arise.

To build more high performing schools, we need senior instructional leaders to commit themselves to the most urgent and exciting work of our time! Regional Superintendents of Instruction at Uncommon Schools serve as vitally important leaders in our organization and help drive the success of our schools and principals. They oversee instructional and academic programs for groups of schools within the Uncommon Schools network and are accountable for developing principals and for the student success and achievement within their schools.

As a Regional Superintendent of Instruction at Uncommon Schools, you will oversee instruction and manage and support a group of Principals. The Regional Superintendent of Instruction is a full-time employee, hired, supported, and evaluated by the Chief Schools Officer. Your responsibilities will include the following:

Management of Academic Program:

• Using data and daily observations, partner with Principals to constantly evaluate and improve instruction, teacher training, curriculum implementation, assessments, and other aspects of schools' academic programs and culture;
• Partner with Principals to build a positive culture with staff, students, and families;
• Support Principals to plan and implement summer and school-year training and professional development for teachers;
• Support Principals to oversee hiring of teachers and other school staff.

Management and Development of Principals and Instructional Leaders:

• Provide frequent, informal feedback to Principals and conduct an annual formal evaluation;
• Plan and implement training for Principal Fellows and all network instructional leaders;
• Recruit for and participate in Principal and instructional interview process;
• Support, develop, and execute Principal professional development across regions;
• Build personal and professional network to cultivate future instructional and leadership talent at Uncommon.

Management of Regional and Organization-wide Instruction:

• Build a “one mission” culture for schools through Principal meetings and communications;
• Ensure assessments, reports, and other data needs are managed and implemented by instructional leaders and school-based operations staff;
• Research and identify best practices from own network and other organizations and help disseminate those practices effectively to others.

Execution of Uncommon’s Mission and Vision:

• Partner with the Regional Superintendent of Operations and other Uncommon leaders to support operational and compliance needs for the region and schools and to develop regional initiatives;
• Help foster relationships with regional Boards of Trustees;
• Partner with the Home Office to meet organizational needs, including development, marketing, and recruitment;
• Serve as a member of Uncommon’s Leadership Team;
• Monitor and support schools in meeting the needs of special education students and work with internal and external partners to deliver high quality, cost-effective services for students.

• Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision as an anti-racist organization;
• Passionate dedication to improve the minds, characters, and lives of students both in and out of school;
• Track record of leading students and staff to outstanding results;
• An adept problem-solver with a demonstrated ability to think critically, plan strategically, as well as research and perform detailed data analysis;
• Skilled in written and oral communication to diverse audiences and facilitating decision-making among multiple parties;
• Proactive and fast learner who thrives in a fast-paced environment;
• Ability to provide high leverage feedback via classroom observations and school walk-throughs;
• Grit, personal responsibility, and a commitment to continual professional growth;
• Strong organizational skills, careful attention to detail and follow-through.

• Required Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience as a school principal in a high-performing urban public school is required;
• A Bachelor’s degree is required, and a graduate degree in education, public policy, or related field is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity and success with implementing Uncommon’s core tenets of instructional leadership, as exemplified by Leverage Leadership, is required.
• Completion of Leverage Leadership Institute or a Relay GSE graduate degree is strongly preferred.

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 $167,000.  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 $167,000, 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.