SY23-24 Principal/School Leader

About AppleTree

AppleTree’s mission is to close the achievement gap before students get to kindergarten. To accomplish this mission, we focus exclusively on Preschool and Pre-K education. We provide free, full-day public charter school programming for three- and four-year olds in 12 locations across Washington, DC,  employing our innovative and award winning instructional model, called Every Child Ready (ECR). This instructional model provides educators with tools and resources for “What to Teach”, “How to Teach” and “How to Measure Success.” Our instructional model is also used with partners across the nation. We continuously test and improve this model through feedback from AppleTree educators, partners and other stakeholders to ensure that children are learning and exploring through play and appropriate instruction.

Summary
Principals lead their AppleTree Early Learning Public Charter School (AELPCS) campuses in every aspect of school management including instruction, school operations and community engagement/partnership building. Principals serve as the face of their school and ambassador for AppleTree leading instructional staff, providing training, setting goals, and monitoring progress toward closing the achievement gap before students enter kindergarten. Principals also provide managerial supervision to school-based operational staff ensuring school operations run efficiently and effectively. Lastly, Principals are responsible for building effective relationships with the communities we serve, and within which their campuses are embedded, to ensure our programs and practices meet the needs of stakeholders and communicate AppleTree’s value proposition. Principals report to the AppleTree Chief of Schools.

Duties and Responsibilities

Oversees quality of instructional programming across designated campus

Partners with Every Child Ready Implementation and Impact team to ensure implementation of the ECR instructional model with fidelity
Maximizes student achievement by leading a Response to Intervention (RTI), standards-based, instructional model grounded in research
Uses data to help teachers identify and group children who need additional support
Leads all school staff in implementing an effective and consistent AELPCS behavior management system (PBS) to develop students’ prosocial behavior
Supports teachers to develop and implement classroom based interventions and targeted behavior plans for individual children and groups of children in order to enhance their acquisition of social/emotional and cognitive skills
Works closely with the Special Education Coordinator, Special Education Manager and Language Acquisition & Family Literacy Manager to ensure implementation and integration of special education and best practices for English-language learners to improve achievement for all students
Oversees AELPCS Extended Day and Summer Programs in collaboration with the Extended Day Coordinator (Principal oversees academic program; Operations Coordinator oversees operations)
Recruitment, supervision, mentoring, professional development and evaluation of teachers
Leads the Student Support Team (SST) process with parents and instructional staff.
Works with the Special Education Manager and Special Education Coordinator to facilitate the multidisciplinary team and individualized education plan processes
Collaborates with the Special Education Coordinator and related service providers to help teachers maximize specialist support in the regular classroom.
Provides managerial oversight of efficient and effective school operations

Partners with Director, School Operations and Compliance (oversees AppleTree network operations), School Operations Coordinator (directly manages campus-based operations activities) and School Aide, as applicable to manage school operations inclusive of facilities management, procurement, compliance, meal program oversight, and special projects
Partners with Enrollment Operations Manager to set and oversee student enrollment strategy and processes and assist with annual enrollment audit as necessary
Maintains oversight of campus budget and operational needs
Builds strong and lasting relationships with school and community-based stakeholders

Maintains strong relationships with instructional and operational staff resulting in high rates of retention
Builds lasting relationships with the families we serve effectively demonstrating and reflecting AppleTree’s core values
Recruits, tours and manages families for enrollment; Retains families for following years through community-building efforts
Establishes relationships and partnerships with community organizations and external agencies to coordinate programming and effectively communicate AppleTree/campus vision
Fosters a nurturing, inclusive, and engaging natural environment which reflects respect and compassion that is supportive of and accessible to all
Requirements

Master’s degree in education administration, early childhood education, elementary education, reading, special education, speech language pathology or a closely related field along with three or more years of successful professional teaching experience teaching young children (PK-3).
A firm grasp of Response to Intervention (RTI) models and a commitment to data-driven instruction
Previous experience of a year or more in a school-wide leadership position.
Demonstrated deep understanding of scientifically-based development of young children, behavior modification strategies and developmentally appropriate instruction for young children
Ability to communicate effectively to coach and support instructional and operational teams
Highly diplomatic with demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of stakeholders
Entrepreneurial; Skilled in identifying problems and implementing effective solutions
Strong belief in AppleTree’s mission and values and passion for early childhood education
Proficient in the use of online technologies such as (but not limited to): Google Suite, Zoom, Canvas, PowerSchool
AppleTree Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

At AppleTree, we endeavor to foster an environment where each person’s true self and experience are welcome.  We believe that only with a diverse and inclusive environment can you truly celebrate and support all students, families, and staff. Our commitment to diversity is founded on the belief that our community is strengthened by the vibrant exchange that occurs when individuals with different backgrounds, abilities, and heritages share their various perspectives with one another.