SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy Principal

SR1 OVERVIEW: SR1 is an award-winning non-profit located in Ridgeland, MS with more than 10 years of experience in providing high-quality college preparatory services to K-12 students in Central Mississippi. SR1 has been authorized to open SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy (SR1 CPSA), the first public CollegePreparatory STEM focused free public charter school.

POSITION OVERVIEW: Are you an Educational Leader looking to help build a National Blue Ribbon school from the ground up? Look no further than SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy (SR1 CPSA) K-5 School for the opportunity to build the foundation for years to come.

SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy (CPSA) Charter School, located in rural Madison County (Canton, MS), is seeking an Elementary Principal (Provost) who is an educational and entrepreneur startup visionary with the skill set to modernize education and take on societal challenges to promote the highest level of college access and success. The Elementary Principal will assist with: planning, policy development, school design, hiring of professional staff, curriculum development, student recruitment, school culture and other critical start-up needs for 2024-2025. SR1 CPSA will expand one grade for the 2024-2025 academic year, serving Grades K, 1st, and 2nd will be adding one grade per year.

SR1 CPSA OVERVIEW: America is a nation of entrepreneurs and innovators, and our economic vitality and national securitydepend on strengthening that vibrant culture for all. Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics—these are fields inwhich our children need to be fluent. STEM skills will be expected of virtually everyone in tomorrow’s American workforce.

SR1 believes the best time to teach STEM is when students are young because children are natural STEM learners based on great curiosityand imagination. SR1 desires to make America STEM strong by taking on the educational challenge in Mississippi, a state that has faced ahigh level of equity challenges, but has an even higher level of talent and potential to overcome them.

The SR1 CPSA’s mission is to prepare students for success in college and beyond. SR1 CPSA is a high- performing, innovative free public charter school in rural Madison County (Canton, MS) serving students from K to 5th grade on a creative campus starting in 2026. To learn more about SR1 CPSA’s proposed campus, please visit SR1CPSA.org.

Our model is based on the following guiding principles that guide our work daily –

• Creating a community that is built upon genuine and meaningful relationships.

• Being surgical in our approach to differentiation of instruction and support of ALL students and team members.

• Setting and exceeding high expectations for academic growth and character development for all students in preparation for success in college and beyond.

SR1 EDUCATIONAL EQUITY BELIEFS:

The SR1 CPSA Principal should set a tone of community empowerment & partnerships through education and global initiatives, fostering a learning environment that celebrates diversity and encourages cultural exchange. By emphasiszing these values, SR1 CPSA can establish itself as a leader in international and multicultural learning, inspiring students and the community to thrive in an interconnected world.

We accomplish SR1 CPSA’s mission by:

• Cultivating an environment where all students and staff are known and valued and are provided with the support and compassion they need to succeed.
• Delivering individualized academic support to our students daily through academic services.
• Pairing a rigorous curriculum and teaching with intense personal support and high academic expectations for each student.

The SR1 CPSA Elementary Principal (Provost) is responsible for:

SCHOOL CULTURE. The principal defines and builds a transformative school culture consistent with SR1 CPSA core values and mission. With the Dean of Schools, the principal designs and implements programs and initiatives and devises school-wide rituals and routines that promote the culture and sustain the school’s values. The principal develops positive relationships with all stakeholders, including staff, students, families, and community members/organizations.

INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP. The principal provides instructional leadership for the school, including; maintaining school-wide focus on high standards of student achievement, ensuring state standards are taught, managing process for analyzing data to increase student achievement and teacher effectiveness, and supporting all teachers and staff members in their professional development.

STUDENT MANAGEMENT. The principal works to define and implement behavior management tools, including overseeing staff training in behavior management policies, techniques, and strategies and ensuring consistent school-wide deployment of behavior management tools.

STAFF RESOURCE. The principal serves as a resource to teachers on matters, instructional practices, school culture and policies, professional development, and resource management; Observes and coaches teachers and staff on a consistent basis.

STUDENT MOTIVATION. The principal works to develop school-wide programs to incentivize positive behaviors and create a school-wide identity among the students using proven concepts such as positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) and educational entertainment.

TALENT ACQUISITION & TALENT DEVELOPMENT. The principal manages all academic staff at the school site, including coordinating (along with the recruitment team) recruitment and training of staff and volunteers, provides feedback and evaluations to staff and volunteers, secures professional development opportunities, and develops a collaborative team culture.

PARTNERSHIPS. The SR1 CPSA Principal should actively seek to establish and maintain partnerships with universities and businesses, creating opportunities for students to engage in advanced academic programs, internships, and real-world experiences that enrich their education and prepare them for future success.

Qualifications and Skills

The Principal (Provost) Must:

• Be committed to Diversity, Professionalism, Inclusion, and Equity among staff and students;
• Exercise strong leadership and team skills;
• Assist with designing indoor and outdoor learning environments;
• Be a self-aware leader who knows how to treat all members of the school’s community with respect, appraises his or her strengths and weaknesses accurately, and is perceptive about how he or she is regarded;
• Have superb organizational and self-management skills and be able to handle multiple responsibilities effectively; have strong planning and execution skills; be a goal- oriented and effective problem-solver;
• Be driven to improve the minds and lives of students, families and staff;
• Be dedicated to helping all SR1 CPSA students achieve academic success;
• Be passionate about academic learning and insistent on academic excellence and rigor at all times;
• Understand the current and future STEM trends;
• Be innovative in Project-Based and Outdoor Learning.
• The SR1 CPSA Principal should actively assist in Mississippi Department of Education reporting and become proficient in student information systems such as PowerSchool

CANDIDATES MUST HAVE:

• School Administrator licensure;
• STEM awareness that connects student learning to “real” world application;
• Ability to infuse STEM into every day learning;
• At least two years of successful experience teaching in a school environment; Grade level leader, department chair, or instructional leadership experience;
• A clear record of elevating student achievement in an underserved school, with a strong understanding of pedagogy that drives results;
• A relentless work ethic and commitment to achieving the school’s mission of serving others;
• Excellent strategic planning, leadership, management, and communication skills, with a proven ability to lead instructional and non- instructional staff;
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent skills in organization and follow-through;
• An advanced degree from a competitive university/college is strongly preferred.

SR1 CPSA Demographics and Theory of Change

It’s estimated that many students will arrive, on average, significantly behind grade level. Based on Mississippi historical statistics, it is forecasted that many students will come from underrepresented groups that face challenges such as, the are they are statistically less than10% likely to graduate with a 4-year degree. Our mission is for each child to ultimately graduate from college with the social skills to contribute to all.

Therefore:

SR1 CPSA team will take responsibility to reverse negative outcomes of failing students and make every effort to work proactively to engage each student, such that each is legitimately prepared to succeed in college.

It is a given that all of the staff will work diligently. All staff will each seek – through formal and informal feedback – to dramatically improve.At SR1 CPSA, an ongoing quest for improvement is not considered remedial; it is essential and ongoing for all staff.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• SR1 CPSA is committed to building a talented team that reflects the diversity and cultural richness of our world. We believe that globalawareness and equity is critical to our mission of preparing students for success in college and beyond. We strive to be an organization thatis diverse, equitable, inclusive, and elevates our student voices in preparing them for life and college.
• SR1 CPSA offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience, and student enrollment, a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, professional development and coaching, and retirement benefits as part of the state pension plan.