Principal or Vice Principal Head of School
Job Description
YOUR OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPACT
Broome Street Academy Charter High School (BSA) is seeking to hire a Head of School beginning in July/September 2023. BSA serves NYC students who are the most at risk and face significant barriers to graduation. By design, 50% of the seats for incoming 9th graders are set aside for students who are homeless, in foster care, or have otherwise had experience with the child welfare system.
Given the extensive needs of BSA’s students, the model — which is unique among New York City charter schools — goes above and beyond the classroom through a formalized partnership with The Door, one of the country’s premier youth development organizations. BSA is housed within The Door so that students have facilitated and consistent access to The Door’s complete range of programming on site including: reproductive and primary healthcare and education, mental health counselling and crisis assistance, legal advice and representation, tutoring and homework help, college preparation services, job training and placement, supportive housing, sports and recreational activities, arts, and nutritious meals – all for free, completely confidential, and under one roof.
Broome Street Academy was born out of The Door’s 2009 strategic plan as a response to the growing needs of New York City’s at-risk youth. In 2021, BSA’s charter was renewed and extended through July 31, 2026. The renewal was the result of the school’s demonstrated success in improving attendance, credit accumulation, Regents scores, and retention rates. As BSA’s authorizer, the Charter Schools Institute of the State University of New York, stated in its March 9, 2021 report recommending renewal:
“Broome Street is an academic success… The school prepares its unique student population for post-secondary success by providing access to high quality instruction and robust non-academic supports through its partnership with The Door.”
Broome Street Academy now seeks a next generational leader, to formally solidify our current model and to explore opportunities for the replication and permanency of the school’s model and place in the educational landscape of New York City. The successful candidate will provide strong, decisive, energetic leadership to the school, be skilled at fostering a climate of excellence, innovation, cooperation, and growth, and be enthusiastically aligned with BSA’s mission.
This is an extraordinary opportunity for a dynamic and accomplished leader with a background in education and youth development.
ACADEMICS AND LEARNING
BSA’s model merges a rigorous academic curriculum with comprehensive social and learning support to prepare students for a successful future beyond high school. BSA’s academic model was designed in recognition that some of our students require extra support to reach the same academic milestones as their peers. We intentionally maintain small class sizes and offer integrated co-teaching in most classes to provide additional academic support for students. The student-centered approach includes a continuum of academic support as well as opportunities for more rigorous learning to ensure that each student is being challenged to their full potential.
By offering targeted academic intervention for students who need additional support, along with advanced coursework such as College Now, and Advanced Placement classes, students at all skill levels are being continuously challenged and thoroughly supported. Social-emotional support and learning opportunities are also incorporated into the school day and available after school. In addition to the distributive academic counseling and social-emotional lessons offered through Advisory sessions, BSA has four social workers on-staff, and strategically works to take advantage of the relationships students can establish with staff in a relatively small school that emphasizes community and academics together.
GOVERNANCE
The Head of School will report to BSA’s CEO and Board of Trustees. The Board and CEO establish policy for BSA in accordance with its by-laws and consistent with the terms of its charter. The Board meets twelve times per year, once each month. The Head of School will be expected to attend Board meetings and most Board committee meetings as well. The Charter Schools Institute of the State University of New York serves as BSA’s authorizer.
THE POSITION
The Head of School will administer the 9th-12th grade curriculum and will be responsible for promoting the mission of the school as well as overseeing the daily operations in partnership with staff. The HOS will be responsible for oversight and development of all academic programs and curricula; faculty and staff hiring; professional development, compensation, and all other personnel matters; and student recruitment, enrollment, attendance, and discipline. The HOS will also oversee budgeting, financial management, compliance, development, and management of school facilities. Key responsibilities include:
Academics and Instructional Rigor
- Provide instructional leadership by maintaining and improving high academic achievement standards including the implementation of a rigorous student assessment program aligned to state standards.
- Analyze key sources of data to identify instructional priority areas, develop strategies to tackle pedagogical and programmatic challenges, set academic goals, monitor progress, and adjust strategies to ensure continued growth.
- Continue to improve promotion rates for students who are, on average, entering BSA’s ninth grade with math and reading scores at the 5th and 6th grade levels.
- Expand and develop post-secondary support for BSA students, ensuring success in college and/or as students transition to career and independent living.
Student Enrollment and Retention
- Lead admissions staff to plan and execute a strategy to achieve annual school enrollment of approximately 320 students
- Ensure effective student recruitment strategies. Secure and strengthen “feeder” relationships with foster care agencies, NYC not for profits, and key middle schools.
- Develop and implement strategies for attendance improvement and drop-out prevention.
- Promote BSA as an innovative charter high school.
Inclusive People Leadership
- Build a strong, cohesive staff and leadership team and hold primary responsibility for professional development, staff observations, staff communication, and program decisions.
- Build a staff and student culture focused on accountability, integrity, and excellence.
- Work with the CEO and BSA’s Board to recruit and develop new Board members.
- Develop and sustain relationships with BSA’s Board and The Door’s leadership team.
Administration and Operations
- Fully advance and integrate the BSA/Door partnership and capitalize on The Door’s resources. This includes programming, data sharing and analysis, and cultural alignment.
- Skillfully build and manage the budget, which is approximately $8 million, and oversee daily operations of the school, including safety, student support, behavior management, and finances.
- Ensure BSA ‘s most vulnerable students are getting connected to the supportive services they need. Continue to develop strong linkages with foster care agencies and caregivers.
- Meet the outcomes that comprise BSA ‘s Accountability Plan with its authorizer,
and in all other ways work toward charter renewal.
External and Community Relations
- In collaboration with the CEO and the development department, create and cultivate a deeper pipeline of potential funders, and steward relationships with current funders.
- Work with the CEO to externally message BSA via social media and traditional media platforms.
- Externally represent BSA with key education, public policy, and local government stakeholders invested in the outcomes of BSA students.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will have prior experience in school leadership – as a head of school, principal, or division head at a charter, traditional public, or independent school – and teaching experience. Candidates with comparable experience in nonprofit leadership, especially with educational and other youth development services, are also encouraged to apply. The HOS should possess a strong understanding of the use of academic data to inform and improve student outcomes and an awareness of developments in the broad worlds of education and pedagogy.
A Bachelor’s degree is required. The successful candidate may hold a Master’s degree or higher in Education, Education/Business Administration, Public Administration, Social Work, or a related field or have commensurate youth development leadership experience.
REQUIRED ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
The Head of School will believe, and act upon the belief, that all young people can reach high levels of academic achievement regardless of background, experience or need. The HOS must:
- Be passionately committed to students and to 9th-12th grade education. The Head of School’s belief in all young people’s ability to learn will be apparent in every aspect of their leadership style.
- Be an inspiring leader and communicator. The HOS must possess the confidence and ability to continuously articulate the school’s high expectations for academic achievement by every student and will build constructive relationships of trust with the staff, teachers, parents and other caregivers.
- Genuinely value, and have affirmatively demonstrated, a strong commitment to cultural, racial and economic diversity. The HOS will have knowledge of, commitment to, and the ability to reach traditionally underserved populations.
- Be a strong, organized, and independent manager. The HOS will be a critical thinker, relentless achiever, and an independent-minded self-starter who thrives in a setting that rewards autonomy and accountability. The HOS will establish high performance standards; be accountable and hold others accountable to clear goals and priorities; show a willingness to take tough, principled stands even when unpopular; ensure that adequate resources are available to achieve objectives; and make decisions that benefit BSA’s mission and continuing financial viability. The HOS will involve faculty and staff in decisions that affect them and address performance issues promptly – with fairness, firmness and consistency.
- Be prepared to connect both people and strategies. The HOS must understand the connections between enrollment and budget and meaningfully increase recruitment and retention. The HOS must leverage resources of The Door and work in close partnership with The Door to connect students to those services. The HOS will develop these strategies in conjunction with students, staff, and Board members and lead with vision and execution.
- Be a proven team builder with strong people leadership skills. The HOS will assist in the retention and recruitment of a superior and diverse faculty and staff and manage their performance and growth through coaching and developing their potential. The HOS will work collaboratively with all staff and resolve issues that affect them while maintaining clear focus on meeting the needs of students.
- Be persevering and personally effective. The HOS will be capable of thinking clearly and staying focused under pressure and will demonstrate a willingness to take responsibility for mistakes and work to avoid repeating them. The HOS will possess and project unwavering confidence in his or her personal capacity, be a constant learner, take personal initiative to achieve the school’s goals, and set a high standard for personal effectiveness that goes beyond the traditional school day.
- Be open to new ideas, be entrepreneurial, and actively seek out innovative strategies to improve student achievement.
- Possess the highest standards of integrity and a strong ethical character.
- Be approachable, accessible, and highly visible.
COMPENSATION: $180,000 – $200,000
