Middle School Planning Principal - Manhattan Charter School
New York City, NY
About the Job
Manhattan Charter Schools (the Schools) are two high-performing charter schools located on the Lower East Side in New York City. The Schools are committed to providing its students with the tools and support necessary for success. Since its founding in 2005 as a 501c3 nonprofit organization, Manhattan Charter School (MCS) has consistently achieved high levels of success. In 2012, MCS opened Manhattan Charter School 2 (MCS2), a replication of MCS located a few blocks away, expanding on the groundwork laid by MCS and bringing high levels of academic achievement to more students.
Our vision is to offer a high-quality, public school education that will help close the opportunity, imagination, and achievement gaps for our high-need students by empowering, inspiring, and equipping them to fulfill their potential.
Our mission is to teach our students how to learn and love doing it, how to cultivate their curious minds for the rest of their lives, and how to develop a solid foundation on which to base wise choices and build meaningful lives.
Middle School Planning Principal
Manhattan Charter School (MCS), a public elementary school on the Lower East Side, is seeking a Middle School Planning Principal to work closely with MCS leadership in opening a new proposed middle school. During the 2023-24 school year, the Planning Principal will work with the Director of Curriculum and Instruction to develop the middle school program. An effective Planning Principal will have the opportunity to assume the Principal position when the new school opens.
Mission
MCS will prepare its students to achieve high academic levels in the four core academic subject areas and music, to communicate effectively in verbal, mathematical and musical languages, and to apply critical thinking processes and ethical standards to learning, living and problem solving.
What Sets MCS Apart?
Manhattan Charter School (MCS) is a high performing charter school in New York City, committed to providing every child with the tools and support necessary for success. We are located on the Lower East Side. MCS prides itself on delivering rigorous academic instruction and fostering a culture of high expectations. Opened in September 2005, the school currently serves 274 students and their families from kindergarten through fifth grade. Approximately 79% of MCS students live below the poverty line, and more than 95% are minority. The school received a full, five-year renewal in July 2010. Through its work, MCS is demonstrating that all children, regardless of race or economic status, can succeed when given equal access to quality education.
MCS's program has been developed to give a diverse student body access to an academically challenging elementary school that offers an arts- and culture-rich program that includes daily music instruction, French, art, and physical education, all beginning in kindergarten. MCS is committed to offering a well-rounded educational program to all students, which it believes helps students develop critical thinking processes, problem solving abilities and supports their learning in the core subject areas.
Specific Responsibilities
The Planning Principal will have the opportunity to work with the Director of Curriculum and Instruction on the middle school program and will receive one-on-one coaching and real-time feedback while learning about MCS's mission, values and student and staff expectations. Additionally, will have significant responsibilities for professional development, school culture leadershipand start-up activities for the new school.
Duties during the Principal in Residence period will include:
Professional Development and Curriculum:
- Assuming a leadership role in professional development sessions for teachers and staff, including collaborating on the design and implementation of relevant PD sessions, as directed
- Leading a comprehensive and collaborative curriculum review to insure alignment to the common core standards
- Reinforcing and facilitating the school-wide culture of assessment and data-driven instruction by reviewing and interpreting student achievement data, as directed
- Developing fluency in the MCS curriculum and model
Start-Up Responsibilities:
- Working with current leadership to ensure all pre-authorization, pre-operating and startup procedures are completed in accordance with the timeline outlined in the charter. These activities include:
- Being the public face of MCSII in the community to increase awareness of the new school , build trust and effective working relationships with faculty, parents, students, and community leaders, and recruit students
- Putting in place the process by which applicants for school-based positions are selected and assisting in the selection of new staff members
Skills and Characteristics
- Strong instructional, classroom management and discipline skills
- Excellent communicator able to articulate the vision and strategic mission of the school and work collaboratively with teachers, parents, community leaders, Board members, and others to continuously improve instructional excellence
- Proven track record of meeting high standards for student achievement
- Relentlessness and willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure success
- Team player
- Maturity, humility, strong work ethic, and roll-up-sleeves attitude
- Belief in and alignment with Manhattan Charter School's core beliefs and educational philosophy
Qualifications:
- Minimum 5-10 years teaching experience with a track record of high student achievement, in addition to experience as a school leader in an urban elementary school setting (charter school experience preferred)
- Masters degree in Education and/or Administration and Supervision
Compensation
MCS offers a competitive compensation package including health and dental benefits and a retirement plan.
To Apply
Please email cover letter and resume to hr@manhattancharterschool.org
For more information about Manhattan Charter School, please visit our website at www.manhattancharterschool.org
As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Manhattan Charter Schools 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.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
