IDEA Public Schools Careers

Role Mission: IDEA Principals in Residence (PIRs) are experienced school leaders with a track record of success who aspire to become IDEA principals. PIRs fulfill the same duties as an Assistant Principal of Instruction (API), which include managing, coaching, and developing a portfolio of teachers. In addition, PIRs take on additional responsibilities designed to prepare them for the principal role. This may include (but is not limited to) managing another lead team member, leading schoolwide systems, participating in professional development programs designed for aspiring principals, and serving as the acting principal when the school principal is not on campus. 

2-Year Renewal Process for PIR Title: PIRs are expected to apply for principal vacancies in their region and earn promotions to principal roles within 2 years. If a PIR does not earn a promotion to principal within 2 years, they must have their PIR title renewed in order to keep it beyond 2 years. During the renewal process, regional and national leaders will decide whether there are valid reasons for the PIR to keep their title longer than 2 years. If they decide that there are not valid reasons for the PIR to keep the title beyond 2 years, then the PIR’s title will change to Assistant Principal of Instruction (API) for the following school year, but their pay will stay the same.

Location: This is a campus-based role.

What We Offer

Compensation: 

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $74,764 to $87,100, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for a performance bonus based on team performance and goal attainment.

Other Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive benefits plan, covering the majority of the employee premium for the base medical plan and subsidizing the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children. Some of the special benefits we offer at IDEA include:

• Paid Family Leave: Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on their tenure with the organization and caregiver designation.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Staff members may apply for up to​ 50% of tuition paid toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 maximum per year subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
• Employer-Paid Mental/Behavioral Health: 5 face-to-face counseling sessions within a year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services available at no cost.

Other benefits include 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. IDEA may offer a relocation allowance to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

What You Bring -- Competencies

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred 
• Required Experience:  
  • At least 3 years of full-time teaching experience  
  • At least 2 years of school leadership experience  
  • At least 2 years of experience managing and coaching others 
• Proven track record of achieving success as a teacher  
• Proven track record of achieving success as a manager/coach of teachers 

Physical Requirements: 

• The ability to travel between campuses and regions 
• The ability to move throughout a school building, including outdoor spaces, shared indoor spaces, and classrooms 
• The ability to engage in virtual meetings and work remotely 

Knowledge and Skills:

• Build Trust and Psychological Safety: This leader is responsible for guiding the decision-making process within the team. They foster a collaborative environment where team members contribute to decision-making, ensuring that diverse perspectives are considered and team consensus is built when appropriate.  
• Communicate Deliberately: This leader is responsible for guiding the decision-making process within the team. They foster a collaborative environment where team members contribute to decision-making, ensuring that diverse perspectives are considered and team consensus is built when appropriate.  
• Grow Self and Others: This leader is responsible for guiding the decision-making process within the team. They foster a collaborative environment where team members contribute to decision-making, ensuring that diverse perspectives are considered and team consensus is built when appropriate.  
• Make Sound Decisions: This leader is responsible for guiding the decision-making process within the team. They foster a collaborative environment where team members contribute to decision-making, ensuring that diverse perspectives are considered and team consensus is built when appropriate.  
• Manage Work and Teams: This leader is responsible for guiding the decision-making process within the team. They foster a collaborative environment where team members contribute to decision-making, ensuring that diverse perspectives are considered and team consensus is built when appropriate. 

Additional Knowledge and Skills: 

• This role requires all of the knowledge and skills required for Assistant Principals of Instruction (APIs): 
• Knowledge of core academic subject assigned and ability to pass an IDEA content assessment. 
• Strong ability to coach teachers on curriculum and instruction. 
• Ability to instruct students and manage student behavior. 
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment. 

In addition, this role also requires the following: 

• 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. 

What You’ll Do -- Accountabilities

Accountabilities include and are not limited to:

• 96% of students passing all classes (On Track to Graduate) 

• 90% Approaching | 60% Meets | 30% Mastered on STAAR/EOC 

• 60% of SpEd students attain “approaches” on STAAR 

• 75% sub populations (SpEd and/or ELL) meet Index 2 STAAR growth measure 

• 90% Student Persistence 

• 85% Teacher Retention 

• 97.5% Average Daily Attendance for students 

Responsibilities:

• Fulfill Assistant Principal of Instruction (API) Responsibilities: Principals in Residence (PIRs) fulfill the same responsibilities as APIs, which include: 
  • Focus on IDEA’s core purpose to get all students into college 
  • Hold high expectations for self and others to achieve and surpass intended goals 
  • Lead instructional staff to achieve measurable and ambitious results 
  • Lead instructional staff to improve their teaching quickly and measurably through daily observations, on-the-spot coaching, data conversations, and effective evaluations 
  • Supervise the implementation of TEKS based IDEA curricula and assessments to meet ambitious academic expectations 
  • Review teachers’ weekly lesson plans and provide feedback 
  • Synthesize, analyze, and prioritize data and opportunities to develop strategies that achieve quantifiable goals 
  • Proactively identify opportunities to improve and consistently reflect on past actions to guide future decisions 
  • Communicate students’ progress with student and family 
  • Establish and maintain a cooperative working relationship with students and families based on trust, understanding and respect for the communities in which they identify. 
  • Effective facilitation and personal use of technology as a communication and educational tool to improve teacher development, student achievement and manage work related tasks. 
  • Support the creation and implementation of a clear and consistent behavior management system while developing students’ character and sense of community 
  • Help shape and develop a school wide culture that fosters a productive and enthusiastic learning environment for each student 
  • Oversee campus based tutoring sessions 
  • Participate in weekly manager check-ins, grade-level meetings, before and after-school duties, and school wide meetings and functions 
  • Engage in summer and year-long district, school and personal learning and development 
  • Minimum of 40+ hours spent at school per week 
  • Additional responsibilities may include: after-school tutoring or Saturday school and are based on the needs of our scholars 
• Fulfill additional responsibilities to prepare for the principal role: In addition to API responsibilities, Principals in Residence (PIRs) fulfill additional responsibilities designed to prepare them for the principal role. These may include (but are not limited to):  
  • Manage another lead team member. 
  • Lead other leaders to achieve ambitious results, and develop them through regular observations, on-the-spot coaching, data conversations, check ins, and effective evaluations.  
  • Lead schoolwide systems. 
  • Participate in professional development programs designed for aspiring principals. 
  • Serve as the acting principal when the school principal is not on campus. 
  • Engage in “principal moments” (i.e. challenging situations that principals sometimes face) under the guidance and mentorship of your school principal.

We look for Team and Family who embody the following values and characteristics: 

• Believes and is committed to our mission and being an agent of change: that all students are capable of getting to and through college  
• Has demonstrated effective outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them 
• Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly 
• Works with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes 
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change 
• Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization 
• Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes 
• We believe in education as a profession and hold ourselves to high level of conduct, professionalism and behaviors as models for our colleagues and students 

Supervisory Responsibilities (if applicable):

• Manage and coach a portfolio of teachers and/or co-teachers
• May manage another lead team member(s) at principal discretion

About IDEA Public Schools 

At IDEA Public Schools, we believe each and every child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to a multi-state network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools.   

IDEA Public Schools boasts national rankings on The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report’s top high schools lists. IDEA serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas, Florida, Ohio, and is on-track to maintain its legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college.    

When you choose to work at IDEA, you are part of our IDEA Team and Family. You will work alongside team members who set and reach ambitious goals every day, are excited to continue to grow with IDEA, and work relentlessly to make college for all a reality.

Staff Experience

At IDEA, the Staff Experience 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!

To Apply

Please submit your application online through Jobvite. It’s in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.