School Principal

The Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women (BLSYW), an affiliate of the Student Leadership Network, is a unique all-girls, college-preparatory, public charter school. Since 2009, we have been dedicated to serving young women residing in Baltimore. Our approach combines academics, social-emotional learning, and a commitment to knowing each student by name and need. This fosters a strong sense of self, sisterhood, and compassion in our students and equips them with the skills to make data-informed decisions that lead to positive outcomes.

The Opportunity

The BLSYW Principal will:

Leading Teacher Learning and Development

• Develops and implements coherent curriculum, instruction, and assessment systems that promote the school’s mission, vision, and core values while embedding high expectations for student learning, aligning with academic standards, and being gender-inclusive and culturally responsive.
• Develop and implement the school's pedagogical and programmatic plans in alignment with the organization’s five-year strategic plan. Set key objectives and measurable benchmarks that are coherent, aligned, and data-driven while addressing the learning needs of all students.
• Utilizes multiple data-based indicators to inform, drive change, and assess progress in instructional practices aligned with school performance goals
• Conducts regular formal and informal observations and gives specific, actionable feedback aligned to the school-specific and district-created Instructional Framework and school priorities
• Develops the professional, instructional, and pedagogical knowledge and capacity of school personnel to promote each student's academic success and well-being
• Provides tools, protocols, and professional development opportunities to strengthen school teams in their ability to implement effective instructional practice
• Promotes the effective use of technology in the service of teaching and learning.
• Actively seeks out and engages in professional activities that deepen content and pedagogical knowledge and foster leadership development and talent management skills.
• Models the use of personal growth goals to guide personal and professional development

Managing Talent and People Leadership

• Implements organizational structures for selection and retention of high-quality staff that bring to bear a track record of improved student well-being and academic performance, dynamic learning environments, and high expectations for student learning and achievement
• Actively promotes leadership opportunities and employs a distributive leadership style to maximize and develop leadership capacity throughout the organization to support excellent instruction.
• Utilizes data to assess the effectiveness of staffing patterns, scheduling, and organizational structures in attaining desired student outcomes
• Utilizes data to assess staff performance and potential to effectively retain, develop, and leverage staff in a way that maximizes student outcomes

Creating and Sustaining Conditions for Learning that Focuses on Instruction and Equity

• Develops, advocates, and strategically implements the school’s mission that promotes a supportive learning environment for students, staff, community, and all other stakeholders
• Ensures that all stakeholders clearly understand and can articulate school goals, action plans, and critical priorities at the school
• Engages with individuals from diverse backgrounds through cultural proficiency, gender-inclusive sensitivity, and equity, minimizing confrontational or strained relations and maximizing community cohesion and positive interpersonal relationships with stakeholders.
• Ensures that each student has equitable access to effective teachers, learning opportunities, academic and social support, and other resources necessary for success.
• Cultivates an inclusive, caring, and supportive school community that promotes the academic success and well-being of each student
• Strategically develops, implements, and evaluates actions to achieve the vision for the school.
• Collaborates with members of the school and the community through the use of relevant data to solve problems, manage conflict, build consensus, and advocate for the school community in an effective and timely manner
• Applies teacher and staff performance management systems in a way that ensures a culture of continuous improvement, support, and accountability throughout the school for the benefit of all students
• Strategically aligns people, money, and time to drive student achievement and promote each student's academic success and well-being.
• Develop school-based systems and operations, such as school budgets, to ensure alignment with the school's data, priorities, and goals.
• Actively engages and pursues a deep understanding of the school community, its strengths, and needs, and develops productive relationships to leverage the community's cultural, social, intellectual, and political resources to promote student learning and school improvement.

Candidate

Above all, you are committed to improving the academic outcomes, social, emotional, and physical health and well-being of urban young women of color to promote healing and support them to succeed. Additionally, you possess many of the following skills and experiences:

●     Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and retain a diverse group of team members, recognize and leverage their talents in a way that inspires commitment, cohesion, and a collaborative, high-functioning culture of continuous learning and improvement

●     Strong organizational skills, with the ability to track intricate details and prioritize multiple initiatives and timelines in a fast-paced work environment

●     Ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships built on effective communications with school leaders and staff, program administrators, parents/caregivers, and families

●     Strong analytical skills and problem-solving abilities

●     A willingness to take an iterative, innovative, and diverse approach to the work that promotes curiosity and centers learning while aligning fiscal and programmatic resources to meet student needs

●     The lived or professional experience that informs your understanding of the circumstances faced by BLSYW students

●     An understanding (ideally) of the Baltimore City social and education landscapes as well as a local professional network that would facilitate your ability to perform the duties of the role

●     Master's degree education or a related field from an accredited college or university

●     Maryland Advance Professional Certificate with a Principal/Superintendent or Administrator I and II endorsement

●     At least three years of effective school leadership experience, including the completion of City Schools' Principal Residency Program or an equivalent principal preparation program such as Emerging Leaders

●     At least two years of supervisory/managerial/evaluatory experience

●     Demonstrated ability to take initiative and exercise swift decision-making, grounded in sound judgment and understanding of nuanced circumstances focused on an unwavering commitment to the diverse learning needs of students

●     Demonstrated success in implementing culturally relevant pedagogy and ability to support instructional and school support staff in leading a diverse learning population

●     Track record of achieving measurable gains in student achievement resulting from effective leadership

●     Demonstrated success in identifying, growing, and leveraging the potential of staff and teams

●     Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including proficiency in the use of computer applications (including Microsoft Office products), email, and mobile technologies

Desired Qualities

●  Demonstrates a firm understanding of BLSYW's strategic plans, goals, and theories of action

●  Brings a sophisticated understanding and ability to apply theories of and effective practices for student learning, growth, and development; differentiated instructional strategies; and academic standards and accountability systems

●  Demonstrates effectiveness in using data from multiple sources, qualitative and quantitative, to support academic and personal student outcomes

●  Operates with a nuanced understanding of how school-level operations and systems are implemented and interact to achieve school and student goals

●  Approaches complex issues and decision-making as a "systems thinker" - showing strong analytic and problem-solving skills and offering innovative solutions to challenges

●  Effectively prioritizes and responds quickly to competing demands, especially in times of crisis

●  Engages in and seeks engagement with diverse stakeholders to build consensus and effectively address challenges

●  Approaches their role with a personal sense of accountability for the success of the larger group

●  Actively listens to and effectively interprets others' motivations and perceptions

●  Acts with cultural competence and responsiveness in interactions, decision-making, and practice.

●  Motivates, inspires, and moves others to action and to achieve ambitious goals

● Demonstrates skill in building, managing, and developing a team by distributing leadership and leveraging each person's talent and skill

●  Establishes clear goals, expectations, deliverables, deadlines, and metrics for success

●  Sets clear agendas and facilitates effective school-based meetings

●  Brings a high standard of ethics, honesty, and integrity in all professional matters

●  Performs and promotes all activities in compliance with equal employment and nondiscrimination policies; follows federal laws, state laws, school board policies, and professional standards

Apply

Please forward your instructional vision and philosophy, resume, position-specific cover letter, and a copy of your Administrator II (Maryland or State-Level Certification) to recruitment@blsyw.org.