Job Openings Assistant Principal

About the job Assistant Principal

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL (ELEMENTARY)

2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR


MISSION OF THE SCHOOL

Compass Charter School is a safe and nurturing educational environment that honors the individuality of each learner. By engaging in a process of inquiry, our graduates will be equipped with the necessary skills to lead fulfilling personal and professional lives, including a developed sense of self, the ability to think in innovative and flexible ways, and the inspiration to make a positive impact on their community.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SCHOOL

Compass Charter School is an inquiry-based, progressive elementary school that opened in the fall of 2014 in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. We are committed to providing an experiential and democratic elementary experience to all children, with intentional access for children who typically do not get access to progressive education (children with special needs, children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and English language learners).

Our Integrated Curriculum centers sustainability in all forms: environmental, racial, and economic justice. Our staff works interdependently in collaborative teams and engages in professional inquiry (instructional coaching, reflection, restorative and trauma informed practices).

Compass enrolls approximately 350 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As a member of the school’s Instructional Leadership Team, the Assistant Principal works as a transformational leader, supporting an environment of equity, curiosity, inclusion, and sustainability. The Assistant Principal is a key position who works with the Elementary Principal to supervise all instructional and student support staff. The Assistant Principal is responsible for carrying out Compass’ mission, vision, and collective commitments. This includes an unwavering commitment to equitable outcomes for all students, more specifically, equitable academic outcomes for children with special needs, children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and English language learners.

This is a 12 month position.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

  • Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, Curriculum & Instruction, Special Education, or related field

    • New York State School Building Leader (SBL) certification preferred

Experience

  • 5 or more years of relevant teaching, teacher leadership, and/or school leadership experience

  • 5 or more years of relevant experience teaching, coaching, and/or leading in schools with Integrated Co-Teaching Classrooms and a high population of students with special needs.

  • Previous work experience demonstrates ability to set goals, monitor progress toward school improvement goals, prioritize equitable outcomes for students, and de-prioritie the “wrong work” or work that is unproductive or less important for school improvement.

Skills

  • Strong instructional expertise, ability to analyze and use data to drive decision-making

  • Strong knowledge of special education best practice, inclusive education, coteaching models, and implementation of IEPs and BIPs

  • Proficiency with leadership frameworks and best practice for adult learning

  • Act as a steward of the change management process and hold themself to high levels of professional integrity

  • An unwavering commitment to equitable outcomes for all students, specifically equitable academic outcomes for children with special needs, children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and English language learners

  • Flexibility and responsiveness to day to day needs of students, staff, and families

  • Ability to maintain a clear, calm, and focused presence during day to day, emergency, and high-stress situations

  • A firm belief in and commitment to rigorous, inquiry-based, constructivist learning (learning by doing), and strong alignment with the Compass mission, vision, and collective commitments

  • Previous experience supervising teachers and school staff, including but not limited to:

    • Planning, implementing, and delivering professional development

    • Regularly observing and giving feedback

    • Evaluating teachers

    • Creating and enacting Improvement Plans & Progressive Discipline

    • Managing hiring of elementary staff

  • Strong collaboration skills, including project planning, delegation, and clear timelines

  • Evidence of a strong commitment to Compass’ vision, mission, and strategic direction

  • Interest in and knowledge of the school’s Key Design Elements, including integration, equity, inclusion, and sustainability

  • Ability to demonstrate systems thinking and solve “upstream” problems

  • Interested in working closely with a diverse group of pre-K and elementary-aged children, their families, and staff in a highly dynamic, collaborative, and fast-paced environment

  • Strong organizational skills, including ability to prioritize and make mission and vision-based decisions

  • Strong collaboration and project management skills, including using The Management Center’s MOCHA Model

  • Detail-oriented, ability to see the big picture and the details

  • Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication

  • A deep sense of personal accountability and willingness to foster accountability in others through consistent and above-board actions, feedback, and communication

  • Ability to manage multiple projects of varying levels of complexity and stay calm under pressure

  • Knowledge of or willingness to learn and integrate Educating for Sustainability (Efs) principles and standards into daily operations, curriculum, and professional development

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Core Values

  • Model a learner stance and act as a lead learner within the organization

    • Demonstrate curiosity and a willingness to learn and grow

    • Consistently behave with integrity and in alignment with the school’s collective commitments

    • Demonstrate reflection and behavior changes in response to mistakes and/or feedback

  • Protect and maintain dignity and confidentiality for all stakeholders

  • Uphold the school’s mission, vision, and collective commitments in all behaviors, interactions, communications, and work products

  • Provide specific and timely feedback to staff, students, and families to intentionally interrupt inequitable and/or unprofessional practices, language, and/or mindsets

Data-Driven Focus on School Improvement

  • Supervise teachers, learning support staff, and student support staff

  • Provide ongoing and timely feedback to supervisees through the clinical supervision model

  • Sit on the school’s Instructional Leadership Team, which is tasked with designing and enacting effective supervision of the school’s instructional program and annual professional development plan

  • Lead strategically with data-driven decisions

Community of Care and Collaboration

  • Co-Create school-wide practices and routines to maintain safety and prioritize equitable access to instruction

  • Communicate effectively with stakeholders, including students, staff, families, and the Executive Leadership Team.

  • Create and maintain a school culture rooted in collaboration and instructional best practice

  • Uphold high academic and behavioral expectations, foster an inclusive environment, and implement school-wide systems with integrity

  • Co-create and communicate clear expectations for all staff to ensure school wide systems are running smoothly and accessible to all staff

  • Build and maintain strong professional relationships with staff, families, and students

Instruction of a Viable and Guaranteed Curriculum

  • Oversee implementation of social-emotional curriculum and school-wide social-emotional practices, including but not limited to trauma-informed practice, restorative justice, Responsive Classroom, Fly Five, and family engagement initiatives

  • Oversee the creation and implementation of annual year long learning plans for each grade level (scope and sequence)

  • Oversee programmatic implementation of the following curricula: integrated units of study, constructivist mathematics instruction, balanced literacy model

  • In collaboration with the Elementary Principal, ensure all IEPs are implemented with integrity

  • In collaboration with the Elementary Principal, develop annual MTSS goals, systems for data collection and documentation,tiered interventions, and child study team

  • In collaboration with the Elementary Principal, manage student support, including mandated reporting, discipline, paraprofessionals, PBIS, DASA, and attendance monitoring

Continuous Development of Teachers and Staff

  • Give input on and implement the yearly professional development plan

  • Supervise & evaluate instructional and non-instructional staff

  • Provide regular observation and feedback

Resources Management

  • Co-Create school-wide schedules that prioritize equitable access to instruction

  • In collaboration with the Elementary Principal, ensure all purchasing is in line with the annual approved budget and school priorities

  • Serve as Principal in the event of Principal absence


COMPENSATION

  • Compass offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, short & long-term disability, life insurance, and 401K program with a match

  • Salary range of 110K-130K commensurate with experience and education

  • Compass is a unionized charter school. This is a supervisory position and not part of the bargaining unit.

TO APPLY

  • Send your resume and cover letter to apply@brooklyncompass.org. Please include ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL in the subject line of the email.

  • Your cover letter should include a statement of your leadership vision and also state why you are interested in becoming the Assistant Principal at Compass Charter School.

  • If you have questions about this position, please email Brooke Peters, School Leader, at brooke@brooklyncompass.org.


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