Middle School Vice Principal of Culture

Middle School Vice Principal of Culture

Brooklyn, NY (2026 - 2027 School Year)

Coney Island Preparatory Public Charter School, Brooklyn, New York

What is the Role?

Our incoming Vice Principal (VP) of Culture is driven to implement Coney Island Prep's mission to ensure a positive, safe, achievement-focused school culture. You model how to build strong, mutually respectful relationships with students and families and support teachers to do the same. A strategic leader at heart, you assume a high level of personal responsibility for the progress of all students and work to ensure your culture systems are scaffolding them to success. What's equally important is that you infuse joy into your daily interactions with your team and scholars.

The VP of Culture will manage two Social Workers and one Dean of Students and will be hired by and report to the Principal.

What You'll Be Asked To Do

Operate with effectiveness by leading with a systems orientation to drive long-term, sustainable results.

• Reinforce the vision and guiding principles of the school with staff and inspire them to act on the mission each day; exude urgency, excellence, and optimism; drive decisions with the school's mission remaining top of mind
• Exercise strong decision making and prioritization skills
• Work cohesively with leadership team members to achieve a strong whole school culture and maintain an aligned schoolwide restorative justice program, while supporting stakeholders in meeting their outcomes; assume responsibility in ensuring the leadership team runs smoothly and efficiently
• Plan and lead high quality Culture Team development sessions and weekly Culture Team meetings, ensuring alignment across all members of the team, engaging in discussion, and sharing best practices
• Attend daily school leadership team meetings, the longer, weekly meeting, and weekly 1:1s with the Principal; regularly collaborate with the Director of Operations, VPs of Instruction, Director of Social Work, and grade level and content coaches
• Respond to requests from network staff and work to ensure compliance with CIP policies and procedures
• Collaborate with the Principal to develop culture systems aligned with the school's vision including uniform systems and community sweeps
• Reduce suspensions, increase family participation in school-wide culture events (i.e., Black History Month, Women's History Month)

Deliver exceptional results by leading a school culture that catalyzes student achievement.

• Manage, coach, evaluate, and develop the Dean of Students and Social Workers through observations and debriefs, professional development, modeling, and collaborative planning; hold Dean accountable for implementation of culture systems and ensure school culture supports strong academic results
• Oversee efficiency of the Dean's Office in that all scholars follow procedures for maintaining a silent and focused space and abide by all school-wide culture norms; unless otherwise specified (i.e. in a decompressing state), scholars in the Dean's Office should model exemplary student behavior
• Regularly analyze and monitor culture data to establish a data-driven culture; track teacher and leader implementation of systems (i.e. SchoolRunner merits and demerits), as well as culture data (Dean referrals, ISS, and OSS incidents in SchoolRunner); provide follow up to adults as needed to ensure these systems are executed with fidelity
• Work with the Vice Principal of Academic Inclusion to ensure scholars' IEPs are implemented with fidelity, especially as it relates to tracking time out of class (i.e. dean referrals, suspensions, and MDR hearing requirements)
• Support Dean to observe and work with teachers to devise and monitor high-impact support plans for struggling students
• Manage the overall functioning of the Pride Bodega (scholar incentive school store) system, including planning for, execution of, and feedback on this system
• Own the Advisory system, coaching through layers to ensure strong plans and resources that are created by the Social Workers, and weekly accountability walks are conducted through collaboration from the Dean and Social Workers
• Plan for, organize, and execute high quality school events such as Community Meetings, sporting events, assemblies, and dances
• Ensure the consistent follow through by Culture Team to conduct investigations on any student behavior incidents and communicate to Principal using culture systems (i.e. statement forms) on those incidents; make recommendations to the Principal on consequences for significant student behavior incidents ensuring the implementation of logical consequences rooted in Restorative Justice; clear partnership with families; and Restorative re-entry meetings and plans for success are carried out that empower the scholar to repair damage caused as they re-enter the community

Develop Talent by actively identifying and pursuing opportunities for growth to build capabilities of our teammates.

• Design and run high-quality professional development sessions for culture team and teachers
• Work with each team member to set clear, measurable, outcome-oriented goals for the year and plan professional development opportunities around those culture goals
• Directly coach teachers to help them continuously improve on Coney Island Prep's Instructional Practice & Development Guide (IPAD)
• Observe instruction and provide on-going, specific, actionable, positive and constructive feedback that ensures teachers can translate the feedback into improved instruction
• Provide clear, actionable feedback to teachers on classroom management and lesson execution ensuring that scholars are able to remain in class maximizing instructional time

Build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community by designing structures and systems with an eye toward equitable outcomes for all stakeholders.

• Establish and maintain high standards for student behavior, performance, and attendance
• Serve as a model for effective classroom management
• Model relationship building with students, staff, and families to impact student achievement and behavior
• Ensure that the school environment and classroom instruction maximize student learning
• Partner with the Vice Principals of Instruction and Content Leaders to coach teachers on classroom management, character development, and school culture
• Work across differences to build structures and systems that create an equitable and inclusive school environment for students, parents, and staff; ensure structures and practices exemplify cultural competence
• Foster relationships with vendors, staff, scholars and their families while demonstrating value for diversity and inclusivity
• Embody cultural competencies to work in low-income communities and a willingness to examine your beliefs and biases across lines of difference
• Eradicate the effects of racism, poverty and other forms of oppression in our school community by making resources, opportunities, support systems, and classrooms equitable and accessible for all our stakeholders
• Demonstrate a personal and professional value for DEI work

What You'll Need

• Passion for education and a dedication to Coney Island Prep's mission; steadfast belief that all scholars can achieve at the highest academic levels and deserve an opportunity to succeed in the college and career of their choice
• Proven organizational, oral, and written communication skills; timeliness; accuracy; and consistent and regular communication; and ability to meet deadlines
• Self-reflective and open to feedback, with the ambition and desire to grow and develop
• A positive, solutions-oriented attitude and drive for excellence
• Eagerness to work collaboratively as part of a team
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree and NYS teaching certification preferred
• A minimum of five years of lead teaching experience preferred; three years required
• Background in middle school content a plus
• At least three years of school leadership experience preferred such as content team lead, grade team lead, or dean; two years required
• Training and background in behavior management, restorative practices, and adolescent development for middle school-age children
• Proven track record of holding a high bar for student behavior
• Commitment to using data to drive your work

Who are we?

Coney Island Prep Middle School is a public charter school in Brooklyn that serves 350 students in grades 6-8. We are a high-performing, college prep school that offers hands-on lessons, laptops for every scholar, special education services, and after-school programming. Our responsive and committed teachers support our families every step of the way and we provide free breakfast, lunch, snacks, and school supplies. Rigorous academics, a close-knit community, and high expectations, have all been in the heart of Coney Island since 2009.

Commitment to Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice

Coney Island Prep is committed to building a team that collectively reflects the various backgrounds, experiences, and identities of our scholars. We recognize and respond to different points of access, so that everyone maximizes their highest potential. We also recognize that because of institutionalized racism