SR1 College Preparatory and STEM
Academy (CPSA) Principal

Position: SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy (CPSA) Principal  (1 position)

Theme: Equity Projects in Education, Health, and Technology

FLSA: Full time, hourly, exempt

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 STEM charter school in the Fall of 2023. Position start date contingent on applicant's availability, but no later than July 1. 

POSITION OVERVIEW: Are you an Elementary Principal 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) 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 who is an educational 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 from start-up: planning, policy development, school design, hiring of staff, curriculum development, student recruitment, school culture and other critical start-up needs for 2022-2023. SR1 CPSA will open for the 2023-2024 academic year, and the school will be the first STEM focused charter school in the State of Mississippi.

SR1 CPSA OVERVIEW

The SR1 CPSA School will be a high-performing, innovative public charter school in Canton, MS serving students from K to 5th grade on a creative campus. To learn more about SR1 CPSA proposed campus, please click

to see our school video. Our mission is to prepare SR1 CPSA students for success in college and beyond.

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.

We accomplish SR1 CPSA 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 provided by AmeriCorps educators.

• Pairing a rigorous curriculum and teaching with intense personal support and high academic expectations for each student.

The SR1 CPSA Elementary Principal is responsible for:

School Culture. The principal defines and builds a transformative school culture consistent with SR1 CPSA core values and mission. With the Chief Academic Officer, 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 (edutainment).

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.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

The Principal must:

● Be committed to Diversity, 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 dependable;

● 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 Learning.

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;

● 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 & THEORY OF CHANGE

It’s estimated that our students will arrive, on average, significantly behind grade level. Many live in poverty – a higher percentage than most schools in the country. Upon arrival, they are statistically less than 10% likely to graduate with a 4-year degree. Our mission is that each child ultimately graduates from college.

Therefore:

● Employees 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 racial justice and equity is critical to our mission of preparing students for success in college and beyond. We strive to be an organization that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and elevates our student voices in preparing them for life and college.

SR1 CPSA offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, professional development and coaching, and retirement benefits as part of the state pension plan.