Principal or Vice Principal Assistant Director for Grades 6-8
Job Description
Bronx Community Charter School (BxC) is seeking an Assistant Director for the middle school grades.
BxC is a small, K-8 learning community founded on the principle that children learn best when they are active participants in their own learning. Our students raise questions about the world around them, engage with a wide range of materials, and learn through their interactions with each other and all of the adults in the school community. Children learn to use their minds well, cultivating strong intellectual habits and skills to become self-directed learners with clear passions and ambitions. Teachers know children deeply and develop powerful curriculum to meet the needs and interests of their students. All members of our school community are committed to making thoughtful choices, advancing democratic values, and effecting change in the broader community.
BxC is located in the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx and serves children and families from Community School District 10. 85% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 22% receive special education services, and 19% are classified as English Language Learners.
BxC teachers are deeply committed to collaboration and collective decision-making. Every class is co-taught and most have a special educator and a general educator. Through a two-week Summer Institute, weekly grade team and staff meetings, schoolwide committees, and more, BxC staff members’ voices and ideas are fundamental to the success of our school. BxC is proud to be one of the few charter schools in NYC with a unionized staff.
Highlights of BxC’s middle school include
- All-school Black Lives Matter and Latinx Culture and History studies
- Deep and critical studies of gentrification in the Bronx, the school-to-prison pipeline, colonialism and resistance, and more
- Math curriculum that uses Illustrative Mathematics along with teacher-designed units to balance deeper understanding with computational fluency
- Investigative science, including dissecting cows’ eyeballs, studying forensic evidence, learning the science behind the spread of infectious diseases, and more
- Studies of whole-class novels such as The Hate U Give and The Poet X, complemented by independent reading supported by extensive classroom libraries
- Specialization in dance, drumming, spoken word, visual art, or technology, based upon student preference
- A strong emphasis on social and emotional learning, grounded in advisory
- Coaching from both school staff and outside consultants
- 1:1 support with the high school placement process, resulting in over 95% of our students getting matched with one of their top three choices
- Overnight trips in each grade, culminating in an 8th grade trip to Puerto Rico
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership:
- Inspire a culture of collaboration, thoughtfulness, and quality in students and staff
- Promote BxC’s mission and the priority it places on helping its students develop their voice, choice, independence, and collaboration
- Cultivate a focus on supporting students’ social and emotional lives
- Unify diverse constituencies toward a common mission and vision
- Work to create a culture of engagement and participation among families
- Ensure a safe and stimulating environment for students, staff and families
Supervision:
- Facilitate and encourage collaboration among middle school staff
- Support co-teachers to develop effective collaboration, planning, and instruction
- Observe instruction daily and conduct both informal and formal observations of staff
- Supervise, provide feedback to, and evaluate middle school staff
- Determine assignments and schedules for each middle school staff member
- Continue to improve structures for middle school professional development and collaboration
Collaboration:
- Support and help to implement the Co-Directors’ vision in all aspects of the middle school structures and program
- Work closely with other members of leadership on promoting an inclusive culture and ensuring the effective provision of special education services
- Collaborate with instructional coaches to define and guide the implementation of curriculum based on instructional priorities and school’s vision
- Report directly to the Co-Directors of the school
Academic Achievement:
- Foster a culture of critical thinking and demonstrable achievement and growth for students
- Lead initiatives to support and challenge all students, regardless of where they are on the academic spectrum, through rigorous and creative differentiation strategies
- Use a variety of data effectively to refine and improve teaching and learning
- Ensure that curriculum is highly engaging, social justice-oriented, and aligned with the Common Core Standards and reflective of the demands of state assessments
- Make sure that the needs of students with IEPs and English language learners are met throughout the day
Supporting Students
- Be present and engaged with students throughout the school day, including supervising during arrival, hallway transitions, lunch, recess, and dismissal
- Strengthen supports for students, including advisory, counseling, and explicit training in executive functioning
- Provide opportunities for students through the arts, clubs, and athletics
- Proactively and reactively maintain a responsive and restorative system of discipline
QUALIFICATIONS
Requirements:
- At least 5 years of experience teaching middle school
- Demonstrated leadership experience through grade team leadership, mentoring colleagues, leading professional development, etc.
- Masters Degree in Educational Leadership, or current enrollment in a program
Preferred:
- Special education certification
- Proficiency in Spanish
COMPENSATION
- Salary to be determined based on experience
- Medical and dental benefits
- 401K plan with a match of up to 6% of salary after a year of service
