IDEA Public Schools Careers

Rhodes Principal Fellow

Role Mission: Rhodes Principal Fellows are high-performing school leaders who have already been selected as the future launching principal at a school that is scheduled to open in the upcoming school year. During the year leading up to launch, Rhodes Principal Fellows work side by side with their Assistant Principal of Operations and co-principal (when applicable) to prepare for a strong school launch. Rhodes Principal Fellows prepare to launch their school by hiring and onboarding an effective team, recruiting and onboarding new families, planning key schoolwide systems, preparing for beginning-of-year readiness, and coaching their Assistant Principal of Operations to do the same.

This is a grant funded position and funding may be extended. A grant-funded position has no guarantee of ongoing and indefinite employment. All duties and responsibilities tied to this position are allowable and allocable to the grant.

What You’ll Do -- Accountabilities

Accountabilities include and are not limited to:

• Campus Rating: The campus will achieve an A-rating at the end of the school year.
• Student Persistence: 90% of Academy and College Prep scholars enrolled during the current school year will persist and return at the start of the following school year.
• Student Attendance: Academy and College Prep will achieve a 97% annual attendance rate.
• Staff Retention: 85% of all full-time campus staff employed in the current school year will be retained and return for the following school year.
• Student Enrollment: The campus meets or exceeds their enrollment target by homeroom period on the 11th day of school.
• Matriculation (once you lead a full-scale campus with seniors in the future): 100% of campus high school graduates matriculate to college, enroll in a post-secondary program for special education students, enlist in the armed forces, and/or are granted a faith-based or medical exemption. 

Responsibilities:

Rhodes Principal Fellows must be able to fulfill the same responsibilities as Principals, which include:

1)     Lead School Culture Systems: You will set the vision for school culture, and build and maintain strong schoolwide systems to ensure that vision becomes a reality. You will ensure all teachers are proficient in building positive student relationships, creating effective classroom routines and procedures, reinforcing positive behaviors, and responding consistently and effectively to misbehaviors. You will coach and train teachers to master these skills, and you will coach and develop other leaders to do the same so that you can drive this work through your lead team.

2)     Lead Instructional Systems: You will build and maintain strong schoolwide systems to ensure all teachers internalize their content, deliver high quality first instruction, and analyze data in order to implement strategic adjustments and interventions that increase student learning. You will coach and develop other instructional leaders to do the same and drive this work through your instructional lead team.

3)     Lead Operational Systems: You will build and maintain strong systems for school operations to ensure your campus is safe, welcoming, and efficiently run. You will coach and manage the assistant principal of operations to meet student enrollment and daily attendance goals. You will also coach and develop the assistant principal of operations to be an excellent systems leader and people manager so that they can drive results through their operations team.

4)     Lead Family Engagement Systems: You will build and maintain strong systems for family engagement and communication, including both new family onboarding and ongoing family engagement. You will ensure families receive regular communication about their child’s progress and school events, and that staff engage them as key partners in the education of their child. You will coach and manage other leaders to do the same so that you can drive this work through others.

5)     Lead Staff Culture and Talent Management: You will make strategic hiring, retention and promotion decisions, and coach other leaders to do the same. You will build and maintain systems for fostering a strong staff culture, and coach other leaders to do the same. You will build and maintain strong systems for coaching and management so that all staff members receive excellent coaching and are held accountable for meeting high expectations in service of our students.

6)     Strategically Manage your Campus Budget: You will plan how to use your campus discretionary funds to achieve your campus priorities and driving goals. You will work with your assistant principal of operations, business clerk and admin assistant to ensure your campus discretionary budget is managed strategically throughout the year. You will also coach and manage your assistant principal of operations to lead the operations team to meet their budget goals.

7)     Ensure your Campus Remains in Compliance: You will complete all required annual compliance training and ensure your staff members do the same. You will build and maintain systems to ensure that staff members and the campus as a whole remains in compliance with all applicable laws and policies. You will coach and develop other leaders to do the same so that you can drive this work through others.

In addition, during the year leading up to school launch, Rhodes Principal Fellows are responsible for preparing to launch their school. Their responsibilities during the transition period will include (but are not limited to):

• Hiring and onboarding an effective team
• Recruiting and onboarding new families
• Planning key schoolwide systems
• Preparing for beginning-of-year readiness
• Coaching and managing Assistant Principal of Operations to do the same

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Will manage and coach the Assistant Principal of Operations, both before and after the school launches
• Will manage and coach additional staff members once the school launches

What You Bring -- Competencies

Qualifications:

• Rhodes Principal Fellows must have already engaged in a principal interview process and been selected as the future launching principal of the new school that is slated to open in the coming year.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
• Required Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience in education is required. 3+ years of experience as an instructional leader and 3+ years of experience as a teacher is preferred.
• Certifications: None are required. Principal certificate is preferred.  

Knowledge and Skills:

This role requires all of the knowledge and skills needed to effectively fulfill the principal role, which include: 

• Strong ability to analyze data to identify root causes and implement strategic solutions.
• Strong ability to self-reflect on strengths and areas of growth, seek out and implement feedback, and take ownership of one’s own learning and development.
• Ability to lead and improve complex systems in a school setting.
• Ability to identify and regulate one’s own emotions, as well as identify and respond effectively to the emotions of others.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and manage one’s time effectively in order to consistently meet deadlines and achieve priorities.
• Ability to preserve and remain solutions-oriented in the face of challenges and setbacks.
• Strong ability to coach teachers on curriculum and instruction and coach other leaders to do the same.
• Ability to instruct students and manage student behavior and coach other leaders to do the same.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment.

What We Offer:

Compensation & Benefits:

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $78,900 and $92,000 commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment.

Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.

* IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

Application process:

Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Learn more about IDEA

At IDEA the Staff Culture and Belonging Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values