[YEP-DC] Position Announcement: Principal, Sela Public Charter School

PRINCIPAL

Start Date: January 7, 2013

(preferred, but negotiable for right candidate)

Mission 

Sela Public Charter School (Sela PCS) will offer children of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds in the District of Columbia, from Pre-K to 5^th grade, the opportunity to achieve academic excellence in a safe, nurturing environment that focuses on Hebrew language immersion, promotes the value of diversity and provides the skills for taking action in the world. 

Philosophy 

Sela PCS is founded on a steadfast commitment to ensuring that all of its students experience the diverse offerings of the District of Columbia while ensuring high levels of academic achievement for its students in a dual-language immersion setting. 

School Culture

Sela PCS's vision is of a community of learners striving towards excellence, where children of all backgrounds and abilities are valued members of a safe, nurturing community, in which differences are appreciated, and families are active participants in school life.  Through exposure to the Hebrew language and contemporary Israeli culture, students will learn broad lessons about how to appreciate and participate in cultures that are different from their own.

Instructional Approach

Sela PCS will integrate a model of differentiated instruction as a methodological foundation for all teaching in the school. Differentiated instruction is a key element in ensuring academic success for all students and is particularly crucial because we anticipate that students will arrive at all grade levels, at a variety of skill levels, and that we will serve students with disabilities and English language learners. Differentiated instruction will be one tangible educational expression of the school's diversity. 

Sela PCS will use the Proficiency Approach to language instruction. The Proficiency Approach aims to assist learners in developing their ability to perform in the learned language in all four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing).  With this approach, learners acquire the language which allows them to engage deeply with the language and enables the language to become part of the learner.

Responsibilities of the principal will include but are not limited to:

Student Achievement

• Lead and oversee the school's instructional program
• Analyze data with teachers regularly to maximize student performance
• Ensure that every student shows dramatic achievement gains and that the school meets the ambitious performance goals set by Sela PCS 

Teacher Development and Evaluation

• Plan appropriate professional development for all teachers in collaboration with the Director(s) of Curriculum
• Formally supervise, observe, and evaluate all school staff

School Leadership

• Model the Sela PCS values and set the standard for professional behavior 
• Supervise the dean of counseling and student support, director of curriculum, and teachers
• Create a data-centered and achievement-oriented school culture
• Cultivate positive relationships with families and the local community
• Interview and select teachers
• Communicate regularly with teachers, families, and students both informally and through weekly staff meetings and memos to students' homes
• Ensure that the school runs smoothly, efficiently, and on budget
• Oversee the school's positive culture and climate, inclusive of student discipline

Skills and Characteristics

• Very strong classroom management and discipline skills
• Excellent communication skills, especially with students and families
• Extremely high standards for student achievement with a proven track record of academic success
• Relentlessness - doing whatever it takes to ensure success
• Team player
• Willingness to aggressively seek administrative certification, if not yet obtained
• Belief in the Sela PCS mission and educational model; an especially strong commitment to diversity and second language acquisition 
• Maturity, humility, strong work ethic, sense of humor, and "roll-up-my-sleeves" attitude

Educational Background and Work Experience

• Bachelor's degree from competitive university required, master's degree preferred 
• Successful past experience leading adults in a school setting
• At least 4 years of teaching in a low income, diverse school 
• Successful experience leading a dual-language immersion program preferred
• Familiarity with The Responsive Classroom model preferred.  
• Proficiency in the Hebrew language (preferred, but not required)

The Principal reports to the Executive Director.

Compensation

Salary for this position is competitive and commensurate with experience. 

To Apply

Interested candidates with a demonstrated track record of success should send their most current resume and a detailed cover letter describing a clear understanding of Sela's Core Values of  academic excellence, diversity, language immersion, financial responsibility and 21st century skills, and how they've been demonstrated in work and life experience.

Resumes and Cover Letters should be sent, with the title "Principal Application" in the subject line to: jobs@selapcs.org.  Incomplete or duplicate submissions will not be reviewed.  Please apply only once for this position.

Due to the high interest for positions at Sela PCS, only those with skills and experience best suited for the position will be contacted for an initial telephone screen.

Sela PCS is an equal opportunity employer.