School Principal

ABOUT US

The Primary School is creating a new school model that brings together all of the adults in a child’s life, including parents, educators, and medical and mental health providers, starting from a very early age. We recognize the entrenched racism that exists within our public systems and the unjust impact this has had on families of color. Our aim is that children and families most impacted by systemic poverty and racism receive the multidisciplinary support they deserve to be well, learn, and thrive. In the long term, we hope to create a game-changing model that can be replicated nationwide. As we continue to learn and grow, we plan to share what we’ve learned and pursue policy and systems change on a local, state, and national level. We are supported by a growing coalition of philanthropic partners, building on the generous support of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

Our approach has three defining characteristics:

We start early. We start working with children as young as 12 months and provide full-time school starting at age three to reach them at a critical stage in development.

We partner with parents. We believe that when parents thrive, children thrive, so we support the wellness and growth of parents alongside the growth of their children.

We integrate services. Our unique model unites health care and education, building a multi-disciplinary team and holistic system of care around a child’s full needs.

ABOUT OUR EAST PALO ALTO SITE

In 2016, we opened our flagship school in East Palo Alto, California, with our first class of four-year-olds. We have grown to serve over 400 children and their families through our Early Family Foundations program, parent wellness program, full-day preschool, and elementary/middle school, which will grow through eighth grade. We are still growing and are thrilled to introduce 7th grade for the 2024-2025 school year.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We seek an experienced leader to serve as principal of our K-8 school in East Palo Alto. The principal will lead the implementation of our vision for teaching and learning and be responsible for fostering a positive school culture. Reporting to the site-based Executive Director, the principal will play a pivotal role in shaping the development of our program and will supervise a team of four Deans (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and Student Services) who provide management and coaching to teachers and other support staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Vision & Implementation:

Hold a student-centered vision focused around academic, health and social-emotional outcomes.

Create annual goals for improving student outcomes, instruction, and school climate.

Monitor progress and revise plans based on data and evidence, engaging all stakeholders in a systematic process of continuous improvement.

Instructional Leadership & Management:

Lead teachers in delivering high-quality instruction aligned with school goals.

Coach Deans for each division to provide high-quality professional development and coaching so that teachers create thriving classroom environments and excellent instructional practices.

Support the Dean of Student Services to deliver specialized supports (special education, mental health, etc.) leveraging a multi-tiered approach and in alignment with our investment in early intervention.

Integration Leadership:

Collaborate with leaders of our health and parent programming to help drive the implementation of our integrated model.

School Culture & Community Engagement:

Hold the vision and foster a positive school culture.

Implement consistent routines and positive behavior reinforcement across the school.

Develop and lead community events and rituals.

School Operations:

Ensure a safe and compliant school environment.

Manage schedules and finances to support efficient and effective day-to-day operations.

QUALIFICATIONS

Competencies:

Strong instructional and leadership skills.

Ability to create trauma-sensitive and culturally responsive environments.

Collaborative mindset and adaptability to change.

Experience:

Previous school leadership experience.

Track record of achieving exceptional outcomes for diverse student populations.

Managing other leaders.

Experience leading data-driven continuous improvement.

Mindsets:

Commitment to redefining traditional school systems.

Deep kindness, humility, and courage.

Belief in the mission of The Primary School.

A Plus If

You are an East Palo Alto or Belle Haven native and/or have experience working with a community similar to East Palo Alto and Belle Haven.

You have an understanding of early childhood education and child development.

You speak fluent Spanish or Tongan.

You have previously launched a school in a leadership role.

HOW TO APPLY

We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. Please complete the online application and submit your resume. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We look forward to reading your application!

COMPENSATION

Annual salary range begins at $140,000 to $170,000; compensation is commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health benefits (medical, dental, and vision), 401k retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), dependent care FSA, and generous paid time off, including a competitive paid parental leave benefit. TPS will cover 93% of the total premium cost for individual team members in our HMO and PPO plans, and 95% for individual team members in our HDHP plan. TPS also covers 50% of enrolled partners and/or dependents' costs on all three of our medical plans (HMO, PPO, HDHP). Please note that in order to be considered for this position, you must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. We are unable to offer sponsorship.

To ensure fair and equitable compensation for all of our employees, The Primary School has a no-negotiation policy on all offers extended. Final offers are determined using role descriptions, job market data, internal parity, and semi-annual benchmarking. Our goal is that this policy, paired with ongoing transparency in our compensation process, will make TPS a more fair, inclusive, and diverse workplace.

NON DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

The Primary School provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, or other protected status. We comply with all applicable laws regarding non-discrimination in employment.