Principal

PRINCIPAL

Overview

The Organization

Camino Nuevo Charter Academy (CNCA) is a community of high-performing public schools that utilizes a comprehensive approach to prepare students from preschool through high school for success in college and in life. We integrate academic rigor, community, family, and wellness to empower students to thrive in a culturally connected and changing world. Founded in 2000, Camino Nuevo Charter Academy students represent the neighborhood of MacArthur Park west of downtown Los Angeles, a community that is one of the most under-resourced and densely populated neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Currently, CNCA has six campuses that serve approximately 3,500 students from TK through 12th grade.

Organizational Leadership Capacities

We believe that every individual who works on the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy School Leadership Team must embody key mindsets and possess foundational skills to contribute to the organizational leadership of the organization.

Mindsets

• Commitment to and belief in CNCA’s mission and vision
• Belief in and embodiment of the CNCA Anchors in all aspects of the work
• Commitment to the vision of a progressive, socially-just education and is able to inspire others towards that vision
• Solution orientation and belief in supporting others to be the same
• Commitment to an asset-based, capacity-building approach
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

Skills

• Ability to support an inclusive, positive and high performing culture
• Ability to take ownership in the day-to-day and overall success of the organization
• Ability to think critically, use sound judgment and problem solve
• Ability to work independently and proactively and to seek support and guidance when appropriate
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with an ability to prioritize competing projects in a fast-paced, fluid environment
• Effective collaboration with individuals at all levels of the organization
• Respect, humility and discretion to work effectively with all stakeholders, including colleagues, families and members of the community
• Strong self-awareness and ability to reflect

Intentions

• EXCELLENCE: You take responsibility for our students and staff achieving consistently outstanding results.
• EQUITY: You recognize and value the individuality and experiences of all students and respond to their unique academic, emotional, psychological, and social needs.
• COMMUNITY: You are rooted in our community's richness and in the cultural and environmental context where our students and families live.
• INNOVATION: You continuously learn, are curious, and implement new ideas, perspectives, and evidence-based methods in your work.
• JOY: You build and maintain positive relationships that foster happiness and fulfillment among students, staff and families.

The Opportunity

Under the supervision of the Vice President of Schools, the Principal serves as the educational leader. They are responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a high quality, comprehensive educational program and must administer the program in accordance with school board policies and administrative rules and regulations. The Principal is expected to embody, promote and lead CNCA’s and the school’s mission, vision and policies. Achieving academic excellence requires that the Principal work collaboratively to direct and nurture all members of the school staff and to communicate effectively with all stakeholders. Inherent to the position are the responsibilities for scheduling, curriculum development, extracurricular activities, personnel management, emergency procedures, and facility operations.

Essential Functions

Strategy and Vision Setting

• Facilitate the development of a school-wide vision, with measurable goals and a positive school culture.
• Build a common vision for school improvement with staff. Direct planning activities and put programs in place with staff to ensure attainment of school’s mission.
• Define and articulate a school philosophy aligned with the CNCA vision.
• Support public relations efforts by attending to visiting guests and donors, forwarding information about the school for use in promotional literature and representing the school at off-site fund-raising events, conferences and symposiums.

Team Leadership and Performance Management

• Recruit, evaluate, and manage school certificated and classified staff.
• Foster collegiality and team building among staff members. Encourage their active involvement in decision-making.
• Maintain high standards for student performance.
• Enable the school to meet improvement standards, goals and other obligations established in the Charter.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with parents, families and students; including monitoring student progress and ensuring that students are aware of academic expectations.
• Manage staff and employees at the assigned school site. Managing staff includes utilizing each employee in an effective manner as well as evaluating and responding to professional development needs. The Principal must also conduct periodic evaluations on performance, providing relevant and timely feedback.
• Confer with teachers regarding their professional growth and work with them to develop and accomplish improvement goals.
• Oversee and support all parent participation programs including volunteer programs and family evaluations.
• Meet with the school’s and CNCA leadership (including the other Principals) on a regular basis for planning and training purposes.
• In conjunction with your team, develop and maintain a positive school culture.
• Exemplify the respect and humility required to work effectively with all stakeholders, including families and members of the community.
• Nurture a high performing team by demonstrating effective and dynamic leadership.
• Promote effective communication and interpersonal skills among staff, parents, students and community members.

Administrative Management and Compliance Responsibilities

• Develop and manage school budget.
• Ensure the smooth running of daily school operations, including but not limited to managing crises effectively, maintaining discipline, and ensuring the overall safety and security of the school.
• Oversee and support all compliance related reporting including categorical programs (Title I, Bilingual), Civil Rights Compliance, Federal Meal Program, etc.
• Ensure the school is fully enrolled and supervise enrollment, admissions, attendance procedures and records.
• Cooperate with outside evaluators in their efforts to assess the school’s performance by establishing strong systems for data management and analysis and making the same available to the evaluators.
• Assist the HSO in developing and implementing a school accountability plan.
• Attend and prepare information needed for scheduled CNCA Board meetings.
• Compile and maintain reports, records and other documents required including WASC and Charter renewal.
• Assist with Development needs by helping to edit and/or assigning site-based staff to write portions of grants or other documents.
• Serve on school site and charter governance bodies including Site Based Council and others as appropriate.

Instructional Leadership

• Develop master schedule in alignment with instructional program needs and supervise implementation of schedule.
• Develop, coordinate, and assess instructional programs including standards-based core curriculum, intervention programs, special education program, and master plan for English Learner students.
• Develop and implement a professional development plan that is relevant and meaningful for instructional personnel.
• Provide Instructional resources and materials to support teaching staff in accomplishing instructional goals.
• Supervise school-wide curriculum and assessment mapping including regular student achievement data analysis.
• Refine and implement an aggressive college access program for all students.
• Cultivate strong partnerships with local community-based organizations, local colleges and universities and the greater Los Angeles educational community.
• Oversee and support all student programs, including but not limited to, after school program, mental health program, visual and performing arts program, etc.
• Maintain an effective discipline program that fosters a safe learning environment.
• Motivate and engage with students to influence them in a positive way.
• Other duties as assigned.

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

Camino Nuevo Charter Academy (CNCA) prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying in educational programs, activities, or employment on the basis of actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, parental, pregnancy, family or marital status, military status or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. Camino Nuevo Charter Academy requires that school personnel take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so when he or she witnesses an act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying.

Questions or complaints of alleged discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying, equity or Title IX equity and compliance concerns should be directed to Margarita Domingo, Vice President of Human Resources. She can be reached at (213) 417-3410 or by mail at 3435 W Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master's degree in education administration or education leadership preferred.
• Valid administrative credential desired.
• Valid California teaching credential required.
• Three to five (3-5) years leadership experience in urban education required.
• Three to five (3-5) years of successful teaching or pupil personnel services experience required.
• Knowledge of research findings and recent trends in education.
• Proven results using restorative practices with students.
• Ability to lead and develop teams as well as work across teams.
• Ability to understand and navigate the political, social, economic, legal and cultural context facing urban charter schools and the students they serve.