Principal Fellow

The Principal Fellowship is a full-time, school-based leadership development role designed for high-capacity instructional leaders preparing to step into the principalship within 1–2 years. The Principal Fellow will work side-by-side with an accomplished, results-driven Principal, gaining hands-on experience in all aspects of school leadership while receiving targeted coaching, mentorship, and professional development.

As a key member of the school’s leadership team, the Principal Fellow will take on increasing responsibility over time—supporting instructional excellence, strengthening school culture, and leading initiatives that drive student achievement. This immersive fellowship provides a unique opportunity to learn directly from proven leadership practices while actively contributing to the success of the school community.

This role is ideal for leaders who are deeply committed to educational equity and eager to grow into a principal who can lead a high-performing, student-centered school.

Ideal Candidate Profile
This role is well-suited for accomplished instructional leaders who:

• Are currently serving as Assistant Principals, Deans, or in comparable instructional leadership roles
• Have demonstrated success in developing teachers and improving student outcomes
• Are eager to grow into whole-school leadership with coaching and feedback
• Are motivated by equity-driven leadership and community partnership
• Have completed a least 5 years of teaching experience in a core content subject
• Have knowledge of personalized learning with a focus on small group instruction
• Operate with a forward-thinking mindset regarding the ethical integration of AI in education, with a commitment to evolving instructional practices to meet the needs of a changing student landscape

Responsibilities:

School Leadership & Vision

• Partner with the Principal to build and sustain a culture of transparency, trust, and excellence across all stakeholders — students, staff, and families
• Support the development of the administrative team's school-wide vision and take an active role in investing and mobilizing teachers to achieve collective goals
• Take increasing ownership of school-wide initiatives and leadership responsibilities over time, aligned to readiness and development goals
• Collaborate with the administrative team on hiring diverse, highly-effective teachers and school staff, developing fluency in staffing strategy and inclusive recruitment practices

Instructional Leadership & Teacher Development

• Drive implementation of the school's mission and vision to prepare students for postsecondary success
• Model and support ambitious instruction by ensuring classes are challenging, engaging, and aligned to rigorous standards
• Develop systems and processes to consistently gauge the level of teaching and learning across the school
• Design and facilitate professional learning that is rooted in research, responsive to current needs, and aligned to the Intrinsic POD model
• Communicate areas of strength and growth related to instruction clearly and consistently to teachers and school leaders

Student Achievement & Growth

• Transparently utilize data to track school progress toward annual goals, analyzing results through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens
• Monitor GPA, attendance, and promotion data and develop school-wide plans for improvement as needed
• Utilize ACT/IAR and benchmark data to develop instructional insights that drive student-centered, challenging instruction and aligned curricula
• Lead data-driven instruction by supporting teachers and coaches to disaggregate data, identify areas of student mastery and growth, and map findings to end-of-year standards and competencies

Coaching, Feedback & Professional Learning

• Provide high-quality instructional coaching through frequent, scheduled classroom observations, actionable feedback, and accountability for adjustment in practice
• Oversee systems to review and provide feedback on instructional and lesson plans
• Connect teachers with relevant resources to strengthen their content and pedagogical knowledge
• Collaborate with the administrative team to plan and facilitate professional development aligned to school-wide priorities

Student Experience & Culture

• Support a culture of joy, celebration, and strong relationships between students and staff
• Ensure a safe and affirming learning environment for all students through consistent school-wide systems of expectations and restorative practices
• Serve as a visible, engaged presence in the building — at arrival/dismissal, during lunch, and across daily school operations — developing fluency in the full scope of school management

Family & Community Engagement

• Respond to the needs of students, staff, and families in an open, proactive, and solutions-oriented manner
• Serve as a point of contact for family engagement and student interventions, partnering with teachers and support teams to determine next steps
• Build credible, trusting relationships with families as a core leadership competency

Fellowship Development & Growth

• Engage in a structured Principal Fellowship development program designed to build the adaptive and technical skills required to lead a school
• Participate in ongoing one-on-one coaching with a leadership mentor, monthly readiness checkpoints, and cohort-based professional learning alongside fellow aspiring principals
• Develop and demonstrate reflective practice, self-awareness, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement
• Treat each responsibility as both a contribution to the school and a learning opportunity — approaching the fellowship with curiosity, humility, and a principal's lens

Your In-House Coach

The Principal Fellow will work with Michelle Trojan, a highly-skilled leader at our Belmont Campus. This year, Michelle was recognized as the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) Charter School Principal of the Year.