Principal
Maya Angelou Public Charter School-Shaw Campus

See Forever Foundation in Washington, D.C. is recruiting a Principal for the Shaw high school campus of the Maya Angelou Public Charter School, located at 1851 9th Street, N.W. The Shaw campus provides an integrated program designed to meet the comprehensive needs of students who have not succeeded in traditional public schools. It is anticipated that approximately 125 students in Grades 9-12 will be enrolled during School Year 2009-2010, supported by 30 faculty and staff members.

The new Principal will officially begin during the summer of 2009. We are seeking an experienced instructional leader with a proven track record, and with strong abilities in school management and operations.

Background
See Forever opened in 1997, with the mission to create learning environments where young people who have not been successful in traditional schools can reach their potential. We want our students to develop the academic, social, and employment skills they need to build rewarding lives and promote positive change in their communities. In the fall of 1998, SFF secured a charter to operate the Maya Angelou Public Charter School (MAPCS). In 2006, SFF/MAPCS received accreditation from the Middle States Association.

See Forever currently runs three Maya Angelou Public Charter School campuses in Washington, D.C. The oldest, an alternative high school, is located in the historic Shaw district at 9th and T Streets NW. A second alternative high school, operated in a partnership with the DC Public Schools, is located at 57th and East Capitol Streets NE.  The third, an alternative middle school, is also located at 57th and East Capitol Streets, NE. In July 2007, we assumed operation of the Maya Angelou Academy (formerly the Oak Hill Academy), in Laurel, MD. The Academy is located within the District of Columbia’s long-term secure facility for youth who have been adjudicated delinquent. We also operate an affiliated Transition Center in the District of Columbia to assist youth in adjusting to the community after their release from detention.

The education program at See Forever/Maya Angelou Public Charter School has a number of unique features. Classes are small, and at the high school campuses, they range in size from 5-15 students. The middle school has an average class size of 22 students. School days are extended, where possible, running into the evening. Supplementary tutorial enrichment occurs in the evenings and/or on Saturdays. We support year-round school activities for students. Our schools have a strong mental health component as well, providing individual counseling and group counseling to all students as needed. Our high school students at Maya Angelou also have the chance to learn job skills while on paid work assignments.

Our results show that we are achieving our goals. Historically, over 80% of our graduates go on to college or post secondary education. More of our graduates complete colleges and/or other post-secondary schools than do their peers. Moreover, our students develop the strength and resiliency necessary to succeed when they graduate. Some are pursuing careers in education, social work, computer science, nursing and public service.

Responsibilities
The school Principal serves as the educational leader, responsible for ensuring that all students are educated in a safe environment that meets the approved curricula and mission of See Forever. The principal reports to the Director for Academics, Principal Support, and Accountability.

Achieving academic excellence requires that the Principal work collaboratively to direct and nurture faculty and staff members and to communicate effectively with parents. Inherent in the position are responsibilities for scheduling, curriculum development, extracurricular/enrichment activities, supervision, budgeting, and facility operations.

Other duties of the Principal include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Leading a learning community which ensures that all community members have an equitable opportunity to achieve;
• Establishing and promoting high standards and expectations for all students and staff for academic performance and behavior;
• Developing clear procedures for the operation and functioning of the school consistent with the philosophy, mission, values and goals of See Forever;
• Establishing the master schedule for instructional programs, ensuring sequential academic and vocational experiences for students;
• Supervising the instructional programs of the school, including evaluating lesson plans and observing classes on a regular basis;
• Supporting social emotional learning;
• Completing in a timely fashion all records and reports concerning student attendance, progress, and transcripts as required by See Forever and its oversight organizations; and
• Implementing recommendations from oversight organizations

Qualifications
Ideal candidates for the position of Principal will have earned a graduate degree in the field of education with demonstrated experience in education administration. They should be eligible to receive certification in educational leadership or administration. In addition, candidates should:

• Have significant leadership experience in urban education, working with adolescents;
• Have strong interpersonal skills and demonstrate a history of working effectively with students, teachers, parents, community members and other colleagues, particularly in challenging contexts;
• Demonstrate the ability to manage, organize and align resources to create an effective, nurturing, learning environment within a school budget;
• Understand and be sensitive to cultural factors which affect the behavior of staff members and students, and be sensitive to issues of ethnic and gender discrimination in the learning community;
• Be familiar with strategies for school improvement;
• Have a proven track record of motivating adolescents to achieve, especially in the areas of literacy and numeracy;
• Have a proven track record of respecting and working with adolescents who have not succeeded in traditional settings and are functioning significantly below grade level;
• Have experience working with and supporting adolescents with special needs, particularly as they transition from high school to work or postsecondary schooling;
• Be able to operate effectively under multiple pressures, using a leadership style characterized by shared decision-making, self-motivation, initiative, self-reflection, inspiration, creativity and change;
• Exhibit the capability to articulate a vision of academic excellence for a school community and to create and maintain the support structures necessary to achieve the vision;
• Exhibit a commitment to creating, supporting and being a part of a professional learning community, one that focuses on results and continuous improvement. Central to this commitment is the candidate’s willingness to lead, support and engage in the ongoing professional development—independently and with colleagues—that is the hallmark of teachers who use effective teaching repertoires to achieve student results;
• Have experience working with and managing education related programming that includes community partnerships, significant volunteer input, and workplace learning;
• Relate ideas and practices of social justice and social change to the curriculum, with the goal of preparing students for efforts beyond the classroom;
• Have significant experience setting student learning and behavior goals and an unwavering belief in the capacity of all students to reach those goals; and
• Demonstrate the ability to implement an integrated educational program designed to meet the comprehensive needs of our target student population.

Compensation
See Forever offers competitive salary and benefits, including health care coverage, a 403(b) savings plan, and a computer purchase assistance plan.

To Apply
If you are interested in applying for the position of Principal of the Shaw campus, please e-mail a cover letter and resume to hr@seeforever.org, and indicate the position for which you are applying in the subject line. In your cover letter, please outline the particular qualifications that make you an ideal candidate and your educational philosophy as it pertains to secondary learners who have had difficulties in traditional high schools. Resumes and cover letters should be in Microsoft Word, and sent by e-mail attachment.

See Forever is an equal opportunity employer. Persons of color are encouraged to apply.

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