Title: Assistant Principal
Location: Chicago, IL
Reports To: Principal
Salary: Starting at $90,000, commensurate with experience
Employee Type: Regular Full Time
Start Date: August 2026
Position OverviewThe Assistant Principal is a self-driven and motivated educational leader whose philosophy and beliefs align with Distinctive Schools' mission, vision and values. The Assistant Principal has a keen instructional lens and is able to provide targeted and actionable feedback.
Primary outcomes of the role is to:
- Implement the DS instructional coaching model by supporting and fostering the development of teachers and instructional coaches
- Facilitate and monitor the formal and informal observation processe
- Oversee all MTSS efforts and processes to support student learning including data, planning, and problem-solving meetings
- Support school-wide academic and social and emotional learning to reinforce safe, joyful, and personalized learning environments
ResponsibilitiesSchool Culture 10%
- Build and foster a culture of belonging, joy, and a positive climate
- Honor stakeholder perspective as key to the decision-making process
- Cultivate a strengths-based and, equity-focused mindset
- Celebrate individual and collective growth towards goals
- Promote a safe, supportive, and collaborative working environment with an equity-conscious mindset.
- Establish professional rapport with and maintain visibility with stakeholders
- Lead the equity work of the campuses and engage in culturally responsive, student-centered decision making
- Develop positive and professional relationships
- Create and implement consistent routines, procedures, and expectations
Instructional Leadership 60%
- Serve as the model for instructional and social-emotional best practices
- Serve as a member of the school's Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) to support alignment, including and performing other ILT duties (in Professional Learning and Leadership)
- Execute and monitor the campus growth plan in alignment with DS strategic plan in partnership with the School Principal
- Develop, implement, and oversee specific projects based on the unique needs of the campus and in alignment with the campus growth plan efforts, and student-centered learning initiatives in partnership with ILT
- Oversee campus implementation of DS MTSS processes, protocols, and tools with ongoing collaboration with network teams
- Uphold and support successful implementation of core curriculum and assessments
- Meet regularly with Teacher Leaders and Teachers weekly in accordance with DS model with the Instructional Coaches individually at least bi-weekly to prioritize coaching caseload and determine action steps
- Provide actionable feedback to teachers and teacher leaders to support their professional growth and development and ensure follow-through
- Meet with the Mentor Teachers individually or as a team at least monthly to problem-solve and determine action steps
- Provide goal-oriented feedback to Teachers, including Instructional Coaches and Mentors, to support their professional growth and development
- Conduct formal observations in adherence to regional expectations and protocols
- Coordinate and oversee all required testing administration in partnership with the Principal and Director of Data and Assessment
- Plan and present ongoing professional development and collaborative planning sessions
- Oversee the implementation and data analysis of instructional technology and online programs
- Monitor and ensure staff adherence to the norms outlined in the DS Professional Expectations and Responsibilities
- Conduct daily teacher observations and classroom visits and provide real-time, high-leverage feedback to improve student achievement and instructional effectiveness
Instructional Coaching 10%
- Exemplify and support the DS instructional coaching model, including facilitation of deep coaching cycles based on teacher need and experience
- Move the performance of individual Teachers through goal-setting, observation, co-teaching, modeling, and goal-specific feedback
- Model specific teaching skills or strategies for teachers through the use of video and classroom instruction
- Create coaching tools (e.g., checklists, observation protocols, conversation agendas, etc.) to support each teacher's progress towards and achievement of the goal
- Support the Lead Instructional Coach in prioritizing the needs of teachers who need intensive and ongoing support (i.e., first-year teachers)
- Provide weekly (minimum) coaching for those teachers actively participating in a deep coaching cycle, including those on a Direct Support Plan (DSP)
- Document and model documentation of deep coaching work
- Monitor instructional coaching documentation
Assessment and Data Analysis 10%
- Review & analyze campus academic and behavior Tier 1, 2, and 3 data (e.g, universal screeners and core program assessments, digital program data, check-in/out, etc.). Update the ILT and DS Academic Team on progress
- Assist with coordination of the campus' academic and behavior universal screening process
- Maintain accurate records of student progress toward standards, intervention progress monitoring, and digital program data in established network systems
- Collaborate with Instructional Coaches and Mentor Teachers to model and support strong data analysis, and lesson design during weekly planning meetings
- Facilitate grade or team Data & Design meetings as assigned by the Principal
- Seek out, be receptive to, and respond to professional feedback
MTSS Processes 5%
- Review lesson plans and provide feedback based on individual coaching cycles and/or school-wide professional development goals
- Lead MTSS initiatives, processes, and structures at the campus level and contribute to network MTSS design
- Facilitate campus and grade level problem solving meetings ensuring evidence-based decision making for Tiers 1, 2, and 3 responses and interventions
- Collaborate with school team to design, develop, document and implement a continuum of effective, research-based and innovative interventions and instructional supports as part of a multi-tiered system of supports
- Model and coach teachers in effective Tier 1, 2, and 3 instruction and implementation
- Support communication with families on MTSS processes, intervention and student progress
- Pilot tools, resources, data collection and programs in partnership with the network academic team
Professional Learning and Leadership 5%
- Participate in all network and campus-based professional development and meetings
- Meet with the Regional Talent Development Manager, Director of Instructional Coaching at least biweekly to discuss coaching priorities, implementation of the coaching model, and instructional coach development and support
- Serve as a member of the school's ILT to support alignment and to perform additional ILT duties
- Plan and facilitate weekly campus professional development and collaborative planning, including Welcome Week
- Collaborate with Instructional Coaches and Mentor Teachers to ensure strong data analysis and planning
- Fulfill all other duties as assigned
Requirements (minimum) Education:Bachelor's Degree
Qualifications
- Valid Professional Educator License or equivalent in state of employment (IL or MI)
- Valid Principal or equivalent endorsement in state of employment (IL or MI) - OR - working towards a General Administrative/School Principal Endorsement
- 6+ years of lead classroom teaching experience
- 2 years of instructional leadership experience
- Must obtain an average of 'Effective' rating according to the DS Teaching Frame]work for 2 consecutive years at DS in all domains or equivalent from outside organization
- Must attend DS Summer PD Institute
- Proven success of leading team planning sessions using data
- Must be willing to work an extended academic calendar year of 12 months
- Technology demands:
- Proficient with cloud based software solutions (such as GoogleSuite)
- Ability to learn digital tools and programs as needed for the position
- Travel as required for training, professional development, and collaboration
Physical demands
- Ability to work outside of normal school hours as needed and/or determined by School Principal
- Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 20% sitting, 50% walking, and 30% standing
Benefits- 25+ Paid holidays & 10 days PTO annually (in addition to summer break for educators/campus positions)
- 12 weeks family paid leave
- Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)
- 403b match
- Fully match up to 3%
- 50% match up to 5%
- Professional development including tuition reimbursement
- Gym and wellness discounts
- And more
Description Disclaimer: Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.
